Authentic faith in Christian preaching emphasizes a genuine, living trust in Christ that transforms desires and produces visible fruit (James 2:17). It contrasts superficial professions with a faith demonstrated by consistent, faithful living and spiritual struggle, often illustrated through images of real versus artificial flowers, soldiers on duty, or artists versus mere stainers (James 2:14-26).
True conversion changes desires, producing spiritual fruit like a healthy tree.
Have you ever wondered why you do what you do?
One former Navy pilot tells how he was living a wilder life than he knew he should live. He decided his problem was that he was being led astray by his friends in flight training. So he arranged to finish his work in the program early and be transferred to another field nearby. Yet, it wasn't long, he said, before he was back in the same old bars, with the same girls, just with different friends. One night out-on-the-town he wondered, "Why do I do this?" And he realized, "Because I like to."
Before a person becomes a Christian-I mean a real Christian, not just someone who says he is-his "want-to" is broken. He is not interested in God. He is bored by church and by reading his Bible. He cannot "make" himself "want to" do right and he cannot "make" himself "want not" to do wrong. When a person is born again, God repairs his "want-to." Even though he still feels the pull of temptation, he will have a new set of desires. He will love God and want to talk to God in prayer and see what God has to say to him in His Word, the Bible. He wants to be around other people who love God; church attendance becomes meaningful. There is a new desire to obey God.
Why do we do what we do? The answer is simple: we do what we do because of what we are. It's like fruit trees. Apple trees bear apples, pear trees produce pears, peach trees grow peaches. The fruit is the natural result of the nature of the tree. I suppose you could tie apples to a peach tree, but that would not make it an apple tree. In the same way, adding religious activities to one's schedule doesn't make one a Christian. Just as the fruit of the tree naturally flows from the nature of the tree, even so the attitudes, words, and actions of our lives reveal the true nature of ourselves.
Jesus said, "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit....Therefore, by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:17, Matthew 7:20). A Choice Each Day
Charles Swindoll said: "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string that we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes." A Time to Laugh
In William Barclay's daily devotional Daily Celebration, appears this little story:
"There was a little Indian girl at school today," announced my son proudly.
"Does she speak English?" I asked.
"No," came the quick reply, "but it doesn't matter because she laughs in English!"
Laughter is the universal language. You can laugh in any language and it will be understood. Keep laughing!
If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. Laughter is to life what salt is to an egg. Laughter is the cheapest luxury man has. It stirs up the blood, expands the chest, electrifies the nerves, clears away the cobwebs from the brain, and gives the whole system a cleaning rehabilitation.
True conversion is shown by generous, sacrificial giving despite temptation.
Dwight Moody used to speak of a miserly farmer recently converted, to whom a neighbor in distress appealed for help. The miser decided to prove the genuineness of his conversion by giving him a ham. On his way to get it the tempter whispered, "Give him the smallest one you have." A struggle ensued and finally the miser took down the largest ham he had. "You are a fool," the devil said. And the farmer replied, "If you don't keep still, I'll give him every ham in the smokehouse!"
Outward appearances can hide unfinished, imperfect realities beneath.
Ruskin told of visiting a famous cathedral in which there are a number of colossal figures high up among the heavy timbers that support the roof. From the pavement these statues have the appearance of great beauty. Curious to exam them, Ruskin climbed to the roof and stood close beside them. He was disappointed to find that only the parts of the figures that could be seen from the pavement were finished. The backs were rough and unsightly.
True disciples attract opposition like real flowers attract bees, proving their authenticity.
