Christianity

Pen of Inspiration – Living for Christ

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A soul filled with the love of Jesus lends to the words, the manners, the looks, hope, courage and serenity. It reveals the spirit of Christ. It breathes a love which will be reflected. It awakens a desire for a better life; souls ready to faint are strengthened; those struggling against temptation will be fortified and comforted. The words, the expression, the manners throw out a bright ray of sunshine, and leave behind them a clear path toward heaven, the source of all light. Every one of us has opportunities of helping others. We are constantly making impressions upon the youth about us. The expression of the countenance is itself a mirror of the life within. Jesus desires that we shall become like Himself, filled with tender sympathy, exerting a ministry of love in the small duties of life.

The Light Burns Dimly—

The light which is given to shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day, burns dimly. The church no longer sends out the clear bright rays of light amidst the moral darkness that is enveloping the world as a funeral pall. The light of many does not burn or shine. They are moral icebergs.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Diligent heart-keeping is essential to a healthy growth in grace. The heart in its natural state is a habitation for unholy thoughts and sinful passions. When brought into subjection to Christ, it must be cleansed by the Spirit from all defilement. This can not be done without the consent of the individual.

When the soul has been cleansed, it is the duty of the Christian to keep it undefiled. Many seem to think that the religion of Christ does not call for the abandonment of daily sins, the breaking loose from habits which have held the soul in bondage. They renounce some things condemned by the conscience, but they fail to represent Christ in the daily life. They do not bring Christlikeness into the home. They do not show a thoughtful care in their choice of words. Too often, fretful, impatient words are spoken, words which stir the worst passions of the human heart. Such ones need the abiding presence of Christ in the soul. Only in His strength can they keep guard over the words and actions.

In the work of heart-keeping we must be instant in prayer, unwearied in petitioning the throne of grace for assistance. Those who take the name of Christian should come to God in earnestness and humility, pleading for help. The Saviour has told us to pray without ceasing. The Christian can not always be in the position of prayer, but his thoughts and desires can always be upward. Our self-confidence would vanish, did we talk less and pray more.

Christians should be careful that they keep the heart with all diligence. They should cultivate a love for meditation, and cherish a spirit of devotion. Many seem to begrudge moments spent in meditation, and the searching of the Scriptures, and prayer, as though the time thus occupied was lost. I wish you could all view these things in the light God would have you; for you would then make the kingdom of heaven of the first importance. To keep your heart in heaven, will give vigor to all your graces, and put life into all your duties. To discipline the mind to dwell upon heavenly things, will put life and earnestness into all our endeavors. Our efforts are languid, and we run the Christian race slowly, and manifest indolence and sloth, because we so little value the heavenly prize. We are dwarfs in spiritual attainments. It is the privilege and duty of the Christian to be “increasing in the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” [Eph. 4:13.] As exercise increases the appetite, and gives strength and healthy vigor to the body, so will devotional exercises bring an increase of grace and spiritual vigor.

The affections should center upon God. Contemplate His greatness, His mercy and excellences. Let His goodness and love and perfection of character captivate your heart. Converse upon His divine charms, and the heavenly mansions He is preparing for the faithful. He whose conversation is in heaven, is the most profitable Christian to all around him. His words are useful and refreshing. They have a transforming power upon those who hear them, and will melt and subdue the soul.

Practical Religion Breathes Fragrance—

Let the prayer go up to God, “Create in me a clean heart”; for a pure, cleansed soul has Christ abiding therein, and out of the abundance of the heart are the issues of life. The human will is to be yielded to Christ. Instead of passing on, closing the heart in selfishness, there is need of opening the heart to the sweet influences of the Spirit of God. Practical religion breathes its fragrance everywhere. It is a savor of life unto life. “Ellen G. White Comments”, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1156-1157.

Some are seen to come forth from their daily communion with God clothed with the meekness of Christ. Their words are not like a desolating hail, crushing everything before it; they come forth sweetly from their lips. They scatter seeds of love and kindness all along their path, and that all unconsciously, because Christ lives in their heart. Their influence is felt more than it is seen.

