Orthodoxy not Faith by Howard Crosby

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 13, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 18.

Orthodoxy not Faith.

By Howard Crosby

ORTHODOXY in opinion is not faith. A debtor may have a perfectly just view of his debts, but his orthodox creed will not help the creditor. There must be an action corresponding to the creed. The devils believe and tremble. They have very correct views of God and his will, but they are nevertheless lost eternally. As there can be no true faith without active service, so, of course, there can be no assurance of faith. The Christian who lazily looks after nothing but his present earthly comfort will never look at fiery furnaces with composure. Nebuchadnezzar's threats will soon make him renounce his Christianity, or what he thought was Christianity. It is in the actual service of the Lord that the heart learns to trust in him, feels how sweet his divine attentions are, and can do all things through God strengthening it. Now, the service of the Lord is the use of the divine means of grace for others. His grace is working in our earth for his great purpose of salvation, and he chooses us to be his co-workers. The field is the human heart—our hearts and the hearts of others. As servants of God we will take hold of this assigned work earnestly.

For ourselves, we will explore the Scriptures with devout research and keep ever near the throne of grace, and by constant communion with holy things become holier ourselves. For others, we will set the example of a righteous life, and be always ready to speak for God and his truth. It is in this way our faith will grow into the proportions of overcoming power that will fear no Nebuchadnezzar or his fiery furnace. Without such service we can express no such growth. Salvation is not from without and by magic. It is by a life that has faith as its motor.

These three young Hebrews were simply acting out their life of faith when they refused to bow to the king's idol. It was no act of obstinacy or rebellion against the king, or whimsical fanaticism, nor was it Israelitish patriotism. It was the natural operation of a godly life. They served the Lord. That was their soul's position. They lived in accordance with that service. And so when they were told to worship an idol, they had no need of hesitation or of time to consider. They say, "We are not careful to answer thee in this matter;" that is, "We have not to make a careful search into pros and cons and find out what we shall do. The thing is perfectly plain. Our whole lives direct us. We shall not worship thine idol, and the burning fiery furnace is no argument." That is the way a soul in the Lord's service will always reply to an invitation to sin, even when a threat accompanies it. Sometimes the threat comes in the form of a loss of position whence comes bread for self and family, but the godly soul is not afraid; it sings right cheerfully:—

"Go, then, earthly fame and treasure; Come, disaster, scorn, and pain; In thy service pain is pleasure, With thy favor loss is gain. I have called thee Abba, Father; I have stayed my heart on thee; Storms may howl and clouds may gather; All must work for good to me."

It is in this spirit of faithful service that the true Christian meets the fiery furnace. It has no terrors for him.

The reason why so many Christians yield is because they do not serve God. They wear Christ's name and serve self and the world. They have no courage because they have no faith.—Howard Crosby, D. D., on Dan. 3: 17.