Are we Christians?
Or are we worldlings?
(Horatius Bonar, "Self-Denial Christianity")
at ease in Zion!" Amos 6:1
What do we say to . . .
our self-indulgence,
our spiritual sloth,
our love of ease,
our avoidance of hardship,
our luxury,
our pampering of the body,
our costly feasts,
our silken couches,
our brilliant furniture,
our gay attire,
our jeweled fingers,
our idle mirth,
our voluptuous music,
our jovial tables, loaded
with every variety of rich viands?
Are we Christians?
Or are we worldlings?
Where is the self-denial
of the New Testament days?
Where is the separation from
a self-pleasing luxurious world?
Where is the cross, the true
badge of discipleship, to be seen--
except in useless religious ornaments
for the body, or worse than useless
decorations for the sanctuary?
"Woe to those who are
at ease in Zion!"
Is not this the description of multitudes
who name the name of CHRIST?
They may not be "living in debauchery,
lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing
and detestable idolatry."
But even where these are
absent, there is 'high living'--
luxury of the table or the wardrobe--
in conformity to 'this present evil world.'
"At ease in Zion!" Yes!
there is the shrinking . . .
from hard service;
from 'spending and being spent;'
from toil and burden-bearing and conflict;
from self-sacrifice and noble service;
for the MASTER'S sake.
There is conformity to the world,
instead of conformity to CHRIST!
There is a laying down,
instead of a taking up of the cross.
Or there is a lining of the cross
with velvet, lest it should gall
our shoulders as we carry it!
Or there is an adorning of the cross,
that it may suite the taste and
the manners of our refined
and intellectual age.
Anything but the bare,
rugged and simple cross!
We think that we can make
the strait gate wider, and the narrow
way broader, so as to be able to walk
more comfortably to the heavenly
kingdom. We try to prove that
'modern enlightenment'
has so refined 'the world
and its pleasures', that we may
safely drink the poisoned cup,
and give ourselves up to
the inebriation of the Siren song.
"At ease in Zion!"
Even when the walls of our city
are besieged, and the citadel
is being stormed!
Instead of grasping our weapons,
we lie down upon our couches!
Instead of the armor,
we put on the silken robe!
We are cowards, when
we should be brave!
We are faint-hearted,
when we should be bold!
We are lukewarm, when
we should be fervent!
We are cold, when we
should be full of zeal!
We compromise and shuffle and
make excuses, when we should
lift up our voice like a trumpet!
We pare down truth, or palliate
error, or extenuate sin--
in order to placate the world,
or suit the spirit of the age,
or 'unify' the Church.
Learn self-denying Christianity.
Not the form or name, but
the living thing.
Let us renounce the lazy, luxurious,
self-pleasing, fashionable religion
of the present day!
A self-indulgent religion has
nothing in common with the cross
of the LORD JESUS CHRIST;
or with that cross of ours which
HE has commanded us to take
up and carry after HIM--
renouncing ease and denying self.
Our time,
our abilities,
our money,
our strength--
are all to be laid upon the altar.
"Woe to those who are at ease
in Zion!" Amos 6:1
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