Society.
We may be conformed to the world in our intercourse with society. As long as we are in this life we are thrown into the midst of other men; and, as members of society, we are bound by the duties of social life. There are kind neighbours all around us, many of whom, we may fear, are still men of the world, but who are associated with us through business and the ties of neighbourhood. How, then, should we act in society when we really desire not to be conformed to the world? I do not think that the Christian is to show himself an exclusive man. ‘He that hath friends must show himself friendly;’ and there are many things which he may, and even ought to do, to all around him.
He should be in all cases a friendly, obliging, and unselfish neighbour.
He should be open at any time to kind and friendly intercourse.
He should be ever ready to help his neighbours in all that concerns either them or their families.
He should be diligently seeking to promote the happiness of all who are brought into contact with him.
And all this without ever stopping to consider whether they are the children of God or not.
I believe, also, that he may safely join with them in social life. Our Lord did it, and therefore they who desire to follow Him may do it likewise. But let us all remember, what we are sometimes apt to forget when we look to His example, that we must be prepared to follow Him throughout, and go, as He went, wherever we go, as faithful witnesses for God. Our Lord accepted the invitation of Simon the Pharisee; but He never forgot His character or mission; and before He left the dinner-table He both reproved Simon, and saved the poor sinner that came trembling to His feet. My belief is that this is the true solution of all the questions that arise respecting social intercourse with men of the world. I see great difficulty in artificial rules; but I believe that, when Christian men seek for God’s grace to adorn the Gospel wherever they are, they will soon find that society sorts itself. If Simon the Pharisee, or Zaccheus the Publican, ask them to dinner, let them go, and let them recognise the hospitality of their friend. But let them be sure they first seek God’s grace that they go as Christian witnesses, and they will find practically that, unless their Master is welcomed as well as themselves, they will not be perplexed by many more invitations. If they go on the principle of leaving all their Christianity at home, the case is of course different. They will then be sought for by the world, for the simple reason that they are conformed to it; for nothing do worldly men prize more than the implied sanction of those who bear a high name as religious characters. ‘We cannot be wrong,’ say they, ‘for Mr. So-and-So was here; and we all know what an excellent man he is.’ Conformity to the world does not consist in going to the dinner, but in changing our character as well as our dress, and going there as men of the world, without letting it be felt that we have sought the Master’s presence, and are anxious for the Master’s glory.