A Consecrated People

Thirteen years ago a “Gallup Poll” in England on “What do you know about the Bible?” was reported and reviewed by a daily paper. The answers to a request to name the four gospels showed that one per­son in every four was unable to name any of the four Gospels. In comment it was said that “even the illiterate could once recite all the books of the Bible, and actually large parts of them by heart, but not now”; which was evidence of the drift from religion in England. “We seem to be putting aside the Bible, but it is not clear yet what we are taking up instead”.

This disturbing report prompted one of our number to quickly respond with serious reflections upon the situation. He then said that “The current apathy regarding the Scriptures and ignorance of its teaching affects us in various ways and in that we are influenced, probably to a much greater extent than we realize, by our environment. Although we decide not to conform to the world we unconsciously tend to absorb and be moulded by its insidious influence . . His wise advice on the urgent need to counteract the danger will be considered after we note the more recent instance of how the drift away from the Divine standard of morality continues, and what would now be accepted in its place.

A broadcast lecture received wide notice in England last November, when a distinguished Professor in Edinburgh University spoke on “Vicissitudes of Adolescence”. Admitting that “both the popular and church-going types of morality have slipped into disuse” and former standards of moral behaviour “are seldom taken seriously”, the lecturer pronounced the idea of a new concept that virtually exalted “charity above chastity”. This brought correspondence that revealed widespread views in agreement, and could be taken as an admission of prac­tices in keeping with the ideas. Some people protested, and sound words from one pleaded for the truest charity that demands chastity; “Otherwise you do violence to God’s purpose, to Christ’s teaching and to your own deepest nature”.

Again a faithful “watchman” warns of danger to the ranks of the believers in Christ; “To be blind to the particular perils of our time is to fail in duty, especially to our young people who are the most likely to be influenced by prevailing outlooks. We dare not ignore the fact that there is real danger of vital standards being lowered in our midst unless we can maintain an informed and sound outlook among young and old within our community”.

There are few comunities, if indeed any, that profess, let alone practice, withdrawal from the world’s ways and influence that has always been a vital standard of Christadel­phian belief. This recognises the Scriptural truth that requires the adopted “sons and daughters” of God to remain apart as a consecrated people in fellowship with their Lord. Any fading of that vision must be looked on as a danger of major importance to our members.

It is sometimes said that in our community, the world which is so much with us, is winning. If this is really the deplorable situation, or is even threatened, then for the sake of the Truth and the brotherhood, there is a compelling need for prompt exercise of resolute thought and action to neutralize the insidious and potent influence of modern ways of thinking by absorbing the positive and dynamic spiritual thought derived from the unfailing Word of God.

The voices that warn also direct to safety zones and the equipment essential for effective resistance; with the action to be taken at two levels.

First, by the individual recognition that current human philosophy is hostile and dangerous to our personal welfare, and the need for discipline by disciples in giving diligence to the reading and study of the inspired Word of God at all opportunities. And then by the ecclesial wise counsel and stimulus with attention to ensure that the preaching of the Truth embraces the whole “counsel of God” irrespective of popular taste or appeal.

Faith must win, otherwise how will it be found on earth by the Master (in our community) at His return?