Consistent Christianity 12/8/40

Scripture: I Peter 2: 11-25

When I was in college, we used to quote to each other the expression, “Consistency is the Bugbear of Small minds.” We usually spoke half in argument, half in jest. Some of us discovered soon that the quotation can be interpreted in diametrically opposite fashions. Consistency may be the bugbear of a small but conscientious mind which tries, with a considerable effort, to be orderly and logical and consistent in thought and attitude and action. The inference is that the greater mind would have less difficulty in being consistent.

The other interpretation of the expression is that consistency is something with which only small minds are concerned. The inference is that a great mind is not bothered with being consistent but lets its genius follow the wind wherever it bloweth.

To me, the first interpretation is to be preferred, greatly. It seems to me that the progress of man is made chiefly in an atmosphere of dependability. And that means consistent thought, consistent attitudes, consistent living.

A genius may bring a whole nation to feel its greatness temporarily, by tossing facts, treaties, and policies around to suit his momentary moves toward his own ends. But the end result is only world confusion, retrogression and probable ruin.

Personal relationships and national relationships are built carefully around serious agreements, dependable character, consistent actions, settled and tried policies.

It seems to me that there are some definite commitments on the part of Christian people to a way of life that shall be known for its supreme worth. One who is baptized seeks the salvation of Jesus Christ for his life. Or, if he is baptized in infancy, his parents take vows to help him seek such salvation. When one joins the Church he accepts Jesus Christ as his spiritual ideal, his Lord, his Savior. This is no whim of the moment. It is no passing fancy or temporary inspiration. It is the commitment of a life forever to the highest good.

This Christian way of living the highest good is not alone what the Christian shall find by seeking. It is also what shall be revealed to him by God as he goes along the way. There is no greater commitment of life than to accept Christ and ally one’s self with the forces of Christianity.

Now what are some of the characteristics of consistent Christian living? I shall point out just two or three simple ones.

1) The Christian life is a life of purity. One of the greatest and most profound beliefs about Jesus is that he was without sin. The description of Jesus as sinless, utterly pure in thought and word and deed - in every attitude and action - is one that has not been seriously assailed. Here is the greatest ideal to which we can attach our lives. When I take Christ as my Savior and I affirm my belief in Him and His way of life, I take a life of complete purity for my ideal and I resolve to make it my life struggle to be pure, as He was pure, and as He would have me to be.

This means personal purity - seeing, hearing, speaking, approving and living that which is good. It means a struggle against all of the “fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” (I do not say a denial of our various bodily appetites. Each appetite is given us by the Creator for a purpose. We are responsible, as children of God, for controlling our appetites and directing them toward the ends for which they are given us. The control and direction of appetites is what is meant by temperance in its true sense.)

Again, in the words of the first book of Peter, personal purity means, as Paul says, “having your conversation honest among” all peoples - whether they speak good or evil of youu. This is no small or light matter. It is one of the hardest and most exacting obligations we can assume; and we often fall from the grace of it in the face of direct, or subtle, temptations to speak “half-truths” or to color our utterances with our own immediate desires.

A life of purity means using Christian standards to judge our group life as Christians; and, as well, our community life as citizens of the world. I have a terrible suspicion that every time we consciously compromise our Christianity, we lose some of the Power from on High that should be ours in facing our world.

Is it right for the Church of Jesus Christ in Japan to “bend” before the forces of military might “like a reed in a storm” in order to “save Christianity from being stamped out” in that country, as it was stamped out once before? Or should the Christian forces of that land stand straight and let the wind, if it will, break them again? I do not claim to have the answer, nor do I sit in judgment. But I know it is one of the most solemn problems facing Japanese Christians, and I fear that thus far, a pagan government has the upper hand with them. They deserve our earnest prayers for the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

The matter seems clearer to me here in this “Christian” land, so-called. I do not see how a pure church and Christians who wish to live purely can bless the resort to killing force to settle great issues that after all have never been truly settled by force. When war comes to our world, and to a nation of people, it should be recognized as the result of sin, and a punishment for sin! For the ways of Christ are the ways of peaceful understanding, of considerate love, of fair and merciful dealings among mankind. I believe that every true Christian ought to pray for peace. Not a lazy or selfish peace, but peace bought with the price of willing cooperation, and sharing, and sacrifice. I believe a nation should be strong, not because of fear or hatred, but because righteousness needs strength. Are we Americans re-arming chiefly with the technological means of death or are we honestly preparing to make a contribution to the peace of a war-torn world?

2) A second characteristic of consistent Christianity is a willingness to accept necessary suffering. He who was utterly pure, suffered agonies for others! I do not see how a Christian can do aught but accept the suffering that comes with living in a world where there is sin. This is not the suffering of terror or personal fear. But it is the suffering of uneasy conscience; the suffering over headstrong and blinded evil; the suffering of injustice and unfriendliness and cold-heartedness; suffering, with Christ, for the sins of the world.

We have a promise that our Lord will bear our personal suffering, so that we shall not be overwhelmed nor destroyed by it. The anguish of our sins is lifted with our repentance and the forgiveness of God and of our wronged fellows. We are even given grace to bear the pain of bodily illness.

But we have no escape from the suffering of our Lord for the sins of the world. This we must bear with patience and confidence. For it helps to keep our attention focused upon our life long battle with the forces of right against evil.

Some of us like to cherish portions of the Bible as food for our own special spiritual diet. In connection with suffering, one who is dear to me has always used as a personal promise these words from the Scripture: “In quietness and confidence shall be thy strength.” [Isaiah 30: 15].

3) And the third characteristic of the consistent Christian is dependability, which I mentioned earlier in passing. The only way I can see for Christ’s kingdom to advance through people, is through the dependability of His people. The man who gives his word and keeps it, even if it prove to be to his own hurt; the Christian who tries consistently to make active and practical his vows; the teacher who is regular and faithful and thorough; the church member who is punctual and habitual in his meeting with others for worship and service; the minister who preaches honestly and the layman who listens with mind and heart and receives or criticizes intelligently; all the host of people who have taken their membership in the church - the “body of Christ” -seriously - these may prepare the way ffor the Kingdom of God.

We are perhaps prone to think of the kingdom of heaven as being off in the future, perhaps after our earthly life. It is far more than that. It includes eternity, and is for us here and now as well as in the hereafter. It is our job to prepare the way, by every practical means, for the brotherhood of man and the kingdom of heaven.

Let nothing stand as a screen between you and the great truth that the only way for Christ’s spirit to be made real in our world is through the consistent Christianity of us, his followers. We have a divine duty to be pure, to be willing to endure hardship and suffering, and to be dependable in this world where Christ’s spirit is still so sorely needed.

“Rise up, O men of God, Have done with lesser things:

Give heart & mind & soul & strength

To serve the King of kings.”

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dates and places delivered:

Pilgrim Church, Honolulu, October 22, 1939 AM

Wisconsin Rapids, December 8, 1940