"Consistency"
Some one said, "Consistency, thou art a jewel," and many have repeated the statement as if it always expressed gospel truth. A man's teaching and practice should be consistent; that is, he should practice what he preaches, in so far as what he preaches can be practiced. It is foolish for any man to try to make his teaching and practice consistent with what he taught and practiced in the past.
A Christian should start with the high and holy purpose of learning all the truth he can, eliminating all errors as he finds them, and of practicing every practicable thing he learns. If he conscientiously follows that course, he is still consistent, even though he finds it necessary to make changes in both teaching and practice.
A man who follows that course never looks back to see if he is consistent with his past teaching and practice. To strive to be consistent with the past is not a jewel; it is folly.
By R. L. Whiteside
Author of Commentary on Romans.
"I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED"
2 Tim. 1:12
Security -- even in its most relative sense, is very difficult to maintain. For the most part it is an "at ease" feeling, and feelings are so unreliable. We trust in the bank, and it fails; in a friend, and he deserts; in the strength of youth, and we grow old; in our wisdom, and discover we were foolish. Before it is too late, consider Paul's source of security. FALSE STANDARDS, (continued)
and elders, as well as to any others. A good action does not make or precede "truth"; on the contrary, "truth" precedes the good action, and the act is good because it is in keeping with truth. Remember, God's word is truth.
No Man Loves Truth Who Shows Disrespect For Gods Word
Write that on your samplers, teach it to your children, shout it from the housetops, and apply it to your own religious practices now and then. What egotism, what unmitigated gall is this that allows one man to use the pulpit, radio, or journals to challenge another for his authority to -- let us say, use mechanical music in the worship,--- and then hold me in contempt if I ask him for his authority to support human institutions from the church treasury? Is God's word the standard for TRUTH only when it suits our purpose?
A Plea For Truth Seekers
God give us men of courage; honest men, hungry for TRUTH. Banish selfish concern, creed-bound fumblings after truth; and help us to search thy word prayerfully, convinced that therein are the answers to our problems. Open our eyes that we may see, our ears that we may hear, and our hearts that we may understand.
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
---1 Pet. 1:24