The Sabbath Hour

Northern Advocate, 24 February 1940, Page 11

The Sabbath Hour

i (Sermon by Rev. H. J. Tozer, j Methodist Church, Whangarei) “Act on the Word, instead of merely listening to it, and deluding yourselves.”—Jas. 1-22. LESSON: JAS. 1-19—27. The great test that ought to be applied to all religion is: “Does it work? Does it produce good results Or is it just something to be listened to, and perhaps admired, but not to be lived out?” In'other words, “Is religion practical or merely theoretical? Is it something to help us to live, or is it merely to be discussed in our spare time?” My Interest in Religion As a minister of the Christian religion, I want to say quite frankly that if Christianity is shown to be something merely to be preached about and discussed. I will cease preaching about it tomorrow, for my interest in religion is not theoretical, but practical. If it can be shown to be merely a matter of vague speculation, and not something that will help a man to be a better man, and live a better life, then at that moment my interest in it will have ceased, except as something to be condemned and avoided. A Troubled World To put this matter another way, I would say that I see the world today in a terrible mess, fyll of injustices, inequalities, and inhumanities, and I know that these world-wide injustices have their root in the individual who allows selfishness and self-interest to rule his life; the world is selfish and full of fear and distrust simply because the heart of man is suspicious and selfish. But I see also that not only is there a better way of living than this, but that some are actually living this better way: and when I inquire into the reason, I find

that it is because they are obeying God and accepting His forgiveness, guidance and power, rather than living according to their own selfish inclinations. i realise that if the Christian religion can produce this change in individuals and their relationships, it can also transform society and the nations at large: and this would bring in a new world order where love and service and co-operation have displaced hate and greed and bitter competition. It is because I feel confident that these things will actually take place where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is accepted and practised, that I feel there is not a more worthwhile task than that of bringing such a remedy to the troubled heart, the troubled nation, and the troubled world. But I know this, also, that just as the preacher's task is not only to proclaim, but also to obey, the Gospel himself, so it is with him who hears: mere hearing dlone will not avail; the hearing has to be backed up by obedience in work as well as in word. It. is this aspect of all religious life which is the weakest point, and. because of this, Christianity has been subject to much criticism, even being labelled an opiate, an anaestetic and a drug. A false Christianity, which is mere pious talk or even religious ceremony, without the actual practical results, deserves all the criticism it receives. It is this aspect of the religious life that St. James is insisting on in the text. He says that those who do jrot practise their religion, and yet claim to be religious, are really deceiving themselves, and are like men who look in a mirror to see their own reflection, and then immediately forget the impression they gained, and so do nothing about it. He infers that this is actually what many professing Christians are guilty of doing—they listen with apparent interest to an exposition of the Christian life and as they listen they use a reflection of their own life in striking contrast, but, instead of immediately making amends, and accepting the forgiveness and

strength which God ofTers, they dismiss the whole thing from their minds, and continue to drift along the highway of failure, defeat and hopeless futility. Such people not only deceive themselves, but- owing' to the pious attitude they adopt, especially on Sunday, th>y reflect serious discredit upon the church and religion. What Did You Do? We are all repelled by religious hypocrisy. Always at the root of hypocrisy is unreality, and usually at the root of unreality is sin, compromise and fear. These destructive things can only be removed by "acting ‘on the Word of God,” i.e., accepting what He offers, listening to what He says, and implicitly obeying Hjs guidance. There must be action at both ends of the Christian life. We appropriate for ourselves as we act in faith, and we hand on to others as we goTorth in trust. Let us never forget in the Christian life that we must act towards others as God acts towards us, and if the life of the professing Christian will not stand up to the test of “works.” it won’t achieve much for itself or others. Did you give him a lift? He's a brother of man. And bearing about all the burden lie can. Did you give him a smile? He was downcast and blue, And the smile would have helped him to battle it through. Did you give him your hand? He was slipping downhill. And the world, so I fancied, was using him ill. Did you give him a word, did you show him the road? Or did you just let him go on with his’load? Ch, I know what you mean. What you say may be true, But the test of your manhood is “What did you do?” Did you reach out a hand? Did you find him the road? Or did you just let lun go by with his load?