| The Christian Life | January 1941 |
What Manner of Persons
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and Godliness.”—II Peter 2:11
THE CHURCH today is actually witnessing what the apostle foretold nearly two thousand years ago. The symbolic heavens and earth are now being dissolved and nothing that man is able to do can stop the melting processes that are everywhere visible. The worldly-wise realize and admit this startling fact, and it is becoming more and more apparent to all as the days, the weeks, and the months go by. A brief glance at what has occurred during 1940 will help us to realize what may be in the offing for 1941. The people of the world see these things and their hearts are filled with fear. The followers of the Master see them, and they look up, and lift up their heads, knowing that their deliverance draweth nigh.
Mr. Ralph Ingersoll, one of the editors of PM, New York’s new daily newspaper, has just recently returned from Europe, and, after getting a close-up view of what is transpiring there, frankly admits in an editorial that the present world order cannot possibly last more than another ten years. Its total collapse may come within a year or two, he says, but by no stretch of the imagination, he indicates, can the world that this and past generations have known be held together for more than a decade. Mr. Ingersoll has no better suggestion to offer in view of this inevitable outcome of the present war than that everybody should start doing what he can with his brains, resources and blood, to lay the foundations of a new order, in the hope that thereby our children and grandchildren may, perchance, enjoy a measure of peace and security.
What Mr. Ingersoll means when he says that the old world is dying is that practically all the ways of life to which the people have been accustomed are in the process of change. The competitive system of capitalism is the foundation of the world that is now dying. Under this system each one competes with all the others for a “living.” It has been a cruel and losing struggle for millions, while others have made out fairly well. A few have been able to amass fortunes. The fortunate ones have felt a measure of security under this system. They have had all they needed for the present, and have been able to save up for a “rainy day.”
But now, this way of life is nearly past. The present unprecedented and continuous destruction of property and wealth, with the consequent dislocation of world economy, is destroying the foundation upon which the present world order is built. With the foundation destroyed, the whole structure must surely fall. With the fall of the present order will come the end of all private ownership, claim many of the far-seeing writers today. But what to do about it the wisdom of this world is unable to say.
The Christian, however, is not left in a quandary when he sees “this present evil world” crumbling at his feet. If we are Christians we have our instructions. A part of these instructions is contained in our text: “What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” This admonition is given in view of the fact that we see the present evil world dissolving and coming to an end. It means that inasmuch as we know what is happening, we should act accordingly, and not go on in life as though we were not aware of the great changes taking place.
Beloved, let us take the apostle’s admonition more seriously to heart! Just because the cities of America are not being bombed let us not try to imagine that the accustomed way of life in this country will continue on without interruption for generations to come. It will not. We should begin to realize that every bomb that is exploding in Europe, every ship that is being torpedoed, and all the food that is being destroyed, plus all the hate that is being engendered, are tolling the death knell of a world. As Christians we should not be living in a “fool’s paradise,” of supposing that all things will continue as they are.
SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM
Thank God, we have a genuine hope of a better world, for we according to His promise “look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Like Mr. Ingersoll, and thousands of others, we, too, should know that there isn’t anything that can be done about the old world; but there is something we can do about the new one. It is not our business to try and figure out some new system of world economy to replace the one that is now crumbling at our feet, but we are, nevertheless, supposed to be builders of a new order.
The new order for which we are to labor and die, is the divine order. All that we have and are is to be devoted to this one cause. Unless we are among those described by the apostle as saying, “Where is the promise of His presence? for … all things continue as they were,” we will realize the utter futility of going on as though we intended to live out a normal life span in a world that is unchanging. Instead of that we will concentrate on the one thing of making our calling and election sure to a place in the executive branch of Christ’s Kingdom.
While doing this we can rejoice in the fact that, in the only practical and really effective way, we are laying down our lives in the interests of the new order—God’s new world of tomorrow. Well may we ponder the apostle’s words: “What manner of persons ought ye to be!” We ought to be acting as though we really believed the truth. But are we? Are we seeking the Kingdom and its interests first, last and all the time, or are we going on as though we expected the present order of things to continue indefinitely, meanwhile attending the meetings occasionally to keep in touch with the brethren simply as a matter of course?
We are speaking plainly, but no more so than the inspired writers of the Bible. In view of the passing of the old order, Peter speaks of “all holy conversation” to which we should be giving close attention. (I Pet. 1:15) Have we yet awakened to the fact that merely some manner of holy conversation and godliness will not suffice to assure us of victory in the new Kingdom? That little word “all” gives us the measure of what we should devote to holy conversation and godliness. It also denotes the scope of holy conversation to which we must give attention. Our all should be devoted to all that is embraced in the divine will for His people. It won’t do for us to say that we will devote a few things to the Lord in the manner in which we prefer to serve.
CONVERSATION—BEHAVIOR
The word “conversation” in our text is a translation of a Greek word which means “behavior.” It, of course, includes the thought of conversation because conversation is a part of one’s behavior, but it actually applies to one’s entire life—all that he says and does. The apostle’s thought then is that our knowledge of a melting world should have a bearing on our whole life, transforming that life into one that is wholly devoted to godliness.
Godly behavior is that which is in harmony with God, and with what God is doing. God is not trying to save the old world, neither should we. God is working for the establishment of a new world, so should we. The laws by which the new world is to be governed will be wholly unselfish, and calculated to eradicate selfishness from the human heart; so we should now be controlled by motives of love rather than selfishness. This means that we should endeavor to be emptied of self, and filled with God’s spirit of love.