It is related of the Queen of Sheba that she sent two wreaths of roses to Solomon, one real and the other artificial. To test his reputed wisdom she defied him to detect the genuine from the artificial. Solomon at once directed that some bees be brought into the room. Immediately they flew to the real flowers and ignored the counterfeit. The real disciples of Christ are known by the bees that cluster around to sting them. Artificial flowers don't attract stinging bees. Rejoice, therefore, when you are excommunicated from the organized world of artificial religion.Learn from the Birds
Let us learn from the birds. What is it that enables them to fly? Wings? Of course, but not wings alone. It is the resistance of the air that makes flight possible. A bird flies much as an oarsman rows his boat. As oars are used to push against the resistance of water, thus sending the craft ahead, the scooped-out shape of the underside of the bird's wings helps it get a "grip" on the air. The air resists and the bird pushes against the resistance with the downward stroke of its wings. By such pushing movements, it succeeds in flying. Throughout life, progress is made only in the face of opposition. The bird flies through the resisting medium of air. The brook trout needs the resisting water if he is to swim. A democracy thrives through a system of opposing political parties and checks and balances in government. The spirit of a person grows stronger, not as life becomes easier, but as testings and temptations are met, struggled with, and beaten into submission.
Conflicting desires within us cause confusion and hinder clear Christian witness.
As someone has said, "There are two dogs within us; one is white and one is black, and they both try to bark through the same mouth, and the result is confusion." Our blessing of God is consequently not clear-cut and it offends those who hear it rather than attracting them to the God whom we seem to bless. A Poor Representative
When Dr. Will H. Houghton was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in New York City, a glib-tongued salesman came into his study and offered him some oil stocks that he said would make him a fortune. Dr. Houghton looked at the man and said in substance, "If this stock is as good as you say, why aren't you rich? You come in here in a shabby suit, with shoes run down at the heels, and expect me to believe you represent a going concern? I suggest you get into some line of work that produces representatives who inspire more confidence in their product."
True faith is shown by evidence in life, not just words or testimony.
A non-Christian lawyer attended a church service and listened incredulously to the testimonies of some who were known to him for their shady deals and failure to meet their honest obligations. "How did you like the testimonies?" a man asked him at the close of the service. He replied, "To a lawyer there is a vast difference between testimony and evidence." Words are cheap, and it is perilously easy to give a fine-sounding testimony for Christ, but quite another matter to demonstrate evidences of God's purifying power in our lives through Christ. "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me" (Mark 7:6).
Our conduct before others impacts our eternal judgment, not just our church behavior.
Let us not be like that archbishop who one day was overhead swearing. A peasant who stood by seemed to wonder greatly at his conduct. "I swear," said the archbishop, "not as an archbishop, but as a citizen." "But sir," said the peasant, "when the citizen goes to perdition, what will become of the archbishop?" How will God judge us when we appear before His throne? Will it be for what we said in church while praying or preaching, or what we said to our fellow human beings?
The world rejects Christians who fail to live as true examples of Christ.
A Salvation Army captain was preaching in Hyde Park in London when a man in the crowd interrupted him. "We haven't anything against Jesus of Nazareth," he said, "but we have something against you Christians because you ain't up to sample." Living examples of Christ is what the world wants to see in Christians.
Claiming to be a Christian soldier means nothing if one lives like they are on furlough.
Once a professing Christian sold a bale of poor hay to a certain colonel who rebuked him, and the church member whined, "I am a soldier too." "You!" exclaimed the colonel in disgust. "What kind of soldier are you?" "I am a soldier of the cross," said the skinflint with a detestable flourish of the hand. "That may be," said the colonel, "but you've been on a furlough ever since I knew you."
God detests empty professions of faith without corresponding Christian living.
One thing God detests is the religion of words. It was Robert E. Speer who said: "After thirty years of leadership in Christian work, it is my conclusion and conviction that the greatest missionary problem is just the failure of Christian people to live up to their profession."
Better to have fewer Christians who live faithfully than many who bring dishonor.
Once a soldier was reported to Alexander the Great as having shown great cowardice on a particular occasion. When the soldier appeared before Alexander the Great, he asked him his name. On hearing that it was Alexander, he upbraided him with the dishonor that he had brought on such a name and entreated him either to change his name or act differently. It would be better for the cause of Christ to have fewer Christians, but better ones.
Being 'established' can mean spiritually stuck and unresponsive, like a stubborn horse.
