How Does Christianity Affect You?
By Editor
We do not refer to its power in breaking the fetters of gross sins, in separating its receiver from the world, from worldly aims, objects, ambitions, pursuits. Unless our religion does this for us, it is not Christianity. We may call it after the Master, yet it is but a lifeless profession. The Christian may do every legitimate work, pursue every honorable calling consistent with his profession, which a worldling may do or follow, but he does his work and pursues his avocation with the dominant motive of glorifying God, with eternal ends in view, while the worldling, honorable tho he be, has for his object only the temporal. Integrity, honesty, square dealing, purity of heart and motive, ought to be dominant in every Christian above the world's highest standard. The foregoing are among the basic things of Christian character, the frame timbers of the superstructure. They declare to the careful observer that the building is reliable and safe; but they do not say that it is comfortable, pleasant, inviting. The house may be strong, capacious, but illy arranged, cheerless in aspect, rough and unfinished; and its owner may thus leave it forever. Even so some Christian characters are developed, or suffer from lack of development; they lack adjustment, finishing, polishing, and oftentimes the saddest feature is that the character-builders are unwilling to submit to the divine Architect. Thus they themselves lose blessing and power, and they also grieve their brethren and turn souls from the truth. Christianity demands a finished character, builded on the foundation of absolute self-denial and the eternal righteousness of God. It demands that the work of refining, adjusting, polishing, beautifying, shall go on unto the end. It is hard for the rough-cut diamond to submit to the cutting and polishing; it is painful for the crooked, cross-grained timber to obtain the requisite polish; but these things are necessary to test and beautify either diamond or wood. Let us make the application in typical cases. Here is a man whom God's Gospel has taken from the rough stone-heap of the world. He has received many hard knocks before God took him in hand. He is used to them. He stands the heavy cutting and chiseling well; but he does not take kindly to the polishing. His manners are naturally rough and uncouth; his language is coarse and repulsive; his voice harsh and repellent. He is too willing that all these should so remain. Yet Christianity demands that his very mannerisms shall be improved. For Christ's sake his hard, rough ways should become soft and gentle; his language choice and refined, his voice soft and winning. It will mean a mighty conflict, many sore, wearisome struggles, many defeats, discouragements, humblings of heart, and confessions of sin; but let him persevere, remembering the words of Inspiration, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." Another Christian soul has had his early rearing among the light and trifling, the slangy and loose in language. The "funny" thing must be said; it makes some one laugh. The slang phrase must be used; it is new and "smart." Rather than say, "I can not interfere, or bother, with that or this," it seems funnier and wittier to say, "I'll not monkey with that." The monkey is a cheap imitator, and such talk is cheap imitation, unworthy of a Christian. Put it away forever, and substitute for it pure, elegant, proper speech, edifying and refining. Other devoted Christians have been taken from environments which were not conducive to cleanliness or neatness of person or clothing. Soiled clothing, dirty hands, neck, teeth, ears, or finger-nails do not trouble them. But it does trouble their more particular neighbors and friends. It does embarrass their refined brethren and sisters. It does reflect upon the religion of Jesus Christ, one of whose apostles taught: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service." Rom. 12:1. "Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. 7:1. O Christians, let God finish us in His own workshop till all uncouthiness, harshness, slanginess, cheapness, filthiness, shall pain us if in ourselves, and be put away forever. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS." Phil. 4:8.