The Idle Christian

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1857

The Idle Christian.

MANY a person thinks himself a pretty good Christian because he cannot, as he supposes, be charged with doing anything inconsistent with his profession. He is guilty of no immorality, and is attentive to the means of grace. These are good things, and all that can be said against them is, that they do not go far enough. The command is, to work in the Lord’s vineyard; and this man does not work. In order to enable him to judge himself truly, let us see what is implied in not working as a Christian.

To be idle is to be—not like Christ. "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?"

To be idle is to neglect to glorify God. "In this is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit."

To be idle is to be false to the church. She needs help; she is entitled to the service of all her sons. "Here am I; send me."

To be idle is to be cruel to dying souls—as cruel as one who would leave a wounded man to perish by the wayside when he might save him. "He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death."

To be idle shows a lack of love. "For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that as one died for all, then were all dead."

To be spiritually idle is to be spiritually poor. "The hand of the diligent maketh rich."

To be idle is to hinder a blessing. "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse."

To be idle is to be weak. "But exercise thyself rather unto godliness."

Idleness hinders assurance. "Make your calling and election sure."

Idleness has no promise. "So run that ye may obtain." "Let no man take your crown."

Idleness brings a curse. "Curse ye Meroz; curse bitterly; because they came not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty."

The idle are liable to a disastrous end. "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."

Is it true then that the idle Christian does nothing inconsistent with his profession? Is not doing nothing almost as bad a thing as he can do?

"Any want of conformity to the law of God" is sin, as much as a transgression of it.