Truthfulness and frankness should be ever cherished by all who claim to be followers of Christ. God and the right should be the motto. Deal honestly and righteously in this present evil world. Some will be honest when they see that honesty will not endanger their worldly interests; but all who act from this principle will have their names blotted out of the book of life.

Strict honesty must be cultivated. We can go through the world but once; we cannot come back to rectify any mistakes; therefore every move made should be with godly fear and careful consideration. Honesty and policy will not harmonize; either policy will be subdued, and truth and honesty hold the lines of control, or policy will take the lines, and honesty cease to direct. Both cannot act together; they can never be in agreement. When God makes up His jewels, the true, the frank, the honest, will be His chosen ones, His treasures. Angels are preparing crowns for such; and light from the throne of God will be reflected in its splendor from these star-gemmed-diadems.”

“Ellen G. White comments”, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1159.

Current Events – Christians Targeted

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“Never, never was there a time when the truth will suffer more from being misrepresented, belittled, demerited through the perverse disputings of men than in these last days.” Letter 136a, 1898.

According to South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo, which cites sources in China, singer Hyon Song-wol was among other singers, musicians, and dancers arrested and publicly put to death by firing squad [August 20, 2013]. Mum Kyon-jin, head of the Unhasu Orchestra, was also executed, along with members of both that orchestra and the Wangjaesan Light Music Band. Family members and bandmates watched as authorities killed the dozen performers with machine guns, one source said. A source told South Korea’s largest daily newspaper that some of the victims also faced accusations of possessing Bibles. All were regarded as political dissidents, and their families have been shipped off to prison camps, according to the source. www.spin.com, August 29, 2013.

Kafr Hakim, Egypt (CNN) – For 67 years, the Virgin Mary Church has been a peaceful refuge for Shenouda El Sayeh, much like the Giza province village of Kafr Hakim where it rests and where he has lived all those years. But, as he swept its floors on Thursday, it was painfully obvious things had changed. The night before, a mob—chanting against Coptic Christians had torched and looted the Virgin Mary Church.

Christians all around Egypt are cleaning up in the aftermath of a spate of attacks, which came on the country’s deadliest day since the 2011 revolution. Bishop Angaelos, the Cairo-born head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, said he was told by colleagues in Egypt that 52 churches were attacked in a 24-hour span, as well as numerous Christians’ homes and businesses. www.cnn.com, August 16, 2013.

Christians and Muslims used to peacefully coexist in Syria. Unfortunately, the last two years of civil war have erased this peaceful coexistence, leading Christianity to face an “existential threat” in Syria. According to reports, over 300 Christians have been killed during the civil war, even though they did not participate in hostilities. Christian leaders, including priest and monks have been targeted by extremists and hundreds of thousands of Christians have fled the country seeking safety as a refugee outside Syria’s borders. Please pray for these persecuted people. www.persecution.com, August 21, 2013.

Peru has been urged to investigate the mass killing of Christians and other civilians. Over the course of two decades of guerrilla warfare in the 1980s and ’90s between left wing rebel groups and the Peruvian government an estimated 100,000 dead, most of whom were civilians. Massacres also targeted Christians and church leaders opposed to the group. Ten years after a groundbreaking 2003 report was published on the atrocities committed, the Peruvian government has yet to prosecute many of those responsible for the deaths, including the abduction, torture and murder of a Protestant pastor in 1989. www.persecution.com, August 2013.

Christianity-Not like Other Philosophies

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To be a true Christian means to completely disown self, giving up the will to God with the understanding that by complete subordination of our will to Jesus we become agents of salvation to our fellow men. This indeed fulfills the true object of our creation and existence namely, to bless humanity and to glorify God.

Robert Bruce Thurber, in his book Personal Power for the New Age, (Signs of the Times Publishing Association), 27, 28 seeks to clarify on being a Christian. He writes, “Being a Christian is not like being a Buddhist, or a Mohammedan, or an atheist, or a Liberal, or a Democrat, or an evolutionist or an osteopath. These are all systems of belief in religion, politics, science or healing. Christianity in its true sense is also a system of belief, but it is more: it is a system of release. It frees.

“All these others are professions which more or less influence men’s lives. Christianity is somewhat of a profession, but very much of a possession. Not that a man possess it, but it possesses a man. It is not a pose before men. It is a rest in Christ. But it rests in him that it may awake to power.”

