448
Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
following closely the Bible rule. Fashion has been the goddess who
has ruled the outside world, and she often insinuates herself into the
church. The church should make the word of God her standard, and
parents should think intelligently upon this subject. When they see
their children inclined to follow worldly fashions, they should, like
Abraham, resolutely command their households after them. Instead
of uniting them with the world, connect them with God. Let none
dishonor God’s sanctuary by their showy apparel. God and angels are
there. The Holy One of Israel has spoken through His apostle: “Whose
adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
[500]
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden
man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament
of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
When a church has been raised up and left uninstructed on these
points, the minister has neglected his duty and will have to give an
account to God for the impressions he allowed to prevail. Unless
correct ideas of true worship and true reverence are impressed upon
the people, there will be a growing tendency to place the sacred and
eternal on a level with common things, and those professing the truth
will be an offense to God and a disgrace to religion. They can never,
with their uncultivated ideas, appreciate a pure and holy heaven, and
be prepared to join with the worshipers in the heavenly courts above,
where all is purity and perfection, where every being has perfect
reverence for God and His holiness.
Paul describes the work of God’s ambassadors as that by which
every man shall be presented perfect in Christ Jesus. Those who
embrace the truth of heavenly origin should be refined, ennobled,
sanctified through it. It will require much painstaking effort to reach
God’s standard of true manhood. The irregular stones hewed from the
quarry must be chiseled, their rough sides must be polished. This is an
age famous for surface work, for easy methods, for boasted holiness
aside from the standard of character that God has erected. All short
routes, all cutoff tracks, all teaching which fails to exalt the law of
God as the standard of religious character, is spurious. Perfection of
character is a lifelong work, unattainable by those who are not willing
to strive for it in God’s appointed way, by slow and toilsome steps. We
cannot afford to make any mistake in this matter, but we want day by
day to be growing up into Christ, our living Head.
[501]