A Soft and Effeminate
Christianity
For
there is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate
Christianity, under the a plea of a lofty and ethereal
theology. Christianity was born for endurance; not an
exotic, but a hardy plant, braced by the keen wind; not
languid, nor childish, nor cowardly. It walks with strong
step and direct frame, it is kindly, but firm; it is gentle,
but honest; it is calm, but not facile; obliging, but not
imbecile; decided, but not churlish. It does not fear to
speak the stern word of condemnation against error, nor to
raise its voice against surrounding evils, under the pretext
it is not of this world; it does not shrink from giving
honest reproof, lest it come under the charge of displaying
an unchristian spirit. It calls sin sin, on whomsoever it is
found, and would rather risk the accusation of being
actuated by a bad spirit than not discharge an explicit
duty. Let us not misjudge strong words used in honest
controversy. Out of the heat a viper may come forth; but we
shake it off and feel no harm. The religion of both
Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken
testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a
case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity. It
is a betrayal of the cause of truth and righteousness. If
anyone should be frank, manly, honest, cheerful (I do not
say blunt or rude, for a Christian must be courteous and
polite); it is he who has tasted that the Lord is gracious,
and is looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of
God. I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but
it does not call evil good, because a good man has done
it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the
inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervent spirit;
crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness and
worldliness, though exhibited in one who seems to have
reached no common height of attainment.
-
Horatius Bonar, 1808-89
