The preaching of Christ and the Apostles swept all before it in the first and succeeding centuries of this era for two reasons. Firstly, men and women were attracted by the simplicity of Christ’s teachings, as compared with the philosophical theories of the time. Secondly, the believers reflected in their lives and actions the principles they were taught.
Jesus placed before His contemporaries two basic commandments. These were; to love God with all one’s heart and strength; and to love one’s neighbour as one’s self. His comment was, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets”. If a man should say that he loves God, and yet hates his brother he is not consistent, nor if he does not love his brother whom he has seen how can he love God, whom he hath not seen. Here is the practical application of Divine instruction.
The second great commandment that a believer should love his neighbour as himself, was equally far reaching. If a man loves his neighbour, can he steal anything that belongs to him? Could he covet his wife, his servant or his goods? Could he be envious of him? Seeing that all men are his neighbours, he cannot dispense short weight or measure in the sale of goods, or be dishonest in any way in business. Certainly theft, robbery, injury and murder are beyond the pale of tolerance.
Paul wrote concerning the young people of these last times, that they would be, unthankful, unholy, disobedient to parents. Two great wars in the last 50 years have loosened the moral fibre of society to such an extent, that youth in the world at large is presenting a mounting problem. Child delinquency, unchastity, physical violence, theft, and many forms of depravity are rife. While we live in the world, it is of the utmost importance that we be not of the world.
Christ calls His servants to observe a high standard. If we love God, we will be diligent to see that we never displease Him. If we love our neighbour as ourself, how can we injure or defraud him in word or deed? If we as parents in Christ teach our children to love, honour and obey us, they will also love, honour, and obey their Father in heaven. Where these virtues exist the fabric of our society will be welded together, the truth will shine as a light in a dark place, and we all will have made a powerful witness for Christ to our generation.
Gibbon in his work, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Vol. 1, page 41 2), paid an outstanding compliment to our brethren and sisters of the early centuries of this era in the following words:
“When the Christians of Bythinia were brought before the tribunal of the younger Pliny, they assured the Proconsul, that far from being engaged in any unlawful conspiracy they were bound by a solemn obligation to abstain from the commission of those crimes which disturb the private or public peace of society, from theft, robbery, adultery, perjury, and fraud. Nearly a century afterwards Tertullian with an honest pride could boast, that very few Christians had suffered by the hand of the executioner, except for their religion. Their serious and sequestered life, averse to the gay luxury of the age, inured them to chastity, temperance, economy and all the sober and domestic virtues. As the greater number were of some trade or profession it was incumbent on them, by the strictest integrity and fairest dealing, to remove the suspicions which the profane are too apt to conceive against the appearances of sanctity. The contempt of the world exercised them in the habits of humility, meekness and patience.”
As Christians we shall yet stand before a greater tribunal than that of Pliny. We shall be judged, “according to the Gospel”. Our present witness, whether as parents or children of responsible age, calls for examination and, if necessary, correction. We ourselves are the only ones who can do this. Why delay? Divine standards do not change, we must maintain them as much today as when they were given. Jesus warns! “Behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be”.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One