"CROSSES TO BEAR."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

"CROSSES TO BEAR."

WORDS WRONGLY USED

The "Christian World Pulpit", lias a s. 'man on cross bearing and following CI. ist to-day by the Rev. W. Callender Wa':c, A.K.C., vicar of St. Johus, Walthai: stow. The following passages arc taker, from it.

A li'.eral following of Christ is impossible o:: any large scale to-day. It was attempt ?d centuries ago by St. Francis of Assisi. He left all behind him, and called upon others to do the same. He insisted or the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Hut lie soon discovered that if all took the -o\v of celibacy the human race would die out. If all became beggars there would be no one to beg from! He was compelled to create new rules for those whom he persuaded to remain at home and continue in their dailv work.

Is" it possible to-day for a man to be a Christian? Bearing our cross and following the Christ! Is it practical politics? lam convinced that we do grave disservice to religion by describing certain experiences as crosses that have no right to the name. I have read the story somewhere of a certain wealthy churchgoer who, having taken the preacher to his house, sat with him in all the sumptuonsness of a luxurious room, 'but by a fire that was smoking rather badly, and said "Ah, sir, we all have our crosses and that chimney has been one of mine." There is surely a lack of reverence here and also a lamentable lack of proportion! We are far too prone to speak of such things as bad temper, a disagreeable neighbour, a slight inconvenience, as "our cross." We have no right to regard the daily toil, the unpleasant duty, the sorrow of bereavement and the general strain of life as our cross. There is a vast difference between bearing a burden and carrying a cross. Burdens come to all of us: they are universal: we cannot escape them. Every man must bear his own burden. But carrying the cross is a matter of choice —it can be'refused. We can escape the cross of our Lord — if we so desire. This distinction between "burden" and "cross" is worthy of our attention.

What does it mean to follow Christ to-day? How do we begin to be "cross carriers"? It begins with us, as it did with the first disciples —in a definite act of tlie will. It means that in the silence of the heart we decide for Christ. We do not slip into Christian discipleship, we choose it! If ever anyone understood the meaning of the command to follow Christ it was surely St. Paul, and this is what he said: "Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide in Christ." Christ must abide in the heart, and the Spirit of Christ must permeate every department of life—"wherein we are called." To repent is to trust Him as Saviour, and to follow Him means to accept Him as the model of life and the guide of conduct.