He continues by affirming, “Christianity is not a ‘comparative religion.’ That is, it is not a religion among other religions, all of which have their strong and weak elements; so that if a person would get all the good, he must pick from each and combine. No, Christianity is all good, or it couldn’t be Christianity. Its very existence depends on the assertion that it is all good.”

What makes all the difference in Christianity? It is Christ and His matchless, perfect life, which makes all the difference! Jesus stated emphatically while here on this earth, “And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.” John 8:29.

Elements of Christianity

Jesus had just finished dealing with the Jews and the woman caught in adultery, then, He proclaimed Himself the light of the world and established His relationship with His father; this of course the Pharisees and Jewish people debated. It is out of this background that Jesus reveals another significant component concerning what it really means to be a Christian. These are His words to the Jews: “And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.” John 8:29.

Notice in this verse three important elements namely:

  • He that sent Me is with Me
  • The Father hath not left Me alone
  • For I do always those things that please Him

This doctrine that Jesus presented to the Jewish people establishes the totality of what it really means to be a Christian, a follower of Him. It shows clearly the fact that our Saviour is not asking any one of us to do something or be something that He has not modeled. Within these words of our Lord is embedded the secret of living the godly, holy life. Jesus strongly emphasized the reason for His sinless life and the reality of its constancy. Let us examine these three important elements stated by Christ in John’s gospel.

First element of Jesus’ statement on being a Christian

Our Saviour stated, “He that sent Me is with Me.” What does this mean and what is the message that Christ was seeking to convey? Jesus could confidently attest to the fact that the Father who sent Him is with Him, that from the moment of the sending up to the present moment the Father did not leave Him. The presence of God with the believer is significant in that it means the presence of power.

King David in his psalm of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance recorded, “For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect.” II Samuel 22:32, 33. David’s use of the word power in relation to God means that this God is whatever he needs Him to be to him. Jesus acknowledges this fact in His model prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13. In Mark’s gospel chapter 9 verse 1 our Lord taught that the kingdom of God comes with power: “And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.”

Now, this word power that is spoken of in Matthew and Mark is the Greek word dunamis which means miraculous power, power that is outside the realm of human ability, power that human beings do not possess. Power that can work the impossible; like, change a hardened sinner into a loving Christian; like, change a fully confirmed homosexual into a straight, happy, holy saint. It is power that can change a drunkard into a sober follower of Christ; power that can root out any and every addiction, hereditary or cultivated which sin may have produced. This is the truth wrapped up in the words of Jesus, “He that sent Me is with Me.” That’s why the apostle Paul states, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” I Corinthians 4:20.

We are told from the pen of inspiration, “Man needs power outside of, and beyond, himself to restore him to the likeness of God, and to enable him to do the work of God; but this does not make the human agency unessential. Humanity lays hold upon divine power. Christ dwells in the heart by faith; and, through co-operation with the divine, the power of man becomes efficient for good.” The Signs of the Times, April 6, 1904.

Christ clearly taught that divine power is available to Him to perform whatever the One who sends Him requires of Him, and that same power will be given to all those who accept Him as Master. John in his gospel states, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12.

While on earth He gave this power to His followers, as recorded in Luke 10:19: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Notice that the word power to tread on serpents and scorpions is the Greek word exousia, which means authority or delegated influence. In the Scriptures, people who are obdurate [stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing] are likened to serpents and scorpions. God told the prophet Ezekiel, “And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.” Ezekiel 2:6.

John the Baptist also proclaimed, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7.

The Christian who is conscious of the presence of God with him or her will not and cannot be affected by the ungodly attitudes of those who regard not God. They will not allow their Christian influence to be tarnished or weakened because of the unchristlike attributes of those who desire to make of none effect their Christian witness. They will ever remember that because God’s presence is with them, He is able to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24), for His presence means power.

Going back to Luke 10:19, the second part of the text says, “… and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” The word power in this statement is the Greek word dunamis, which Satan has, but the authority or power that the Christian has by virtue of the presence of God with him or her makes it impossible for Satan to defeat him or her. So the reason why Satan could not overthrow Christ is as He stated, “… the Father hath not left Me alone.” John 8:29.

