Worldly Conformity by Roswell F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 20, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 19.

Worldly Conformity.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

“And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Rom. 12:2.

CONFORMITY to innocent manners and customs of the people is not wrong, but commendable. We should come as near to the people as we can, and not violate any principle of right. In going from place to place, the apostle Paul adopted the harmless customs of different nations, that he might have a saving influence upon all. But to sacrifice a single principle of right, to go contrary to one express requirement of the Scriptures, hoping thereby to gain an influence for good, is one of the greatest mistakes that ever was made by a professor of godliness.

Our depraved nature always has a downward tendency. The work of elevating men to the standard of truth is a difficult work, demanding the greatest circumspection. And when any propose to do evil that good may come, the result is always evil. And yet we hear professed Christians say, I must do this or that, in violation of the express word of God, in order to have an influence over others, to bring them to Christ and his truth. How eminently wise, to descend from the high and holy standard of right, in order to elevate others to the position that we have vacated! Those who do so plainly show that, instead of gaining an influence over the world for good, they themselves are under the evil influence of the world.

What caused the great apostasy in the professed church? What changed the church into the harlot of Revelation? What transformed the doctrines and duties of Christianity into heathen philosophy and pagan rites? or, rather, how were the former exchanged for the latter? It was merely by descending to paganism to get an influence over pagans.

There was a minister who acknowledged the claims of the Fourth Commandment,—that the seventh day was the only true Sabbath of the Bible,—but he thought he would have a greater influence, and be able to do more good, by yielding to the prevailing custom and keeping Sunday; and so he went on breaking a known commandment of God and calling sinners to repentance! Probably more professed conversion under his preaching than would had he preached the whole truth; but they were converted to only a part of the truth, and were still transgressors of the law of God, i. e., sinners, though perhaps ignorantly, but their teacher, knowingly. Streams do not rise higher than their fountains; but it sometimes happens that disciples—

“Grow wiser than their teachers are, And better know the Lord.”

Think a moment of a temperance reformer who takes an occasional glass with tipplers to get an influence over them. Just so it is with those who follow the foolish and sinful fashions and hurtful customs of worldlings and false professors, to get an influence over them. Some dress and adorn themselves in a manner expressly forbidden in the writings of the apostles. They do it, they say, to get an influence over their friends and neighbors. For what purpose? Of course it is to convert them to the meekness, humility, and plainness of Christ and his teachings. They may deceive themselves; but worldlings of sense are not deceived, but see the falsity of their profession, and feel and know that they have ignored the teachings which they profess to follow, and have come over to the side of the world.

The only way to wield an influence for good is to live out the teachings which we profess to adopt. Practice the right; and let all see that we are sincere and true to principle; while our gravity of manners and courteous conversation prove that we have been transformed by the renewing of the mind. R. F. COTTRELL.