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Copying Christ’s Methods, August 28
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no
need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 2:17
.
No teacher ever placed such signal honor upon man as did our Lord and
Master. He was known as a “friend of publicans and sinners.” He mingled
with all classes of society, that all might partake of the blessings He came
to bestow. He was found in the synagogue and in the market place. He
shared the social life of His countrymen, gladdening with His presence the
households of all who invited Him. But He never urged His way uninvited.
He was active to relieve every species of human misery that was brought to
Him in faith for relief; but He did not bestow healing power indiscriminately
where there was manifested an independence and selfish exclusiveness that
would give no expression to their sorrows nor ask for the help so much needed.
All who came unto Him in faith He was ready and willing to relieve. Sorrow
fled at His presence; injustice and oppression withered beneath His rebukes;
and death, the cruel spoiler of our sinful race, obeyed His commands.
In every age since Christ was among men, there have been some who,
while they professed His name, have pursued a course of seclusion or of
Pharisaical preeminence. But they have not blessed their fellow men. They
have found no excuse in the life of Christ for this self-righteous bigotry; for
His character was genial and beneficent. He would have been excluded from
every monastic order upon earth because of overstepping their prescribed
rules. In every church and denomination are to be found erratics who would
have blamed Him for His liberal mercies....
Those with whom God has entrusted His truth must so order their inter-
course with the world as to secure to themselves a calm, hallowed peace, as
well as a sacred and most thorough knowledge of how to meet men with their
prejudices where they are, and minister to them the light, comfort, and peace
found in the acceptance of the truth of God. They should take for example
the inspiring, authoritative and social life of Christ. They must cultivate the
same beneficent spirit which He possessed, and must cherish the same broad
plans of action in meeting men where they are.—
Letter 2, August 28, 1878
,
to “Dear Brethren [in Switzerland].”
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