The Minimum Christian by John W. Dulles

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 18, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 44.

The Minimum Christian.

By John W. Dulles

THE minimum Christian! And who is he? The Christian who is going to Heaven at the cheapest and easiest rate possible. The Christian who purposes to get all out of the world that he can and not meet the worldling's doom. The Christian who aims to have as little religion as he can without being destitute of it altogether. The minimum Christian generally goes to church in the morning, unless he is too tired with his week-day labors and has lain in bed too late Sabbath morning to get ready for the morning service; in that case he will attend in the afternoon or evening, unless it is likely to rain, or is too warm or too cold, he feels too sleepy or has the headache. He listens respectfully to the minister, and joins in prayer and praise. He applies the truth often to his neighbor, rarely to himself. If there is a lecture in the week he goes if quite convenient, but rarely attends the prayer-meeting, as the latter is apt to be uninteresting. He feels it his duty to be present on communion Sabbath, and has family prayer at least once a day, unless business presses him too urgently.

The minimum Christian is friendly to all good works; he wishes them well, but it is not in his power to do much for them. The Sabbath-school he looks upon as an admirable institution, especially for the young, the neglected, and the ignorant. It is not convenient, however, for him to take a class or attend very regularly. His business engagements are so pressing during the week that he needs Sabbath as a day of rest; nor does he think himself qualified to be a teacher. There are so many persons better qualified for this important duty that he must beg to be excused. He is in favor of the visitation of the poor, but he has no time to take part in these labors of love. He thinks it is a good thing for laymen to take part in the prayer-meetings of the church, but he has no gift for public prayers or for making addresses (unless the subject be business or politics), and he must leave it to others. He is friendly to home and foreign missions, and gives his "mite," but he thinks there are too many appeals; still he gives or he will lose his reputation.

The minimum Christian is not clear on some points relating to Christian conduct. The circus and dancing, the theater and card-playing give him considerable trouble. He cannot see the harm in this, or that, or other popular amusements. He says there is nothing in the Bible directly against it. He does not see but that a man may be a Christian and go to the theater or to the ball-room. He knows several people who do go, and members of the church, too. Why should not he?

In short, the minimum Christian knows that he cannot serve God and mammon; he would if he could, and he will come just as near to doing so as he can, for he thinks it best not to be "righteous overmuch." He will give to himself and the world all that he may, and to God and his cause as little as he can, and yet not lose his soul. He stands so close to the dividing line between the people of God and the people of the world that it is hard to say on which side of it he actually is.

Ah! my brother, are you making this attempt? Beware, lest you find at last, in trying to get to Heaven with as little religion as possible, that you have missed it altogether—lest, without gaining the whole world, you have lost your own soul. Would it not be wise and better and happier to make sure of Heaven by being a maximum rather than a minimum Christian?—Rev. John W. Dulles.