Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-19
NEGATIVE CHRISTIANS.

In this world there are very large num-
ber of persons who are neither good nor bad
citizens. They no doubt, subserve some
purpose but it is hard to discover what that
purpose is. They make no impress upon So
ciety, neither are they impressed by socie-
no discernible good. They cannot be taken
into account when the advancements of So
ciety are taken into consideration neither
can they be regarded as an element in the
retrograde wave which sometimes sweeps
over communities and nations. Their prop
er name is Nothing. They are not ciphers,
for ciphers according to their position in
crease or decrease the relative value of other
figures; but these beingsin human form have
neither an absolute nor a local value. What
is true of the world in this respect is true of
the church. In the church universal, and in
nearly every congregation of Christians,
there are persons who neither build up nor
tear down. All that can be said of them is
that they are in the church. They drag
along through life, make no noise, do no
good and do no apparent harm.
These negative Christians have, however,
very marked traits of character. Among
these characteristics may be mentioned that
they are profoundly ignorant of the distinc.-
tive doctrines of the particular church of
which they are professedly members. They
are likewise egregiously ignorant of the
mission that the church to which they be-
long proposes to accomplish. They not only
are ignorant of these facts, but they are per
fectly content to remain in this state of ig-
norance. Another feature of these negative
christians is that they are apparently desti-
tute of any enterprise. They neither advo-
cate nor oppose changes. Of the past they
are profoundly ignorant; in the present they
take no interest, and with regard to the fu-
ture, they are as Indifferent as stone.
They have no scheme-either good or bad
which they anxionsly desire to see inaugu-
rated and put into complete and active op-
Grafton. They are satisfied with any thing,
every thing or nothing. Their satisfaction,
however, is not the assent Of an active mind
to what it regards right or dissent to what
it regards wrong, but spiritual stupor.
A moments reflection will suffice to con-
vince any one that these negative Christians
are not likely to advance the Redeemer's
kingdom. The history of the church shows
that those who have done the greatest
amount of good have been men OF strong,
positive convictions. They had a religious
creed which they deliberately adopted. 10
propagate this creed they struggled through
life with all their might. They admitted
that their creed might be wrong but claimed,
in the honesty and sincerity of their hearts,
that they believed it was right and as such
they determined to promulgate it to the
extent of their ability.
Mere negative Christianity is not, worth
anything. 1t is spiritual opiate admins
tered by Satan to lull an immortal soul to
sleep. In genuine Christianity there is a
vital principle which manifests itself in
ceaseless activity. tits life, not death, Ev-
cry attribute of the soul is quickened into
life and every energy. of the immortal ma
Of cfCly "A
grand and glorious victory is to be achieved
Or or an ignominious and hopelessly ruinous
defeat suffered. The enemy is everywhere
around us. He is not Indifferent: He has
an object in view. The word difference is
not in the vocabulary of the great arch-ene,.
my of souls. He is positive character OF
sleepless vigilance and tireless energy.