There was a little boy converted and he was full of praise. When God converts boy or man his heart is full of joy--can't help praising. His father was a professed Christian. The boy wondered why he didn't talk about Christ, and didn't go down to the special meetings. One day, as the father was reading the papers, the boy came to him and put his hand on his shoulder and said: "Why don't you praise God? Why don't you sing about Christ? Why don't you go down to these meetings that are being held?" The father opened his eyes, and looked at him and said, gruffly: "I am not carried away with any of these doctrines. I am established." A few days after they were getting out a load of wood. They put it on the cart. The father and the boy got on lop of the load, and tried to get the horse to go. They used the whip, but the horse wouldn't move. They got off and tried to roll the wagon along, but they could move neither the wagon nor the horse. "I wonder what's the matter?" said the father. "He's established," replied the boy. You may laugh at that, but this is the way with good many Christians.
True believers experience spiritual struggles, unlike superficial, counterfeit Christians.
"A counterfeit coin may look better and brighter than the true piece of money, and yet be almost or altogether worthless," and in the same manner a base professor may for a while seem to be brighter than a true Christian. He is not downcast, for he has none of those inward strivings which cause sincere believers so much anguish of soul. He is not sad, for he has no penitence of heart at the remembrance of those shortcomings which humble the living child of God. Doubts and fears he has none, for these are the moss which grows upon faith, and of this grace he is quite destitute. Failures in holiness, loss of communion, non-success in prayer, smitings of conscience, all of which happen to the elect of God, come not near to him, for he is a stranger to the inward, sensitive principle of which these are the tokens. Sad sons of God, be not utterly dispirited by these men's equable tempers, and quiet assurances, for they will be troubled indeed when the testing hour shall come. As for you, your gracious disquietudes and holy anxieties are a proof of the reality of your spiritual life, and evidences of grace which ought to afford you comfort. Dead men do not suffer from changes of weather, and mere imitations of life, such as paintings and statues, know nothing of the aches and pains of living men. Pity those who are never in soul trouble, and bless the Lord that he has not left you to their vainglorious peace. Better be dim gold than shining brass. Do you not think so?
True faith endures trials deeply, not just superficially like gilded clay.
"A gilded potsherd may shine till it cometh to scouring, then the varnish is speedily worn off." May this never be my character, but may I be solid gold, which will bear not only rubbing but burning. Alas, when I am impatient under affliction, or cowardly under persecution, or weary in holy service, have I not good reason to suspect myself? It may be that my religion is only a mere surface film, and not part and parcel of my being; and if so, it will go ill with me. I shall ere long be like a broken vessel, cast away upon the dunghill of everlasting contempt. O Lord, of thy mercy save me from being a mere piece of gilded clay, by giving me truth in the inward parts.
HOLDING ON WITH THE TEETH. "He who is shaken off in the story first holds the boat with his right hand, and that being cut off, he takes hold with his left hand, and when that is cut off, he fastens on with his teeth. So when one help is cut off, and then another, yet faith doth fasten upon God as long as it hath his word to fasten on. When God makes breach after breach, then to depend upon Him is faith indeed." Well may we maintain our hold upon our God come what may; for who else is fit to be our soul's holdfast? With us it must be Christ or nothing, for other refuge there is none. Trying times make us desperately resolved to trust in the Lord at all hazards. A sense of sin snatches away one promise, and another; and then we betake ourselves to such words of grace as were expressly given to the most unworthy: there we resolve to perish, if perish we must. Our grasp at such times does not embrace much of the truth, but it is intense, and takes fast hold on what it has reached. We cannot, we will not, let go the Saviour. Like Joab, we will die at the horns of the altar, if we must die. He who, like the man in the story, has lost both his hands and yet holds by his teeth, is safe enough: God will never leave such a man to drown. Let us refuse to despair, or even to despond; since there is no just cause for distress while we can truly say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."
We should lead by example, not just advice, especially in trials and faith challenges.
