No Respect of Persons with God
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There is danger of attaching too much importance to the matter of
etiquette, and diverting much time to education upon the subject of
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manner and form, that can never be of great use to many youth. Some
are in danger of making the externals all-important, of overestimating
the value of mere conventionalities. The results will not warrant the
expenditure of the time and thought given to these matters. Some who
are trained to give much attention to these things, manifest little true
respect or sympathy for anything, however excellent, that fails to meet
their standard of conventionality.
Anything that would encourage ungenerous criticism, a disposi-
tion to notice and expose every defect or error, is wrong. It fosters
distrust and suspicion, which are contrary to the character of Christ,
and detrimental to the mind thus exercised. Those who are engaged in
this work, gradually depart from the true spirit of Christianity.
The most essential, enduring education is that which will develop
the nobler qualities, which will encourage a spirit of universal kindli-
ness, leading the youth to think no evil of any one, lest they misjudge
motives and misinterpret words and actions. The time devoted to this
kind of instruction will yield fruit to everlasting life.
* * * * *
Christ’s Example a Rebuke to Exclusiveness
In every age since Christ was among men, there have been some
who chose to seclude themselves from others, manifesting a Phari-
saical desire for preeminence. Shutting themselves away from the
world, they have not lived to bless their fellow-men.
There is no example in the life of Christ for this self-righteous big-
otry; His character was genial and beneficent. There is not a monastic
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order upon earth from which He would not have been excluded for
overstepping the prescribed rules. In every religious denomination,
and in almost every church, are to be found erratics who would have
blamed Him for His liberal mercies. They would have found fault
with Him because He ate with publicans and sinners; they would have
accused Him of worldly conformity in attending a wedding feast, and
would have censured Him unmercifully for permitting His friends to
make a supper in honor of Him and His disciples.