Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

mere heresy of belief; heresies of the heart and life being the evils specially condemned. There is, however, one doctrine singled out, the denial of which brings certain judgment. Using a strong adjective the apostle Peter speaks of certain false teachers as “bringing in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them." * To deny Christ is the heresy of heresies. It is the very "schism of perdition." But to deny Christ, and to deny human dogmas regarding him, are two very different things. Many a soul bows reverently before the Master, while honestly rejecting human theories that have been formed concerning his person and work. Many who look upon the Gospels as beautiful legends bow before the peerless life which they portray, giving to it the deepest homage of their hearts, and making it the object of their loving imitation. The Christ whom they deny is some fancied Christ of their own; the Christ whom they ignorantly worship is "the Lord that bought them." Forsaking the beaten orthodox path they come round to Christ by another way. Conforming their lives to the perfect pattern shown to them on the Mount, they unconsciously take the Man of Nazareth as their inspiration and model. Happy are those who

* 2 Peter ii. 1.

thus, in spite of conflicting theories, in spite of defective knowledge, and in spite of imperfect faith touching Christ and his atonement, reach the glorious reality which lies at the center of Christian doctrine! Happy are those who, ascending above the fogs of abstract speculation, soar into the clear light of devout contemplation, worshipping the real Christ in the Ideal! Not any theory of the Divinity of Christ, but the Divine Christ himself, the living, loving, personal Redeemer, is the foundation upon which saving faith rests; the living Head in which all the faithful are united. Separation from him is the deadly schism, bringing ruin, swift and irremediable. Separation from the real or ideal Christ, means disconnection from remedial influencesand hence from the hope of spiritual improvement. When love of sin grows stronger, and love to Christ grows weaker, the tie that binds to Christ is finally sundered, and the last, the only resort given up. Who can succeed where Christ has failed? Hope goes out in the blackness of despair when his sacrifice is discarded; for the whole universe affords no other remedy for sin. "Other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." "And in none other is there salvation, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved."

Because of the essential relation of Christ to humanity every man has some kind of connection with him. He is set for the falling and rising up of all men. Some are guided by the light of his Cross to pardon, purity and peace; others wound and damage their moral natures by dashing themselves against the Cross-as seabirds sweeping up out of the darkness dash themselves against a friendly lighthouse. Some welcome and accept him, in whatever form he comes, and he becomes to them the rock upon which they build the temple of a holy life; others reject him in ignorance, and he becomes unto them "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense ". upon which they carelessly strike in the dark, and are bruised; others consciously reject him, and to them he becomes "the Head Stone of the corner" which from its elevation at the top of the building falls upon them in crushing, destroying judgment; grinding them to powder.

XI.

THE CHIEF DANGER-POINT.

"Such is the constitution of things that unwillingness to good. ness may ripen into voluntary opposition to it."—MÜLLER.

"At last I heard a voice upon the slope
Cry to the summit, 'Is there any hope?'

To which an answer pealed from that high land,
But in a tongue no man could understand;
And on the glimmering limit far withdrawn
God made himself an awful rose of dawn."

TENNYSON (The Vision of Sin).

"Forever round the mercy-seat

The guiding lights of Love shall burn;

But what if, habit-bound, thy feet

Shall lack the will to turn?"

WHITTIER.

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »