LIFELESS CHRISTIANITY by N. W. R.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 29, 1860

LIFELESS CHRISTIANITY.

By N. W. R.

MR. EDITOR: The Review of 24th Nov last, has dropped upon my table; and in looking it over I discover sentiments so nearly corresponding with my own that I should feel hardly satisfied with myself if I neglected at this time to give them my full and hearty approval.

Permit me then as an humble member of our common Father's family to add a word of testimony to the record that is now being made against this popular christianity of the day. Ever since the Christian church was established it has been a source of sorrow to many a heart to know that

their “beautiful Zion” had ceased to be “the light of the world.” But not till now has there been so great cause for “mourning over the desolation of Zion.” To-day, the voice of weeping and lamentation comes up from a thousand hearts. It is not Rachel weeping by the lowly graves of her children; nor is it the wild wail over the tombs of the mighty dead! But it is the weeping Jesus in agony of soul, bending over the gates of Jerusalem; it is the weeping prophet: “Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” It is the stricken, bleeding cause of my Saviour, draped in mourning, and weeping over a desolate and world-besotted church. Who has done it?

“What hast thou done?” comes in thunder tones from the skies. What hast thou done, or rather left undone, gospel minister, who dare not “speak the truth and shame the devil?” “What hast thou done,” professed follower of Christ, who hast smuggled thy body into the church to corrupt and foster, while thy soul fattens on the world? “What hast thou done” professor, who having a place in God’s house convertest it into a house of merchandise, appropriating God’s means to your selfish ends, “passing by on the other side,” “arrayed in scarlet and fine linen,” and rolling in luxury, while at your door thousands are famishing for want of bread? “What hast thou done” professor, who dare not speak the truth for fear of shame, nor condemn the wrong for fear of harm? And thou professor in authority, thou who art the guardian and administrator of the law, and who hast made the church a cloak for thy sins, and a covert for thine iniquities, God demands of thee, “What hast thou done?” thou who regardest man’s law more than God’s, who consentest to wrong as did Pilate, who fain would have washed his dripping hands of innocent blood?

“What hast thou done!” “The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” Repent, for the ax is laid at the root of the trees, therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

Repent ye churches, for “God is just and his justice will not sleep forever.” Elevate the standard of piety; make man’s acts, his every day life, the test of Christian character, and not success in accumulating wealth and worldly honors, the standard of virtue and morality. Bring this poor pitiable self up to its manhood, to its God.

Men with manhood in them, religion with a God in it, a church with Christians in it might make head against “principalities and powers,” against infidelity, against earth and hell combined, and roll back the monster evils that darken our land into the pit from whence they come.

N. W. R.

Holly, N. Y.