TRUE CHRISTIANITY by Fred F. French

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 10, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 41.

TRUE CHRISTIANITY.

By Fred F. French

A GLORIOUS mission it is, for those who love the light, to teach by word of mouth or by pen the true unfoldment of the soul within; but far greater and more beautiful is the life of him who, by example and precept, leads his fellow-man in life's pathway, so shaded by the trees of love divine that the blasting breath of the storms of selfishness shall sweep above their heads, while peace and rest attend their works below.

The true church of God is within each heart, and no man who has not cast out the idols of the flesh, can expect our Father to enter in and share with earthly vanity and pride the obedience and love His due.

If those who are undertaking the task of uplifting the moral standard of man have aught in their lives that can be condemned by the unchristian, how much more is it to be condemned by the pure and perfect Christ, who trod the same pathway over which they stumble!

"No chain is stronger than its weakest link;" and no church within whose fold lies the spirit of discontent and inharmony, can expect, by the standard they thus hold aloft, to entice within their walls those who walk upon the outside, leaving a life to them seemingly good enough, to labor in a strange vineyard, whose fruits seem tainted with the blights of strife and wrangling. All who labor in the fields of sin will receive the help of the Holy Spirit in proportion to their earnestness of purpose and purity of life. But no man or sect not living in obedience to God's divine laws will have their efforts crowned with true success; for God will not stretch forth His arm to the aid of those who will not hear His voice, to walk therein.

It is well to say, "Sinner, repent," but how much better the cry of, "Christian, awake;" for the day of our Lord is at hand; the Bridegroom cometh, and your lamps have burned low. Yea, the harvest is ripe, but your sickle is dull and rusty. How can you work with tools like that?

Will not the stacks be broken and left to rot on the fields, instead of being gathered into the barns? Will not the church whose life will not stand the light of truth so embitter those it seeks to save that they will hold up the soiled garments of its members to their shame, and choose the life of revelry without, to one of strife within? Can any man teach that which he does not know? And lives there a Christian being who knows the true path and wilfully shuns it? "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?" Can you go to the man whose troubled soul has caused the clouds to appear over your church and have him admit that he is wrong, and still continue in his ways?

Unless the Spirit of the living God has entered into your soul, ye know not the light and the way, but if it has, His voice will ever guide you to the truth; for "He will lead the blind in a way that they know not."

Let us again take up the war cry, "Awake, O Christian!" that the world may see the fruits of your lives and taste thereof, and know that they are good. Keep thy heart attuned to deeds of charity (brotherly love), and God, who readeth thee from within, will reward thee accordingly; but do thy acts of mercy in secret, lest pride cause thee to do them for the reward of the praise of men; for "tho I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." Then will the sinner, seeing the goodness and purity of your heart, enter in and dwell with you as brother with brother, and you shall sit down to meat together, and Christ will gird Himself and serve you.

FRED F. FRENCH. Skagway, Alaska.