Second element of Jesus’ statement on being a Christian.

In coming to this earth, the Father was with Him. He came to this world on the Father’s mission. John 5:19 and 30 tell us that, “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. … I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” While on this earth Christ did not abandon His Father or His mission, for if this was done He would have separated Himself from His Father’s presence and therefore would have been overcome by the Devil. So, because He did not disregard His Father throughout His sojourn here, He could confidently say, “the Father hath not left Me alone.”

We cease being Christians when we stop following Christ. It’s good to begin with the Lord but it’s better to continue with Him, for it is only then that we are assured of His constant presence with us and it is only then that we have power over the enemy! The servant of the Lord made this statement: “We cannot for one moment separate ourselves from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to attend us at every step, but only by observing the conditions which He has Himself laid down.” The Review and Herald, May 3, 1881.

Here is another counsel that we need to think seriously about if we are going to remain Christians in the truest sense of the word: “If by associating with worldlings for pleasure, by conforming to worldly practices, by uniting our interests with unbelievers, we place our feet in the path of temptation and sin, how can we expect God to keep us from falling?

“Keep yourselves away from the corrupting influences of the world. Do not go unbidden to places where the forces of the enemy are strongly entrenched.

“Do not go where you will be tempted and led astray. But if you have a message for unbelievers, and if you live so near to God that you can speak to them a word in season, you can do a work that will help them and will honor God.” Messages to Young People, 81, 82.

Many professed Christians wonder why they are not advancing in the Christian life, why they keep on being overcome by the enemy. Well, the answer is simple; they have not made a wholehearted commitment to God. Yes, they started with Him, but somewhere along the journey they abandon Christ in order to satisfy self. Remember, it will be impossible to continue with God and for God to continue with us if we allow self to take over at some point in our Christian journey. We will utterly fail and fall under the power of the devil so long as we are separated from the presence of God. From the pen of inspiration we are reminded: “In giving ourselves to God, we must necessarily give up all that would separate us from Him. Hence the Saviour says, ‘Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple’ (Luke 14:33). Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. The love of money, the desire for wealth, is the golden chain that binds them to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. But these slavish bands must be broken. We cannot be half the Lord’s and half the world’s. We are not God’s children unless we are such entirely.” Steps to Christ, 44.

Ellen White explains in The Review and Herald article dated June 28, 1887, that when we separate ourselves from God we automatically place ourselves on the side of the enemy. This means we stop working for God and are working for the devil. It means we cease receiving power from God, but power from the devil. It means we are no longer Christians but children of the devil. It is self evident then that by our own experiences, the majority of us who profess to be Christians are only Christians in name, having a form of godliness but denying the power (II Timothy 3:5). For many Christians, they have never experienced the power of God working in their lives, bringing about changes that will allow them to reflect the attributes of Christ in a most significant way to the degree that the lives of others will be totally transformed to the glory of God.

We need to answer the question as to why Jesus was successful in His righteous journey here on earth. Why is it that He did not sin? Is it a planned thing between Him and His Father that, no matter what, He would not sin? What made our Saviour defeat the devil and win the victory for us?

Third element of Jesus’ statement on being a Christian

This leads us to our third and final element as stated by Jesus in John 8:29, “And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.”

The question, Who am I? cannot be answered by man outside of Christ. From within our sinful state we are tempted to believe that our true self is the self apart from God. Such a life only distorts and warps our identity. Therefore man puts total stock in himself. Self is his chief interest and center of reference. His basic loyalty is to himself. The higher the position he occupies, the more important his status, the greater the desire for recognition, the more he exaggerates his own importance. This exaggerated importance attached to self is wholly contrary to our Lord and His chosen role as servant.

So the truth is, it will be impossible to please Jesus if we do not first deny or disown self completely and surrender totally our will to Him. Christ taught that the Father was with Him and that the Father did not leave Him alone because Jesus always did those things that were pleasing to Him. I, for my part, choose to do likewise. So, where we are concerned, for Christ to be with us always, giving us overcoming power to melt away every weight and the sins which doth so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1) enabling us to be true Christians, we then must resolve in our minds that we will please Him.

