James Nisbet Commentary - Mark 10:15 - 10:15

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James Nisbet Commentary - Mark 10:15 - 10:15


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

MODERN CULTURE

‘Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.’

Mar_10:15

It has been remarked that the Church has neglected a great duty in not dealing faithfully with modern culture. There are from the standpoint of Christianity at least three grave charges against the so-called culture of the present day:—

I. It thinks more highly of itself than it ought to think. Its lofty pretensions would be ridiculous if not so sad. Art is but a plaything—a noble plaything if you will—but not essential to the stern work of human souls. St. Paul gave up culture for the Cross. He entered the Kingdom as a little child.

II. The one-sidedness of modern culture impresses us. The tendency of modern culture is to develop the intellectual side of man’s nature at the expense of his moral. The culture of character should stand first.

III. Modern culture is in the main selfish.—Those who have received the most of God’s gifts do not always make the best response to His bounty. No man has a right to enjoy anything that he is not willing to share with others. If we can, where is the sacrifice of our life? Where is our cross?

There in that one word ‘cross’ is the gulf which separates Christianity from modern culture.

—
Rev. Canon S. A. Alexander.

Illustration

‘In the preface to his Souvenirs de l’Enfance et de la Jeunesse, the brilliant Frenchman tells a legend of his native Brittany. It relates to an imaginary town called Is, which the fishermen supposed to have been swallowed up by the sea far back in the ages of the past. But sometimes, so these simple folk believe, the spires of the churches can be seen in the hollow of the waves when the sea is rough, and during a calm, if you listen well, you may hear the bells ringing forth the hymn appropriate to the day. And M. Renan adds, pathetically enough: “I often fancy that I have at the bottom of my heart a city of Is, with its bells summoning to prayer a recalcitrant congregation.” Happy are they whose souls are still thrilled with the echoes of the texts and prayers learned in childhood—who are child-like and simple-hearted—grace, mercy, and peace be with all such in exceeding measure!’