The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-12-06
Religion Not Mere Pa.sfrity.-It is

Religion Not Mere Passivity.-It is
not uncommon to find among the uncon-
verted those whose conception Of the
Christian life is that of certain passive
condition, with little apparent thought
ofinVolving any particular responsibility
They may have a vague idea that to be.
come a Christian would require some
modification Of daily living, but this is
by no means the prominent thought
Righteousness is really a secondary thing
Should they experience religion" that
would be the end of the matter, as far as
the present is concerned, and to ''enjoy"
it their main idea for the future. Thus,
in their view, religion ends where, in
reality, it only begins, and the joy which
is but the natural result of faithful and
conscientious discharge Of religious obli-
cation, becomes it's paramount aim.
For conversion il but the beginning,
the initial act, Of allie of true righteous
ness; aud holiness, not happiness, with
service to others, Constitutes the true end
of Christian living. Conversion is but
the turning about from the old life to the
new; the journey is yet 70 be accom-
pished. The battle remains 10 be
fought, aud the victory over selfshuess
and sin 10 be won Bad habits are now
to be overcome, and better disposition.
in every respect, to be cultivated. Self
denials will be required and struggles are
inevitable, while q constant appropria-
ton OF divine grace will be needed to
ward of temptation, and TO shape the
development of character according TO
the perfect model given us in Christ.
Nor does Christian obligation center on
sell, aud this noblest self development
merely. No man liveth to himself one,
or even chiefly. Saryice is to be rendered
to others, and the Kingdom of Christ is
TO be built up through the instrumen-
tally Of Christian endeavor. And when
he spirit Of God is cherished in the
heart, there viii be a constant impulsion
from within to engage in this work
But this mistaken notion that religion
is merely passive thing is by no means
to the unconverted. Too many profess
ing Christians are cherishing delusion
equally fatal. Half unconsciously, it
may be, they are drifting along with the
current OF worldliness Just as they were
before they took upon themselves the
name OF Christ. There is feeling, not
clearly defined, perhaps that btcause
they are now in the church, and upon
the whole about as good as the aver
sge, they are safe, and bound for glory
with the whole company. It must be all
right with them, of course; FOR did not
they once experience religion" and in
dulge "a hope? Just IS though it ere
any proof of ones present good physical
condition, and of his exemption from
disease, that long time ago he expert
enced short period Of bounding health,
It is sad to contemplate this large com
many of nominally Christian people, who
have yet relapsed into the ways OF self
seeking, and whose spiritual vitality has
| all depdIbeu. AuSy are no hoDStE living
epistles" in the Pauline sense, and only
a reference to the church records would
give satisfactory evidence that the
thought of personal religion had ever
been seriously contemplated by them.
A prominent difficulty in these eases
seems to be the lack of any pro.eund re.
sponsibility, the want OF true earnestness,
while little appreciation of the intense
reality of the spiritual world, and of
faith in & living, omnipresent God Three
Is failure, too, to make clean-cut dis
tinction betweeQ the worldly and the
Christian character. There seems 10 be
no real apprehension of religion as prac-
tical, everyday matter, designed TO effect
the whole life, in ail its phases and in all
its details. As natural result, there is
no whole>heaftedness in meeting its re-
sponsibilities, little spirit osself-sacrifce,
end but little of the deeper lie which is
hid with Christ in God. Such people
need to be converted over again. This