The word please which Christ used in John 8:29 is the Greek word arestos meaning agreeable, hence Jesus was always in total agreement with His Father, and this was so throughout His life here on earth setting us an example. The prophet Amos asked the question, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3. The answer is obvious! We will never be able to agree with God and His program as long as self is in control. Listen to what the servant of the Lord has to say about that:

“Half-hearted Christians obscure the glory of God, misinterpret piety, and cause men to receive false ideas as to what constitutes vital godliness. Others think that they, also, can be Christians and yet consult their own tastes and make provision for the flesh, if these false-hearted professors can do so. On many a professed Christian’s banner the motto is written, ‘You can serve God and please self—you can serve God and mammon.’ ” The Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

Also, in The Review and Herald article dated June 11, 1901, we are further counseled, “If we constantly receive grace from God, we shall be vessels unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use. Daily receiving blessings, we shall daily impart blessings to those around us. But in order to be successful in this work, we must deny self. We cannot at the same time please self and serve Christ. We are not to follow our own inclinations, but look to Jesus, waiting to receive orders from our Captain.”

Here is one final statement that will make the matter clear to our minds: “Those who live to please and gratify self are dishonoring the Lord. He cannot work through them, for they would misrepresent Him before those who are ignorant of the truth.” Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven Library, vol. 1, 13.

So, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. The apostle Paul sums it up wonderfully, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8. May we remember that the whole adventure of living the Christian life is a continual challenge to die to self and live for Christ. This problem is not solved by human wisdom, but by the power of God. Nothing but a miracle can free us from self-centeredness. But God is used to working miracles of this kind.

I encourage us all; let us accept the challenge of every day allowing Christ to live His life in and through us. Our personal failure, the discouragement resulting from self-will and pride, this sensitiveness that is always getting hurt—face it with Christ. Life with Christ provides us with a margin of power greater than the self-life. Paul wrote, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.” I Thessalonians 4:1. Knowing “For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.” Romans 15:3.

The words of the song, “Yes Lord Yes” (www.hymnlyrics.org), sums up what I believe God wanted to convey to us in this message:

Yes, Lord, yes, to Your will and to Your way.
Yes, Lord, yes, I will trust You and obey.
When Your Spirit speaks to me,
With my whole heart I’ll agree,
And my answer will be, yes Lord, yes!

May it be said of us as was said of faithful Enoch, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5. Thus I say to all of us, being a Christian means in the truest sense pleasing God, always agreeing fully and completely with Jesus!

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.

The Faithful Christian

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The true Christian acts on the basis of faith, saving faith, true faith, genuine faith, that quality of trust without which it is impossible for any human being to please God. The faith, which every believer needs, is the faith of Jesus, which purifies the soul. It is that faith which the True Witness asks us to “buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich” (Revelation 3:18). The Bible discloses for us the normal path of a Christian’s walk in such passages as: “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17); “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20); “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7). By faith are we to live. But while this principle may be quickly grasped in the mind, it is not so readily experienced in life.

The obvious question then would be, Why is faith for many Christians only an intellectual concept but not an experimental reality? The late Professor James Orr of Scotland, in one of his sermons entitled “Science and Christian Faith,” said, “In many quarters the belief is industriously circulated that the advance of ‘science,’ meaning by this chiefly the physical sciences—astronomy, geology, biology, and the like—has proved damaging, if not destructive, to the claims of the Bible, and the truth of Christianity. Science and Christianity are pitted against each other. Their interests are held to be antagonistic. Books are written … to show that this warfare between science and religion has ever been going on, and can never in the nature of things cease till theology is destroyed, and science holds sole sway in men’s minds.” The Fundamentals: A Testimony, (Testimony Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1910), vol. 1, 334.

We can all agree that science, falsely so called, has eroded the pure faith of Christianity for too many Christians, hence, there is for the majority of professed Christians a form of godliness, because the real substance is lacking in their lives which is to produce a holy, Christlike character. I would hasten to say that the pressures and tensions of modern life require a mature faith based on an intelligent understanding of religious truth and not on magic or superstition. Of course, it always has been hard for men to recognize, and much harder to understand, that the Christian needs to believe with the mind as well as with the heart. Yet true faith, as stated so admirably by Alexandre Vinet, theologian and literary critic (1819), “consecrates the mind, the heart, and the will to God and His purposes.”

