BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.
By M. E. Steward
Why do professed Christians desire to conform to the world? It is either to gain the favor of the world, or to gratify their own vanity. But do we not know that we can never please the world by imitating them as nearly as we dare while we still try to live for Jesus? In order to satisfy the world we must exchange the cross of Christ for the chains of fashion, and keep pace with them in following her. But will they then respect us for yielding our religious principles? No; if we wish the sincere respect of the world we must be true to the teachings of the Bible, our standard, in all things. Non-professors are very good judges of the consistency of professed Christians. Having taken a course which has forfeited their esteem, how can we hope to influence them toward the truth? Oh, how little would we who have left a plain dress to please the world, appear in our own eyes, did we realize that we are in heart despised by the very ones we had hoped to please, while our brethren and sisters who are standing in the light, and heavenly angels also, are pitying and grieving over us? Do we not sometimes cover our conformity to the world by the excuse that we wish to have influence with them, when in reality we are seeking to gratify our own pride? God reads the motives of the heart. The time is at hand when all the proud “shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up.” Mal. 4 : 1. M. E. STEWARD.