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Chosen no: R-1021 b, from: 1888 Year. |
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Christian Experience.
"What
is your experience, brother? Tell us what the Lord has done for you." These
are expressions with which the majority of professing Christians are familiar; and
the responses to such a call from the leader of a meeting are generally a
narration of the feelings or sensations experienced; some very thrilling, and
others exceedingly common place: in short-- Christian Experience from a
prayer-meeting stand-point has become largely a matter of sensation. A man or
woman may have known the Holy Scriptures from a child and taken them as a
guide, may have followed the Saviour and lived soberly, righteously and godly
in this world, and yet, if he or she cannot relate an "Experience"
after the approved order, they are almost unchristianized by some.
Do not
misunderstand me. I would not belittle anything by which a believer has been
brought into communion with his God, or any sensation that may be the
legitimate outgrowth of such communion.
I do
believe, however, that this religion of sensation has been fostered and
encouraged until it has reached an abnormal growth. Turning to the Word for
light, we find that the term, in the sense in which [R1022
: page 2] it is now used, is unknown. The method in conversion as well
as in practice has been completely revolutionized since the days of the
Apostles.
What is
Experience? According to Webster it is "wisdom gained from practice;"
and this definition is very appropriate for Christian as well as worldly
Experience. In Rom. 5:3,4we
read, "We glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh
patience; and patience experience; and experience, hope." Christian
Experience is not merely sitting down quietly and letting the Spirit of God
work in our hearts--it is eminently practical, and it is impossible to divorce
experimental from practical Christianity. He who would relate an Experience of
what the Lord has done for him must at the same time narrate what he has done
for the Lord. It may do while we are nestlings to open our mouths with the
incessant cry, Give! Give! but a time comes when we must put away childish
things, and meet the stern realities of the new life. It is not sufficient to
pray "Lord, what will thou have me to do?" unless, when the service
is shown us we immediately perform the duty, and thus become doers of the word.
Christian
Experience is not the exaltation of feeling, or ecstacy that finds expression
only when inspired by the ardent songs, prayers and exhortations of Christian
fellowship; and he who is dependent upon such "means of grace" for
his vitality, is but an infant in experience.
Christian
Experience is "putting off the old man with his deeds, and putting on the
new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created
him."
Christian
Experience is growth--"To grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ;" to be rooted and grounded in Love, and grow up
in all things like unto Him who is our Head.
Christian
Experience is to build up a character, "adding to 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."
Christian
Experience is to be laborers in the Lord's vineyard, workers together with God;
and it is to be soldiers of the Cross armed cap-a-pie with the whole armor of
God, following the Captain of our salvation.
Christian
Experience is visiting the widow and fatherless in their affliction, and
keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. As an example of true Christian
experience the reader is referred to the experience of Paul as recorded in 2 Cor. 11 and 12.
It is in
such schools as these that the Christians gain Experience; and this is the true
Experience that worketh hope that maketh not ashamed, because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts. --Word of Truth.
W.T. R-1021b : page 2 -1888r