Absolute Reality and Purposefulness of Christianity

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” I John 3:3. In the “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 950, 951, we see a wonderful explanation of this text and what will form the basis of this study. It reads as follows: “Does this text [I Peter 1:22] mean that the human agent can remove one stain of sin from his soul? No. Then what does it mean to purify himself? It means to look upon the Lord’s great moral standard of righteousness, the holy law of God, and see that he is a sinner in the light of that law. ‘Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin’ (I John 3:4, 5).

“It is through faith in Jesus Christ that the truth is accepted in the heart, and the human agent is purified and cleansed. … He has an abiding principle in the soul, that enables him to overcome temptation. ‘Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not.’ Verse 6. God has power to keep the soul that is in Christ who is under temptation. …

“A mere profession of godliness is worthless. It is he that abideth in Christ that is a Christian. … Unless the mind of God becomes the mind of men, every effort to purify himself will be useless; for it is impossible to elevate man except through a knowledge of God.”

It is through faith in Christ that the truth is accepted in the heart, and the human agent is purified and cleansed. Fundamentally, we must take God at his word for the transformation of our characters. Our faith in Christ acknowledges Him as an abiding Saviour who is able to keep us from practicing sin and eventually overcoming every sin! So who is a Christian? It is he that abides in Christ! “Unless the mind of God becomes the mind of men, every effort to purify himself will be useless.” The Youth’s Instructor, March 1, 1894.

This clearly shows that it is extremely important that sinful man agrees with God in order that he becomes purified of sin.

The remaining portion of the quotation is significant to our understanding of how God defines a Christian. It reads, “The outward gloss may be put on, and men may be as were the Pharisees whom Jesus describes as ‘whited sepulchres’ full of corruption and dead men’s bones (Matthew 23:27). But all the deformity of the soul is open to Him who judgeth righteously, and unless the truth is planted in the heart, it cannot control the life. Cleansing the outside of the cup will never make the vessel pure within. A nominal acceptance of truth is good as far as it goes, and the ability to give a reason for our faith is a good accomplishment, but if the truth does not go deeper than this, the soul will never be saved. The heart must be purified from all moral defilement.” Ibid.

For God, Christianity is practical godliness based upon righteous principles, which permanently controls the believer; it is not motivated by a faith that is based on feelings. As Watchman Nee puts it in his book, The Spiritual Man, (Christian Fellowship Publishers, Inc., New York, 1968), vol. 2, 240, “The life of faith is not only totally different from, but also diametrically opposite to, a life of feeling. He who lives by sensation can follow God’s will or seek the things above purely at the time of excitement; should his blissful feeling cease, every activity terminates. Not so with one who walks by faith. Faith is anchored in the One Whom he believes rather than in the one who exercises the believing, that is himself. Faith looks not at what happens to him but at Him Whom he believes. Though he may completely change, yet the one in Whom he trusts never does—and so he can proceed without letting up. Faith establishes its relationship with God. It regards not feeling because it is concerned with God. Faith follows the One believed while feeling turns on how one feels. What faith beholds is God whereas what feeling beholds is one’s self. God does not change: He is the same in either the cloudy day or the sunny day. Hence he who lives by faith is as unchanging as is God; he expresses the same kind of life through darkness or through light. But one who dwells by feeling must pursue an up-and-down existence because his feeling is ever changing.”

From the pen of inspiration we are reminded: “Many pass long years in darkness and doubt because they do not feel as they desire. But feeling has nothing to do with faith. That faith which works by love and purifies the soul is not a matter of impulse. It ventures out upon the promises of God, firmly believing that what he has said, he is able also to perform. Our souls may be trained to believe, taught to rely upon the word of God. That word declares that ‘the just shall live by faith’ (Romans 1:17), not by feeling.” The Youth’s Instructor, July 8, 1897.

