A SOFT AND EFFEMINATE CHRISTIANITY
HORATIUS BONAR ON BIBLICAL REPROOF AND CORRECTION - Circa 1890
"There is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity, under the 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 erect 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 stem word of condemnation against error, nor to raise its voice against surrounding evil, 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, in whomsoever it is found, and would rather risk the accusation of being actuated by a bad spirit than not to 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 testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity... It is a betrayal of truth and righteousness. I know that charity covers 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, though exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of attainment. - By Horatius Bonar. 1818-1899"
After my latest accusation of being unloving, judgmental and a heretic hunter because I said a couple of lads were heretics, the Lord allowed me to come across this on a Canadian web page. He has always been gracious to me that whenever I get zapped it is only a day or so later before He sends me something that affirms my position. As a pastor, I am called to protect the sheep and to point out error and heresy when I see it. Interestingly enough the lad that got upset wrote me and asked about the one lad and he did not like the answer. Another one came up in the debate and he really got upset.
Brother Bonar may have been a man ahead of his times but I am glad that I agree with him even if that makes me a man behind his times in some folks’ eyes. Praise His name and His mercy that allows this pile of dust to serve Him. No one ever said that ministry was to be a popularity contest though many seem to make it that. I have no desire to offend anyone for the sake of offense, but I will not keep the truth in just because someone might be offended.
I am sure that if I would just change a few of my convictions and always speak smooth things I might be a full time pastor with a nice size congregation. However, to do that would make me a hireling and not a pastor. I would be no good to God, my flock or myself. I have no reason to doubt that at some point I will ruffle someone else’s feathers and they will cast the same old unloving rhetoric at me, but that will not stop me from saying what has to be said. Dislike me, fine. Yell at me, fine. I have been fussed at by the best so I can easily stand the rest. I wish we were all on the same page of Scripture, but we aren’t and we won’t be until Christ returns but if I see someone in error and say nothing on the premise of love then I know nothing of truth or love.
Eph 4:11-16
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (KJV)
It is my job to equip the saints to become mature ministers of the Word and at times that means pointing out error and in these last days it means more often than not. There are weirdos with hoo-ha doctrine all over the place. You don’t have to hunt for them they run right up to you with a neon sign. Shoot, I met Jeremiah the prophet on the streets of Winston-Salem, NC and I sure wasn’t hunting him.
2 Tim 4:1-5
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (KJV)
My charge is before God. I cannot care too much about what people may think. I guess some would take out reprove and rebuke in this passage because it is unloving. Well, they aren’t allowed to change His Word and I can’t pick and choose what I am to preach. We are in the age of apostasy and people like smooth things and theatrics, but they will not get them from me as long as God preserves me from that error. I will not scratch your ears but I will tell you the truth. That is the way to prove that I love you.
Call me what you will. That will change nothing. I was not saved by an effeminate, wishy-washy, emotional Gospel and I am not preaching that way. Luther said, "Peace, if possible, but truth at any rate." I amen that. Wesley said that when you preach people will either get saved or get mad. If neither happens, you aren’t called. Well, I know I have the mad part down and only eternity will show how many folks got saved. I have been told that folks have been blessed and edified. Wesley didn’t speak about saints, but the principle seems to be the same. Saints either get glad or mad when the Word is taught. I seem to be on target so I am not changing my aim.
In His truth and love,
