Acts 11:25-26 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:… A friend of mine was staying at a farm in the South of Scotland. The district was supposed to be very religious; and one afternoon, while sitting in the dining room, my friend and the hostess fell into a conversation about Church affairs. The lady was quite well informed of the difference between these two great branches of the Presbyterian Church, the Free and the Established; but when her visitor asked if there were many real Christians in the parish, she only stared in blank amazement as she replied, "Why, we are all Christians." "But," continued her friend, "it is true Christians I mean, not merely nominal Christians, but men and women who have really trusted Christ with their souls, and are trying to convince and persuade their fellows to do the same." But the distinction between real and nominal Christians seemed too subtle for her, and all she replied was, "But we are all Christians, we were all born Christians!" Her guest, however, was determined, if possible, to bring home the difference to her, and mentioning a man welt known in the locality for his drunken and disorderly habits, asked, "Would you call K — a Christian?" "Yes, I suppose he must be." "Then there is G — ," mentioning a gentleman equally well known for his godly and philanthropic life, "would you call him a Christian?" "Yes!" — the "yes" came more heartily this time. "Then both these men are Christians. There is no difference between them." "Oh, yes, there is a difference." "Then what is that difference?" But she would not attempt to define it. She wished to keep that comfortable delusion that we are all Christians, whose principal Christian duty is to go to church on Sunday and put a penny in the plate. It is from such lukewarm, nominal Christians that the Church must shake herself loose before she can take her true place as a militant force against the powers of evil. (H. Hamilton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: |
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