Additionally, it means that we will seek to bless others rather than hinder them. It means that in our association with the brethren, and also with the worldly, we will try to do them good instead of injury. It means, furthermore, that we will gladly lay down our lives for the brethren—for all the brethren, not merely those with whom we may be immediately associated. If our brethren are in distress, spiritually or otherwise, we will be on the alert to do all we can to help them.
This doesn’t mean that in order to assist our erring brethren we will pretend to be like them. If a brother is in error, doctrinally or otherwise, we can’t help him by telling him that perhaps he is right. True love will hold on to the erring one, but will not compromise with his error. Herein is a principle of true godliness. God loves the condemned and sinful race—loves them so much that He sent His Son to redeem them—but He cannot look upon sin with any degree of allowance.
Not until God has made it plain that the sin and the sinner has become inseparable, can we let go our hold on an erring brother, but we should never permit ourselves to become defiled with his error. We are emphasizing this point, in case some may feel that refusing to join with erring brethren is a manifestation of narrow-mindedness and bigotry. It is not. On the other hand, laxity along this line is usually a manifestation of a weak faith.
If one is not quite sure that we are living in the end of the age, obviously he will not consider belief in this fact very important. If one doesn’t realize that the world is being dissolved, he will not be very positive in encouraging others to believe it, and he will be quite likely to say, “What difference does it make, for, after all, who can prove it?”
Strange as it may seem, while we are living at a time when the Christian is almost walking by sight, yet it is a time when faith is being severely tested. Some are falling under the test. These tests of faith are in connection with practically all the doctrines of Present Truth. It isn’t always manifested in an out-and-out disbelief of the truth. No, it is more subtle than that.
TOLERANCE AND UNBELIEF
Unbelief sometimes takes strange forms. Occasionally we hear someone begin to advocate a greater degree of liberalism in the ecclesias with respect to doctrines. Sometimes this merely represents a desire on the part of a brother to air his unbeliefs before the friends. It may mean that he wishes an opportunity to say to the brethren along one or more lines, “I used to believe thus and so, but now I have something better.” From his standpoint the ecclesia that is not willing to listen to his doubts is intolerant and sectarian.
So if we clearly apprehend the significance of what is happening in the world today we will realize that the time is too short to permit it to be wasted along lines of this kind. In the case of those who are having difficulty in understanding some phase or another of the truth, we will endeavor to be as helpful as possible, and should be glad to spend as much time as need be in order to assist them. Indeed, one of our chief aims should be to help each other as much as possible to be built up in our most holy faith. We hold meetings with this object in view. But as soon as we discern that an effort is being made to tear down our faith in the truth that we might be prepared to accept “new light,” that is something different.
Even then, we should not seek to restrain a brother’s liberty to preach whatever he feels to be the truth. We should let him know that so far as we are concerned we will not put anything in his way of hiring a hall, or otherwise providing a meeting place to which he may invite as many as may care to hear him express his views. We want that liberty for ourselves, and we certainly should be willing to grant it to others. Christian liberty, however, does not demand that we furnish a meeting place where those who do not agree with us may expound their theories.
It sometimes happens that a Truth brother is invited to speak in a nominal church. One of the friends in Brooklyn recently enjoyed an opportunity of this kind. It was at a so-called forum meeting. Upon talking with those present it was discovered that none of them had any definite views of what constituted truth. Even the minister of the church was not very sure of anything. Because of this they were glad to have almost anyone address them, irrespective of what his views might be.
This congregation considered itself liberal and tolerant. They prided themselves in not being sectarian or narrow-minded. Their idealism seemed beautiful, but in reality it was a camouflage for their unbelief. The only definite thing believed by most of them was that they were not sure they believed anything. This situation should not be found among those who were once established in Present Truth!
To see the world crumbling around us as it is today, and not to have a firm faith in what the outcome will be, is tragic for a Christian once enlightened with Present Truth. But, for those whose faith in the truth remains firm, it should be a time for great rejoicing. We do not rejoice in the trouble. Far from it, but we do rejoice to know that the time is so near when God will make an end of trouble. Rejoicing in this hope, we will want the remaining days of our earthly pilgrimage wholly spent in seeking first the Kingdom of God and working in the interests of that Kingdom.
We know not what another year may bring in world changes; but if we are living up to our privileges, each passing day should find us living nearer to the Lord, and putting forth greater efforts to know and to do His will. President Roosevelt, in leaving Warm Springs, Georgia, recently, told his friends there that he would be back in the Spring if the world is still alive. Like all others not blessed with the vision of truth from God’s Word, the President’s plans are contingent upon what happens in and to this “present evil world.” But, as Christians, our hopes are based upon God’s promises for a new world, and that it is His “good pleasure” to give us a share in that Kingdom.—Luke 12:32
Let us continue to seek that Kingdom with all the powers we possess! Let us seek the Kingdom by prayer; by Bible study; by fellowship; by labor for the Lord and for the brethren; and by sacrifice of self and means in order that others may be comforted and blessed. Witnessing the falling world around us should stimulate us to a greater sense of our responsibility along all these lines. We should be more faithful in prayer; more earnest in Bible study; more pure in our fellowship; more untiring in our labor of love; and more generous in sacrifice—“What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness”!
That this may be so in the experience of all the consecrated is our New Year’s wish and prayer. May 1941 be a year of rich spiritual blessing for all who are setting their affections on things above.