"They that stand upon the shore may easily say to those that are in the midst of the waves, and conflicting for life or death, Sail thus and sail thus! But what of that? When we are well we give counsel to the sick; but, if we were ill ourselves, how should we act?" Yes, we are usually ready with our good advice for others; but what are we willing to do ourselves? Men who never smelt powder know exactly how a commander should have acted in a battle; probably they would themselves have run away at the first shot. Safely on land, the wiseacre decides most positively how the pilot should steer—which sail should be hoisted, and which should be put away. If he were on board the labouring barque, he would be lying down below, forgotten as a dead man out of mind. This ought to render us a little more diffident in our advising. It is rather awkward when, after having prescribed for others, we fall sick ourselves,
and then refuse our own remedies: yet many have done so. It is sad when the preacher of patience is himself petulant, and the advocate of faith is himself dubious. No: we must teach more by our example than by our advice, or else we shall be poor pleaders for the right. Few things are more galling than to be at our wits' end in managing a difficult matter, and then to be charged and counselled by some intermeddling novice who could not even understand our difficulty, much less assist us out of it. When Balaam's ass spoke, it uttered sound sense, and we shall never welcome the speech of another such animal until it has as weighty a message to deliver. Alas! we do not always suffer fools gladly—though suffer them we do. We have wished ourselves deaf at times when the most idle nonsense has been proffered us in the moment of greatest suspense. O Lord Jesus, we bless thee that thy counsel comes to us as that of experience! Thou art on the sea with us. Thou hast the tone and manner of one who is tried in us and with us. Our Counsellor art thou; and thus our surest helper, because thy counsel is infallible."
True faith must be built on Christ, not merely leaning on others or popular opinion.
Many men owe their religion, not to grace, but to the favour of the times; they follow it because it is in fashion, and they can profess it at a cheap rate, because none contradict it. They do not build upon the rock, but set up a shed leaning to another man’s house, which costs them nothing. The idea of a lean-to religion is somewhat rough, but eminently suggestive. Weak characters cannot stand alone, like mansions; but must needs lean on others, like the miserable shops which nestle under certain Continental cathedrals. Under the eaves of old customs many build their plaster-nests, like swallows. Such are good, if good at all, because their patrons made virtue the price of their patronage. They love honesty because it proves to be the best policy, and piety because it serves as an introduction to trade with saints. Their religion is little more than courtesy to other men’s opinions, civility to godliness. Alas for an age when this sort of thing abounds! It is an injury to the architecture of godliness to be encumbered with these pitiful hovels. As parasites suck the life out of the goodly tree, so do these pretenders injure those to whom they cling with the servile homage of hireling adulation. To themselves their vain profession and man-pleasing are a presage of destruction: for at the last day all must fall into eternal ruin which has not its own foundation on the rock. Our lives will be weighed one by one in personal judgment, and no other man can add an ounce to aid us if we are found wanting. The well-founded and well-compacted structure of the sincerely gracious will survive the time when once more the Lord shall shake not only earth but also heaven; but that frail fabric which leans on mortal aid will perish in that dread convulsion.
Lord, make me a self-contained man. Supported by thee, and by thee alone, may I be unmoved, though all other men should leave thee, and though the fashion of my company should be opposed to all godliness. Then shalt thou have glory through me.
True believers are few, like sparse berries on an olive tree amid a vast harvest of Satan's.
Such is the paucity of true believers, that as the olive-tree mentioned by the prophet, with two or three berries on the uppermost bough, Satan may be said to have the harvest, and God only a few gleanings. Spencer.
Some claim Christianity by name only, lacking true religion and holiness.
Some men's religion and holiness is all in their titles of God's children, and in naked names of Christians; which only they hold, when, indeed, all Christianity is banished from them.
— Cawdray
Multiple testimonies convinced a skeptical lawyer of the divine reality of religion.
From curiosity, a lawyer entered a meeting for the relation of Christian experience, and took notes; but so impressed was he, that, at the close, he arose, and said, "My friends, I hold in my hands the testimony of no less than sixty persons who have spoken here this morning, who all testify, with one consent, that there is a divine reality in religion; they having experienced its power in their own hearts. Many of these persons I know. Their word would be received in any court of justice. Lie they would not, I know; and mistaken they cannot all be. I have hitherto been sceptical in relation to these matters. I now tell you that I am fully convinced of the truth, and that I intend to lead a new life. Will you pray for me?" Dr. Haven.
True faith is demonstrated by actions, not merely by good feelings or reputation.
