It is not a Sunday religion,
but a weekday lifestyle by J.R. Miller from What is a Christian
Life, read by Christopher Glynn. A great many people seem to misunderstand
Christianity and the Christian life. In some cases, no more
is implied than an intellectual belief of the doctrines of Christianity. Some people seem to think that
a Christian is one who is sound in the faith, although the personal
character may be very faulty, and there may be no practical
application of the principles of the Gospel to the conduct
Pride, bitterness, selfishness, malice, dishonesty, and harshness
may abound. But because the person believes
the facts of the gospel, he then considers himself to be a Christian
man. A Christian life is a regenerated
life. Thus the teaching of the scriptures
is that a true Christian life is one that has come under new
influences. a new life, a divine principle,
entering the heart and changing all within and then without. It is the Spirit entering into
him and influencing his whole life. In a true Christian life,
the beliefs in the heart manifest themselves in a greater or lesser
measure in the conduct and the character. Thus it is character
which is the true and final test of religion. The fruit of the
spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, self-control. These are the things that manifest
one to be a Christian. Not those who say, Lord, Lord,
but those who obey his commandments shall enter into heaven. Men
talk about holiness and pray for it as if it were something
entirely apart from their everyday life, something that has nothing
whatever to do with their conduct in their domestic, social and
business relations. But holiness is not a mere sentiment. It is the most real and practical
thing in this world. If being holy means anything
at all, it means being true, honest, upright, noble, pure,
gentle, patient, unselfish. Holiness is not only church-going
and hymn-singing. It is life and conduct. It is not a Sunday religion,
but a weekday lifestyle. We really have no more religion
than we get into our everyday life, at home, in business, in
all our conduct. We are Christians only so far
as the Christ living in us is manifested in a Christ-like life.