Christian Age Acts 11:25-26 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:… A young convert arose in the prayer meeting and said, "A few days since the foreman of my room came to me and said, 'Henry, are you a Christian!' I replied, 'Yes, sir, I am. At least I am trying to be. I look to the Lord for strength and grace!' And then I could think of nothing better to say, so I thought I would ask him a question; so I said, 'Mr. Smith, are you a Christian?' He replied, 'I go to church!' Then I didn't know what to say. But a few days before this conversation a boy of about twelve years old came into the shop and asked for work. When the foreman told him he had none for him, he told a pitiful story of the sickness of his father and mother. The foreman then asked him if he had ever worked in a jeweller's shop, and he replied, 'No, sir, but I have worked next door to one!' So, when I could not think what to say to my foreman, this came into my mind, and I said, 'Mr. Smith, do you remember the little boy who came in here the other day and said he once worked next door to a jeweller's shop?' 'Yes.' 'Do you think that working next to a jeweller's shop made him a jeweller?' 'No.' 'Do you think that going to church makes you a Christian?' Who does not see that the answer of this young convert razes to the earth all the refuges of our dear friends away from the Saviour, who have become accustomed to substituting fallacies for reasons, and good deeds of their own for faith in Christ's blood and New Testament obedience? Many who are deferential and reverential in the presence of the gospel's proclamations say that, while such a way as it prescribes is doubtless proper for most people, they must be allowed to present, as the ground of their hopes, their uniform kindness to Christian ministers, their constant readiness to aid in their support, their presence and devout behaviour in church service, their compassionate and self-sacrificing ministrations to the unfortunate, their honourable business dealing, and their high regard, generally, for the rights of men. These are grand things. True Christianity is very far from discarding them; it insists upon them. But with equal vigour it protests against their substitution for the "faith which works by love." This is evidently working "next door to a jeweller's shop." (Christian Age.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: |
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