A thoughtful man once heard another much praised for good feelings. "What has he done?" asked the old man again and again. The company owned they could not name any thing in particular. "Yes," answered the cynic: "you say that he is a man that has good feelings. Now, gentlemen, let me tell you that there are people in this world who get a good name simply on account of their feelings. You can't tell one generous action they ever performed in their lives; but they can look and talk most benevolently. I know a man in this town that you all would call a surly, rough, and unamiable man, and yet he has done more acts of kindness in this county than all of you put together. You may judge people's actions by their feelings; but I judge people's feelings by their actions."
Imperfections in nature and people do not justify rejecting faith in God.
A sceptic rejected religion on account of the imperfections of Christians. With a Christian friend, they visited the country, and saw a group of children at their sports; but there was a cripple among them. The landscape was beautiful; but the wind was venomous. Nature was imperfect. They visited an art-gallery where were the master-pieces of Rembrandt, Titian, and Canova, and found them more imperfect than Nature. They visited luxurious gardens, but found that their owner's happiness was buried in the grave of his only son and heir. At last, the sceptic seized a flower, saying, "I have found a perfect thing at last." Alas! he found a worm in its centre. These experiences showed the sceptic the untenableness of his excuse, and led to his acceptance of Christianity.
Outward splendor without true ability or faith leads to failure and shame.
A rich man of Tarentum once took it into his head to distinguish himself at the Pythian games. Not having strength enough to shine as a wrestler, nor agility enough for running, he chose to be considered as a musical candidate. He made his appearance at Delphos, dressed in cloth-of-gold, with a crown in the shape of a laurel, the leaves of which were of gold adorned with the finest emeralds. His harp exhibited a proportionable grandeur: it was loaded with jewels, and decorated with figures of Orpheus, Apollo, and the Muses. The splendor of his appearance drew all eyes upon him; and every one expected something wonderful from one who had taken such pains to attract their notice. How great was their disappointment, when, on the magnificent harper's attempting to exert his powers, his voice and instrument both equally failed him, and all his efforts produced only the most jarring discords! Shouts of laughter rent the assembly; and the judges of the game whipped him out of the theatre, covered with confusion. The next candidate was one Eupolus of Elis. Although he was unearly dressed, and his harp was but of homely fabric, he drew forth sounds from it which charmed and delighted the whole assembly; and he was universally pronounced worthy of the prize. After receiving the laurel, Eupolus is said to have thus addressed his Tarentino competitor: "You came crowned with gold and jewels, because you were rich: I, because I am poor, am only rewarded with laurel. But I am well satisfied. With that laurel, I have the applause of all Greece; while your crown serves only to make you ridiculed and despised." Percy.
True preaching flows from the deep experience of realizing one's sinfulness.
There is no such preaching as the experience which a man gives who has just realized the sinfulness of his soul. I often hear myself out-preached by some new convert who can hardly put words together. Some say experimental preaching is shallow. Shallow!—it is deep as the soul of God. Beecher.
True profession honestly reflects one's real spiritual condition without pretense.
It is a worthy observation that Faulinus made to Sulpitius Severus when he wrote to him to send him his picture, modestly dispraising his own feature. "I must blush," said he, "to picture myself as I am; and I scorn to picture myself as I am not." Spencer.
True importance lies in what one is as a believer in Christ, not worldly achievements.
John Bacon, an eminent English sculptor, whose works were admired by thousands, ordered a plain tablet, with the following inscription, to be placed near his grave: "What I was as an artist seemed to be of some importance while I lived; but what I really was as a believer in Christ Jesus is the only thing of importance to me now."
True religion commends itself by its inward beauty and excellence, not by external show.
As there would need nothing else to deter and affright men from sin but its own ugliness and deformity, were it presented to a naked view, and seen as it is; so nothing would more effectually commend religion to the minds of men than the displaying and unfolding the excellences of its nature, than the true native beauty and inward lustre of religion itself. Neither the evening nor the morning star could so sensibly commend itself to our bodily eyes, and delight them with its shining beauties, as true religion (which is an undefiled beam of the uncreated light) would to a mind capable of conversing with it. John Smith.
True religion flows from a regenerated heart into all aspects of daily life and work.