The apostle John states of faith, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4. The faith which overcomes the world is the faith which works by love and purifies the soul. The importance of this faith is brought out in The Review and Herald, October 6, 1891: “The Lord is represented as opening the hearts of men and women to receive the word, and the Holy Spirit makes the word effective. Those who receive the truth have that faith which leads to decided action, which works by love, and purifies the soul. Thus the truth is a sanctifier. Its transforming power is seen on the character. When it has been admitted into the inner sanctuary of the soul, it does not operate superficially, leaving the heart unchanged; it does not awaken the emotions merely, to the neglect of the judgment and will; but it goes down to the very depths of the nature, and brings the whole being into harmonious action.”

For many Christians today Christianity has to do with an emotional experience, which has its roots in self-love. There is no willingness to agree with God or to conform to His way of life, thus Christianity is reduced to an intellectual experience without any transformation of character, for there is no willingness to be obedient to Jesus. More and more many of those who profess to be Christians display attributes very much different from that of the Christ they profess to follow, obviously not caring that they “are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” I Peter 2:9.

We are told that only “Few have that genuine faith which works by love and purifies the soul. But all who are accounted worthy of everlasting life must obtain a moral fitness for the same. …

“You must experience a death to self, and must live unto God. ‘If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God’ (Colossians 3:1). Self is not to be consulted. Pride, self-love, selfishness, avarice, covetousness, love of the world, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, evil surmisings, must all be subdued and sacrificed forever.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 705.

The veneer of human hypocrisy is the order of the day in Christianity. The prophet states, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men.” Isaiah 29:13. Also, the prophet Ezekiel wrote, “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” Ezekiel 33:31.

God requires perfect, loving obedience from us, for this will then prove that we possess that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. That’s why Paul wrote, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6. The apostle James shows the importance of loving obedience: “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20. He also states, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Verse 26.

Our obedience to Christ is not a legalistic obedience, for the Scripture states, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” I John 4:19. And the apostle Paul wrote, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead.” II Corinthians 5:14. The servant of the Lord confirms this teaching when she wrote: “By faith the soul catches divine light from Jesus. We see matchless charms in His purity and humility, His self-denial, His wonderful sacrifice to save fallen man. Contemplation of Christ leads man to place a proper estimate upon himself, for he realizes that the love of God has made him great. ‘And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure’ (I John 3:3). The possibility of being like Jesus, whom he loves and adores, inspires within him that faith which works by love and purifies the heart.” The Review and Herald, October 7, 1890.

When we take God at His word, believing that Christ is the Saviour of the world and that without Him we would be completely hopeless, love springs up in our hearts for Jesus and we willingly obey Him because He becomes our Lord and Master, thus He works by the Holy Spirit to purify our minds making us His true followers.

So what will this faith, which works by love and purifies the soul, do for the believer? From the book, In Heavenly Places, 118, we are told: “It is a great thing to believe in Jesus. We hear many say, ‘Believe, believe; all that you have to do is to believe in Jesus.’ But it is our privilege to inquire, What does this belief take in? and what does it comprehend? There are many of us who have a nominal faith but we do not bring that faith into our characters. … We must have that faith which works by love and purifies the soul, that this belief in Christ will lead us to put away everything that is offensive in His sight. Unless we have this faith that works, it is of no advantage to us. You may admit that Christ is the Saviour of the world, but is He your Saviour? Do you believe today that He will give you strength and power to overcome every defect in your character?”

From The Bible Echoes, April 15, 1893, we read the following: “When you respond to the drawing of Christ, and join yourself to Him, you manifest saving faith. But to talk of religious things in a casual way, to pray for spiritual blessings without real soul hunger and living faith, avails nothing. … The faith which avails to bring us into vital contact with Christ expresses on our part supreme preference, perfect reliance, entire consecration. This faith works by love and purifies the soul. It works in the life of the follower of Christ true obedience to God’s commandments; for love to God and love to man will be the result of vital connection with Christ. ‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new’ (II Corinthians 5:17).”

May we ever keep in mind the words of our Saviour, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. Also, “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So for Jesus, being a Christian means perfect, loving obedience to the word of God, a practical application of that word in the life of the believer every day of his or her life.

John the Revelator in vision saw all the Christians of all ages stand at last before the throne of God and the testimony concerning them is: “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14. I appeal to each one who reads to make every sacrifice to be among that number.

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.

Current Events – Can Christianity Save China?

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The growth of Christianity in China has been astonishing. At this point, it’s no longer a question of if China will become a Christian nation, but when. The ramifications of this religious shift are massive, and will shake China’s culture and economy to their cores.

