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 A
fellow turns red in the face, his eyes dilate, his fists are
clinched, and his voice rises to a shout as he avows, “A
Christian does not get angry!!”
A
man reasons, disputes. and finally hotly contends that it is
wrong to argue.
A
lady whispers a warning to the newcomer, of a neighbor who is a
whisperer.
A
fellow violently advocates the non-violence of Christianity.
And
“Peace” may be the text of the man who makes war, In fact ,a
conqueror is always a great lover of peace. He prefers to have
his own way unopposed. There have always been peace- talking
war- making preachers ‘Thus saith the Lord concerning the
prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth,
and cry. Peace: and he that putteth not into their mouths, they
even prepare war against him.” (Micah 3: 5) That sounds like
some folk I have known.
A
tear-laden lament for unity may be heard from brethren who have
pressed their scripturally unsupported schemes and doctrines to
the division of brethren. They ask for unity but will not give
up the things that caused division.
The
preacher’s text may he the slogan. “We speak where the Bible
speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent; we call Bible
things by Bible names and do Bible things in Bible ways!” yet
his sermon may end with pleas for things unmentioned in the
Bible,
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described in terms from a theology
book, and supported by schemes unknown to The Book.
Yes,
something is haywire when a fellow’s talk and walk are that
contrary. Admittedly. it is easier to “talk a good fight”
than it is to actually “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5: 25) but
we ought to he found trying to live up to our profession
as a Christian. When our walk and talk are opposite, one of two
things must be so. We must he (1 ) ignorant of the difference in
our walk and talk, or (2) honesty is not all that it should be.
It
is hard to think people can he that blind (ignorant), yet we
hate to think they are dishonest. Of course, it is easier to see
the other fellow’s inconsistency than it is my own. And it
never has been easy to be completely honest.
Beginning
with this issue, we plan to publish each month an article or two
from the pen of our co-worker. bro. Joe Fitch. The above is his
first in this series.
Bro.
Fitch preaches for the Oaks- West church of Christ, Burnet, on a
full-time basis. He is fully supported by the Burnet church,
doing the work I tried to do before entering into my present
full-time schedule of gospel meetings.
He
is a capable preacher of the word of God, and is well-liked by
the brethren in Burnet. If you are up our way, visit and worship
with us.
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