Restraint in things religious is the popular thing in some circles.
To belong to church, to be nominally Christian, is quite the proper thing. This demon-inspired philosophy runs like this: we must have a little religion to restrain our worldly practices, but we need a little sin to make life spicy. We are advised to be tolerant, co-operative and judicious in attacks on sin. Attack the sins that are under public disapproval, but never lift your voice in opposition to the mass opinion of the religious group with whom you associate. Be very careful not to offend anyone in your communion who could make it hard for you.
This is lukewarmness, compromise, treason against the kingdom of Christ. The wine is mixed with water—revolting, nauseating—and is doomed to utter rejection.
God's people, from the days of righteous Abel, have been holy, different from sinners, undefiled in motives. Satan's policy across the centuries has been amalgamation—erase the lines of demarcation, form a world-church.
"Be ye separate" is God's command that comes ringing down through the centuries. Men have differed widely on the meaning of this command as it touched the fringes of life but all through the years the holy men and women have been impelled by an inner urge to be God-like, to be separate from and antagonistic to every form of belief or practice that would rob God of His glory.
The man who is living a life pleasing to God has an inward nonconformity to the world. Whatever tends to dampen the love, or wean the soul from God, or weaken the high resolve to live a holy life is separated from with humble compliance to the will of God.
"Live as becometh holiness."
"Be perfect."
There is no room for hybrids, no place for compromise. Christ demands a full commitment, an ever widening of the margin between the soul and the world.
--Oliver G. Wilson (The Wesleyan Methodist, Dec 3, 1958)
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