Persecution!—When milder means fail, God allows persecution to come to purify and unify His church, and to spiritualize and energize His people. Persecution automatically banishes petty rivalries, and unites clashing personalities to face the common foe. It calls back from diverting nonessentials, that consume time and scatter effort, to the supreme things of Christian life and witness. It drives men and women to God, closing the gap that indifference, formalism, and worldly conformity have made. Persecution stimulates flagging missionary zeal, and gives impetus to sacrificial giving, by centering affection on the vital things of God. It puts time and eternity, and earth and heaven, into proper perspective and contrast, weaning the heart from the earthly and ephemeral. And it leads to importunate seeking for purity of heart from God. Thus are the robes of Christian righteousness donned through tribulation. When other means fail, God uses persecution.
Power!—Power intoxicates, just as "the cup that cheers." It stimulates and gratifies, and ever calls for more and greater power. Thus men begin to plan and to scheme, both to have and to hold, to gratify the lust for power—and ofttimes for seemingly pious ends. This is the motivating principle and practice of the world about us. It is the very heart of all political activities. It has likewise been the bane of the worldly churches through the centuries, and it seeks to intrude everywhere. It takes ready root because of man's inherently carnal nature. This was true of the Jewish church of old, but Christ rebuked this evil spirit—at utter variance with His gospel—when it appeared among His disciples. There was not to be "greatest" or "least" in rulership; only greatest in capacity and extent of humble, loving service. The trouble with Peter was that he was not converted when he was concerned about the "greatest." And this explains some of our trouble today. Let us examine our own hearts.
Temporary!—We need constantly to remember that much sooner than some are prone to believe or expect, we as a people will be deprived of liberties now looked upon as inherent, and denied the use of facilities at present regarded as vital. Our educational institutions, for example, will be hampered and ultimately closed through increasing restrictions. And the principle will extend to other phases, such as literature distribution. The material sinews of war will be proscripted. Our lines of contact and our sources of supply and distribution will be threatened, and finally cut off. This sobering fact should have due weight in our present plans, our investments, and our emphasis. Recognition of these truths will help to hold matters in right relation now, and will prevent panic when present plans and proc0;:1- ures are inoperative. We are not to confuse methods with objectives and their accomplishments, nor the scaffolding with the essential structure. The saving of the greatest number of souls is the goal of every rightful endeavor in the church of God.
Pioneers!—Most of us must build, and should, upon the foundations laid by other men. And to those who conspicuously develop or triumphantly complete such concepts or projects, proper recognition is assuredly due, though not always bestowed. But after all it is the pioneer, the man who first discovers a new principle, or conceives a new mode of procedure, the one who first ventures into an unknown field of knowledge or research, or who lays the foundation stones in a new project, who richly deserves the oft-forgotten need of praise. Such know frequently, if not indeed usually, the lonesomeness of isolation. They know full well the distress of misconception and misunderstanding by cautious and conservative associates, whose blind devotion to the past or apathy toward the future, prevents ready acceptance of the new and untried. But with tenacious faith in his project, and clear vision of its value, the pioneer must lead busy and ofttimes reluctant associates to see what he sees, and to support what they once questioned, but sometimes later would take the credit for initiating. That is the most curious experience of all. Such are the paradoxes of life.
Kindness!—A word of appreciation, a friendly handclasp, a whispered expression of confidence, or an open assurance of Christian love and moral support, —these cost little, yet mean much. Why, then, are we as workers so sparing in their use? Kindness is but Christianity expressed, and such thoughtfulness is but Christianity in action. No one knows the personal perplexities or discouragements that may be pressing upon a fellow worker. Most men conceal their personal trials, sorrows, and problems, and rightly so. We should not parade our tribulations. They are, however, most real and inevitable, and few escape them. Let us not be so busy in the service of the Master as to forget the very spirit of the Master in these common contacts. Let us more diligently apply our Christianity. In this way we help to share one another's burdens.
L. E. F.