It must be understood that "being religious" is not a work apart by itself, but a spirit of faith and righteousness flowing out from the centre of a regenerated heart into all the enjoyments and intercourse of the world. Not merely the preacher in the pulpit, and the saint on his knees, may do the work of religion; but the mechanic, who smites with the hammer and drives the wheel; the artist seeking to realize his pure ideal of the beautiful; the mother in the gentle offices of home; the statesman in the forlorn hope of liberty and justice; and the philosopher, whose thought treads reverently among the splendid mysteries of the universe. Dr. Chapin.
True religion shows power by resisting sin, unlike mere outward profession.
A painter has undertaken to portray on his canvas flames of fire. He does it so exactly, that you can hardly detect it from real flames. But look if you see flies and other insects passing across it: they could never pass across real flames. Just so, spiritual insects, in the shape of sins, will pass across the mere professor, which they could never do across one who had the power of real religion in his heart: the former has but the "form" of flames "of godliness," the influential power is wanting.
— Rev. Dr. Jenkyn
True conversion is evident despite accusations of hypocrisy over minor actions.
It is a fact, of which I have been but recently convinced, (says a writer in the N. Y. Evangelist,) that the world in general, those who have no religion, and even opposers, consider the conversion of those persons to religion as spurious and hypocritical, who do not approve of and practice total abstinence from ardent spirits.
In a town where there has been a revival the past winter, there is a person who has been from a child in the habit of drinking ardent spirit freely, perhaps almost to excess; and who, until recently, seldom attended a religious meeting. This individual became a hopeful subject of renewing grace, and professed his faith in Christ. So changed, so exemplary was his walk and conversation, that even the enemies of religion could have nothing to say against him. After a while, this person had occasion to purchase some whisky for medicinal purposes, and then the cry was raised against him by opposers, that he had no religion, and that the purchase of the whisky proved his hypocrisy!
True faith and prayerfulness earn respect and hope for salvation even from worldly princes.
When Lady Huntingdon became the subject of Divine grace, her change of mind was soon observed by her exalted associates, who endeavored in vain to turn her aside from the path she had chosen. One day at court, the then Prince of Wales asked Lady Charlotte E—, "Where is my Lady Huntingdon, that she is so seldom here?" The lady of fashion replied, with a sneer, "I suppose praying with her beggars." The prince shook his head, and said, "Lady Charlotte, when I am dying, I think I shall be happy to seize the skirt of Lady Huntingdon's mantle, to carry me up with her to heaven."
Personal Christian experience powerfully convinces skeptics and promotes revival.
FEAST.—The simple relation of Christian experience always produces a powerful effect upon the hearers. Revivals of religion are often greatly promoted by this means. Some years ago, a young lawyer in Vermont, found his way into a Methodist love-feast. Supposing that he should hear some strange things there, he went prepared to take notes. At the close of the meeting, he arose, and addressed the assembly as follows: "My friends, I hold in my hands the testimony of no less than sixty persons, who have spoken here, this morning, who all testify with one consent, that there is a divine reality in religion, they having experienced its power in their own hearts. Many of these persons I know. Their word would be received in any court of justice. Lie, they would not, I know; and mistaken they cannot all be. I have heretofore been skeptical in relation to these matters. I now tell you that I am fully convinced of the truth, and that I intend to lead a new life. Will you pray for me?" Thus while we "speak that which we do know, and testify to that which we have seen," some will receive "our witness," even if others do not.
# 168. Every where similar.
Saying prayers without true faith is empty; genuine prayer requires heartfelt dependence on Christ.
A poor old man, when a child of three years of age, had been taught by his mother to repeat a prayer every night, which he did till he was seventy-three years old; and not a little proud was he to say that he had not omitted saying his prayers every night for seventy years! At this advanced age, it pleased God to afflict him severely; he was led by the Holy Spirit to see that he was a poor sinner, who had been living in the form of godliness, but had never felt its power. He was enabled to spend the last few years of his life in humble dependence on the grace of Christ; and when he referred to himself, he would often add, "I am the old man who said his prayers for seventy years, and yet all that time never prayed at all."
