Quiet Talks by Samuel Dickey: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Personal Problems: 68. Questions that are Not Questions.

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Quiet Talks by Samuel Dickey: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Personal Problems: 68. Questions that are Not Questions.



TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Personal Problems (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 68. Questions that are Not Questions.

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Questions that are Not Questions.

These incidents suggest at once the principal things that are being regarded to-day as questionable things. They suggest, too, the differences of opinion held regarding them by Christian people. Wherever Christian circles and worldly circles touch and overlap and interlace these things are being discussed. It is very striking that everywhere they are called questionable. Though if a thing of this sort be questionable, surely it is not questionable. If some one seriously raises a question about some such matter of conduct, there is surely no question about that item for the man who would touch the highest levels, and always ring true.

Just such questions of propriety and of conscience have always been up for discussion. Ever since Jesus was on earth men have divided themselves into two great groups around Him. For those who have stayed close to Him that line of division is usually clear, and sharp, and easily seen. For those who travel closer to the line itself, and the people on the other side, it has seemed to be a vague, indistinct line, not easily seen. The folks on the other side of it seem to be raising a good bit of dust and those near by are bothered in their seeing.

Yet, too, let it be said that for many an earnest Christian who would live very close to the Master there arise just such questions of conduct and of conscience that seem very difficult to decide.

The settlement of them is a matter of standpoint. A simple statement of the Christian standpoint helps much to clear away the haze and fog. It has been said in a former talk that the Church is Jesus Christ's preacher to the world. What is true of the Church is true of its members. Each one by his life is Jesus Christ's preacher to his world. Jesus is counting on us. We are the ones upon whom His plan for the world depends, and the only ones. The world knows Jesus through His followers. It knows Him only as it knows His followers.

It is to be feared that some of us are preaching a rather scrappy Gospel, or a very much hidden Gospel. But whatever each follower of His is in his life, that is the impression of Jesus Christ which his circle gets so far as he is concerned. Whatever gives a wrong or weak or obscure impression of Jesus, and of the life He 'calls us to, clearly belongs outside the Christian man's life. Whatever hides Him away should be put out.

We are judged by our attitude towards these questioned things. That outside congregation does not know much about creeds. It doesn't know much about Jesus Christ. It does lay great stress upon conduct, upon what a man does. It judges his belief by what he does, the way he lives. Could there be a keener way? or one more philosophical? For a man literally believes only so much as he actually makes over into life. These questioned things are familiar to these folks. They are not questioned out in their world, but freely indulged. They seem to think a Jesus-man should be different from themselves, in the sense of being better, being guided and held under the strong thumb of a better and higher motive. So that our Christian profession is largely judged by our attitude towards such matters.

Years ago, before the time of railroad consolidation had set in, a certain bit of railroad whose main line was about two hundred miles long, was tinder the management of a Christian man. He was as much noted in church circles for his earnest, faithful spirit, as he was in railroad circles for his ability as a manager. The road was widely known for three things: its good service, its good dividends, and the fact that there were no Sunday trains. An annual report had just been issued, and the directors had voted the usual good-sized dividend. Referring to it, another railroad manager, in conversation with a group of business men, remarked, "Well, those blank Christians know how to run a railroad." The manager of that railroad was preaching Christ to all the world by his simple Sabbath observance rule.