Since 1979, Protestant Christianity has been growing in China at a compound annual growth rate of more than 10 percent. There were 3 million Christians in China in 1980, compared to 58 million in 2010, according to Fenggyang Yang, director of the Center of Religion and Chinese Society at Purdue University. By 2025, that number could swell to 250 to 300 million.

Surprised? That makes sense. The Chinese Communist Party has done all it can to downplay this phenomenon and keep a tight media lid on it. Meanwhile, Western media outlets are so taken with the idea that religion is an irrelevant (and declining) facet of modern life that they don’t pay attention to its growth in most places outside calcified Western Europe.

But this shift is happening, and it is astonishing, especially considering that China is officially an atheist country. From Chairman Mao’s accession to power until his death, China officially banned all religion, the only country in history besides Albania to do so. Then, in 1979, in keeping with its liberalization program, China cautiously allowed a few places of worship to open. But the government’s policy is still that religious expression must obey the party. Religion that is not officially sanctioned is still oppressed.

While it might seem surprising that Christianity could grow in the face of such repression, it is repression that prompted the growth of Christianity in the first place. In the third century, the church father Tertullian famously boasted that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.”

To better understand what’s going on in China, let’s look back at the Roman Empire. There, both government and society had values that were at odds with Christianity. The religion was so foreign that the reaction to it was an incoherent mix of savage oppression, benign neglect, and attempts at cooperation.

Still, Christians eventually became the dominant group in the Roman Empire by compounding with a respectable yearly growth rate. But there was more to it than that. Christians were often over-represented among the intelligentsia, which gave them a strong cultural cachet, even as their innovative welfare work made them attractive to the poor. (Bone fragments show Christians were healthier and lived longer than pagans, almost certainly thanks to the church’s welfare system.) And of course, the church’s heroic work was great PR. After a plague, while most people fled to the countryside, Christians rushed in to help the people, like they did in China in the wake of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Under Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has stepped up its oppression of Christianity. As the Chinese writer and dissident Yu Jie writes in the magazine First Things:

An internal government document obtained by The New York Times in May 2014 shows that the church demolitions are part of a larger campaign to curb Christianity’s influence on the public. According to the nine-page provincial policy statement, the Xi administration wants to put an end to “excessive” religious sites and “overly popular” religious activities, but it names one religion in particular, Christianity, and one symbol, the cross.

If history is any guide, this will only increase the popularity of Christianity. As Yu writes: “One of the phrases I have heard most often among [Chinese Christians] is: ‘The greater the persecution, the greater the revival.’ ” Indeed, during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and ‘70s, when oppression was at its fiercest, Christianity actually grew in China.

Interestingly, Protestant Christianity is growing much faster in China than Catholic Christianity, almost certainly because the Roman Catholic Church has practiced a doctrine of appeasement to the Chinese government. Given that Protestantism is a do-it-yourself religion, where anyone is empowered to decide doctrine based on their interpretation of the Bible, we could see the emergence of new and seemingly strange versions of Christianity, acculturated to China, and perhaps mixed in with Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Today, China is pursuing a nationalistic foreign policy, combined with a domestic policy focused almost exclusively on economic growth and productivity. This comes at the expense of families, social welfare, and the environment. To say that these are not exactly Christian values is an understatement. It is not hard to understand why the Chinese leadership is not a fan of Christianity.

But Christianity could be China’s only chance to survive. Because of its one-child policy, and sex-selective abortion and infanticide, China is a fast-aging country with a massive gender imbalance. If you add to that the tensions wrought by breakneck crony capitalism and consumerism and inequality and pollution, the country is a powder keg. Most Westerners see China as a strong rival, but China’s actual leaders see the country as always teetering on the brink of collapse, which is why their grip on power is so white-knuckled. More deeply, decades of Communism have stripped China of so much of its cultural heritage and left its society and culture aimless.

Christianity’s enormous cultural and spiritual heritage, its emphasis on the rule of law, and its traditional focus on fertility are just what China may need to manage the next few decades without collapsing into civil war, revolution, or something equally terrible.

www.theweek.com/articles/635668/christianity-save-china