SIMPLE PAPERS FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS BY H. A. IRONSIDE
" Fear not, Paul; . . . lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee."-Acts 27:24.
BOOKS, COMPANIONSHIPS AND RECREATION.
Paul was not an ascetic. He was a sane, healthy, all-round man, intensely devoted to the One who had saved him. He loved books, he enjoyed congenial company, he recognized the profit to be derived from temperate recreation. He has, by the Spirit's inspiration, left on record enough on all these lines to serve as a guide to young believers who may be somewhat perplexed at times as to where the line should be drawn, between what would glorify God and be a means of blessing to their own souls, and what would dishonor Him and hinder spiritual growth.
The writings and addresses" of Paul show that he was a widely-read and well-informed man. He loved books; when he was in prison the second time, in a Roman dungeon, he longed for books. He wrote to Timothy, " Bring . . . the books, but especially the parchments " (2 Tim. 4:13). What these books were we have now no means of knowing; but, we may be sure, they were of a profitable character. The young believer needs books also; but let him make it a rule that he gives his time only to what will edify.
"Be a man of one book! " wrote Wesley. But he was himself a voluminous reader. What he meant was that the Bible should have the central place, and all other books should be read as subservient to it. If the Scriptures are not neglected, but thoughtfully read and meditated upon, one's spiritual judgment will soon become sufficiently clarified to enable him to discern what other books can be read with edification. Trashy novels, light, frivolous literature, anything unclean and unholy, the godly soul will instinctively shrink from. But Paul shows himself familiar with the history, science and poetry of his day. He refers on occasion to historical events; he illustrates by the use of scientific facts; he quotes, when in keeping with his theme, what "certain of your own poets " have said, and in this we need not fear to follow him, if there be in us but the heart for Christ there was in him.
It is to be feared that many young Christians have been hindered by a hard legal spirit on this very line. All reading has been tabooed that was not exactly spiritual. This is a grave mistake, and leads to extreme narrowness of mind, and even positively hinders mental development, thus restricting one's ability to enjoy what God Himself has given us in His word. " Reading makes a full man," is an old saying that is worthy of remembrance; only be careful to " take forth the precious from the vile."
And now, a word as to companionships. Paul enjoyed association with others. He loved fellowship. He appreciated friends; but his friends were among the people of God. To an Aquila or a Priscilla he could pour out his heart, and could enjoy to the full their tender affection. But, you may be sure, he never was found lounging about with an Elymas or even a Gallic! And right here is where many a young saint is not faithful. There is no clean cut with the world. Old companionships are still sought and enjoyed. No wonder there is little or no growth; no wonder there are so many stunted Christians. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate," is the word of the Lord to all who are dilly-dallying with the world after confessing Christ; for "the friendship of the world is enmity against God." Find your friends among the friends of Christ! Let your companions be those who love His name; and then be careful not to let good fellowship degenerate into careless levity. For here, too, many young believers break down.
This is very commonly the case where young persons of opposite sexes mingle much together. There is no reason why Christian youths and maidens should not meet and enjoy one another's company in a pure and holy way. But often it is far otherwise. If you feel there is a snare in such commingling, then be honest with your own souls, and faithfully avoid what might dishonor Christ and hinder spiritual growth. Timothy was exhorted to treat elder brethren with the reverence due to fathers, younger men as brethren, elder women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with all purity (i Tim. 5:i, 2). The last three words are important, and if overlooked, will lead to many a snare.
Young people need recreation; old ones, too, for that matter. It is a mistake to suppose the body and mind must always be keyed up to serious pursuits. " Bodily exercise profiteth a little"-not a great deal, but "a little." Therefore beware of giving it an undue place; but do not neglect it. And in all your recreation see that there is nothing that hinders godliness, for godliness is of profit both in this life and the next.
Any one in reading the epistles can observe that in Paul's many references to athletics, there is no suggestion that he in any way disapproves of the exercise in itself. The dangers are two:first, associations ; second, excess. "Be temperate in all things," and be as careful of your companionships in your recreation as in the other affairs of life.
Unduly rigid persons often forget young men and women have bodies to be cared for and developed in a healthful way. On the other hand, pleasure lovers forget they have immortal souls, of infinitely more importance than the body in which they dwell. Seek therefore to be a well-balanced Christian, putting first things first; and as to minor matters, ever keeping Christ's glory in view. And if you are enabled to have a healthy soul in a healthy body, see that you use your strength for Him who for our sakes "endured the cross, despising the shame." "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom," and thus you will be enabled to "do all to the glory of God."
THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD.
To Paul, the testimony committed by the ascended Lord was dearer than life. Faithfulness to it involved a martyr's death, and that he met with a Christlike resignation and calmness of soul that is blessed to contemplate.
It was his desire that those associated with him in his special ministry should be men of like spirit. Hence his words to Timothy:"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of
me His prisoner:but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God " (2 Tim. i :8). And again he says, "That good thing (or, deposit) which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us" (ver. 14).
The testimony of the Lord embraces the corollary of truths connected with Christ risen and glorified. Some of these precious themes we have been briefly examining in the foregoing papers, and we are yet to speak of others, if God will. But what I would now press upon the conscience of each saint who may read these lines, is individual responsibility to make known this testimony and to hold it oneself, as a sacred deposit, in the power of the Holy Ghost.
There is all the difference in the world between holding particular "views" of justification, sanctification, acceptance, the one body, the Lord's second coming, and kindred lines of truth, and maintaining the testimony of the Lord. One may hold the correct view of sanctification and yet not walk in subjection to the Word that cleanses. One may subscribe to scriptural prophetic teaching and not "love His appearing." One may hold the doctrine of the one body and yet remain in human systems that by their very constitution deny it. One may have the right view of eternal life and yet live as though this world were all. But no one can maintain the testimony of the Lord who is not personally a self-judged, humble saint, walking in the truth, holding the Head, and laying hold on that which is really life. Yet to thus keep the good deposit every believer is called; and there will be eternal loss for all who fail to do so. This cannot be done in the strength of nature. Only as one walks in the Spirit will the needed grace be given.
What Paul calls "the testimony" in 2 Timothy, he designates as " the faith " in his first letter to the same devoted young servant. Note his solemn words, and remember they are as truly applicable to you, if a child of God (excepting, of course, the strictly personal element), as they were to Timothy when first written:" This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies as to thee preceding, that thou by them mightest war the good warfare; holding faith [literally, the faith; 1:e., the truth believed] and a good conscience, which some having put away, have concerning the faith made shipwreck." Now, carefully observe, you can only hold the faith of God's elect in a godly way, as you maintain a good conscience. If you ever put away a good conscience-if you allow yourself to go on with any thing of which your conscience does not approve when instructed by the Word of God-you will lose the faith and make shipwreck of the testimony.
Many people seem to think of doctrinal error as a comparatively small and unimportant thing; but where people give up a line of truth once enjoyed in the Spirit's power, or once controlling heart and life, close investigation will generally prove that moral evil of some character was behind it. When men get out of touch with holiness, they lose their grip of the truth; or, rather, the truth loses power over them. In the third chapter of i Timothy the deacons are described as '' holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience" (ver. 9). This emphasizes what we have just been noticing:there must be activity of conscience if the testimony of the Lord is to be maintained and the good deposit kept.
Further exhortation, addressed to Timothy, each young believer may profitably take to himself; in chapter 4 :6, and in verses 12 to 16:"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shall be a good minister (or, servant) of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. . . . Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine . . . Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee." All this is most salutary instruction and must not be overlooked.
I sincerely hope that many young men who read these lines may some day be called of God to preach the Word and declare the testimony of the Lord publicly. If so, I trust the principle laid down in the passages we have been noticing will never be forgotten. "Thyself" first; then "the doctrine." God wants holy men to serve in holy things.
It is to be feared that many a young man has been unwisely encouraged to preach, because of a glib tongue and pleasing address, who did not have the necessary godliness behind it that would insure success as a winner of souls and a helper of saints. Gift, divorced from piety, may do untold mischief; but as James Caughey used to say, "A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hands of God." Where this personal fitness is lacking, there may be brilliant service for a time; easy-going Christians may applaud and admire; but the end of it all is likely to be a crash that may bring many others down with the poor fallen preacher, who was all the time "trafficking in unfelt truth" (to use an expression coined, I believe, by C. H. M ), and whose true condition has at last been exposed.
The testimony of the Lord is like the ark of the covenant which was borne through the wilderness on the priests' shoulders. So should the truth of God be proclaimed by priestly men, who live in fellowship with Him whose testimony it is.