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Fundamentals of Christian Education
Flattery is a part of the world’s policy, but it is no part of Christ’s
policy. Through flattery poor human beings, full of frailty and infir-
mities, come to think that they are efficient and worthy, and become
puffed up in their fleshly mind. They become intoxicated with the idea
that they possess ability beyond what they do have, and their religious
experience becomes unbalanced. Unless in the providence of God
they shall be turned from these deceptions, and become converted, and
learn the A B C of religion in the school of Christ, they will lose their
souls.
Many a youth has been flattered that he has ability as a natural gift;
when the ability he thinks he has, can be attained only through diligent
training and culture, learning the meekness and lowliness of Christ.
Believing he is naturally gifted, he thinks there is no necessity of
putting his mind to the task of mastering his lessons; and before he is
aware, he is fast in the snare of Satan. God permits him to be attacked
by the enemy, in order that he may understand his own weakness.
He is permitted to make some decided blunder, and is plunged into
painful humiliation. But when he is writhing under a sense of his own
weakness, he is not to be judged harshly. This is the time above all
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others when he needs a judicious counselor, a true friend, who has
discernment of character. This is the time when he needs a friend who
is led by the Spirit of God, and who will deal patiently and faithfully
with the erring, and lift up the soul that is bowed down. He is not to be
lifted up by the aid of flattery. No one is authorized to deal out to the
soul this delusive intoxicant of Satan. Rather he is to be pointed to the
first rounds of the ladder, and his stumbling feet are to be placed on the
lowest round of the ladder of progress. Peter says, “Add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and
to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these
things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Let the erring one be encouraged to climb step by step, round by
round. The effort may be painful to him, but it will be by far the best
lesson he has ever learned; for by so doing he will become acquainted
with his own weakness, and thus be enabled to avoid in the future the
errors of the past. Through the aid of wise counselors, his defeat will
be turned into victory. But let no one attempt to begin at the top of