New-York tribune., 1909-01-10
rs CHRIST WOULD LIVE"

II would be most ungracious, if not worse, TO
discourage or in any way hinder the numerous
young persons who in various parts of the land
have begun the wear with public resolutions to
live "as Christ would live" Their aim is spir
ituallv the highest which it IS possible for any
one 10 have. 1t is theoretically. Of course. 1den-
ticaI with that of every professor of Christianity
and the question is thus suggested, though we
may pass it by without serious discussion
whether their pledge is simply profession of
Christianity which they have not made before
or is TO he interpreted as binding them to
higher and more perfect form Of Christian lv
ing-in the latter case, also whether there is
any unintentional reflection upon the millions of
other processing Christians not living or try
ing 10 live as Christ would live. We may as
sumo that they are entirely sincere and devoid
of any pharisaical spirit of self-exploitation or
exaltation.
Remembrance of various former movements
or professions 10 the same effect-such as run
ming drygoods shop or editing Il newspaper
As Christ would do it-inevitably inspires some
apprehension lest these latest essays prove simi-
larlv impractical aud ephemeral. IT is obvious
that even if it were possible. as it is not. il
would he undesirable TO live literally Christ
is recorded to have lived. The misguided Douk-
hobors tried that. and recalling that He did not
wear such footgear as people do here and now,
they trampeu through sIloN anu fCe bdItl"otth'
fanaticallv boasting of their bleeding and frozen
feet as being clad in Jesus boots Reason
prescribes that changed conditions of life shall
be met with changed habits. The aim must he
not literally 10 live as He did in Palestine nine
teen centuries ago. but as He would do here and
now We may therefore commend these pledge
takers for aiming to live not as lie did live, but
as lie would live
But who knows? Who without pre-
slImptuousness profess to declare just how He
would live to-day in all the complex details of
life? We know so little of His actual mode of
life nineteen centuries ago that each of us has
his OWN conception Of Him, which is little
different from that formed by any one else. So
il must be TO a much greater extent in con
ceptions Of what He would do if He here
now Really aim cannot be TO live He
WoulI live but merely 10 live we imagine
believe He would live Obviously there is room
for many great differences of opinion. Even in
His own time and lands among those who per
sonaIly knew Him in His incarnation there
were wide and resoiute differences 1t is neyi-
able that they will he greater now. What seems.
therefore most desirable, ana most likely to
prove practicable and profitable, is not an at
tempt AT literal copying in physical and material
affairs which cannot possibly be successful but
rather Il spiritual approximation. IT is note
worthy that His Apostles in His time and
in the years Immediately following made pre-
tence at literal imitation and did not enjoin it
upon their disciples. Their pPecept was 10 'let
"the same mind dwell i'm you which WAS also In
Him" The development Of Christian spirit
concerning the elements of which there is com
parativey little room for question-wil make