DEAR BRETHREN: It seems that it falls to my lot again this year to write what we call a circular letter. And it appears to me that it is proper to write upon a subject that is of general interest.
I have, therefore, chosen as a subject, CHRISTIAN DEPORTMENT, or the deportment of professed Christians and its effects. I am sure if any one will consider the matter at all, they will at once see the importance of this subject. I believe that where the Gospel is preached this one thing has more to do with its success or failure than anything else. Where the deportment of professed Christians is universally as it should be (if there is any such place) the opposition is disarmed and Christians are able to go in and possess the land, for "They have no evil thing to say of them." Thus it is some places are so much more successful than others. But where professed Christians live unworthy lives, it is very hard for any one to do anything for Christ. I desire to speak now upon this subject not only in generalities but to specify some things in particular. But I hardly know what it is in which the most harm is done. Perhaps in one place it is one thing, and in another place it is another thing.
I will begin by speaking of Sabbath desecration. It is astonishing to contemplate the conduct of Christians toward the Lord's day. Many do not observe it hardly at all, and many others will wring in this chore and that, making their coming together for worship a time to see each other on business and arrange plans to deliver articles or borrow them, hire hands or settle accounts. Others will even stay away from worship to attend business, all of which is desecrating the Sabbath, and sin against God, and is destroying the confidence of the world around us, in us in particular, and in the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ in general; and also makes our Sabbath day congregations meager for Christians and others by their example, are away on business.
Next we will speak of the attitude of professed Christians toward the temperance question. And I think I realize that some Christians are liable to take offense at what I shall say upon this point, as also no doubt they will upon the point just spoken of. But I cannot, and, God helping me, will not refuse to speak because of this, because if I should, I should be unworthy of the name of a teacher of what is right, and also fail of doing the good I desire to do the cause of Christ.
The time was in the days of our fathers when to drink intoxicants as a beverage, would not compromise a man's religion, but that day is passed and gone, and I hope forever, and today the Christian man who drinks intoxicants is doing the cause of Christ a terrible injury. And any church that indulges its members in such a course will find it almost, if not altogether, out of the question to make progress. When we look around us and see the awful destruction, misery and expense caused by the indulgence in intoxicants, we can say nothing less than it is sin, an awful sin to indulge in drinking, ourselves, or in anywise giving our influence to the business of drinking, buying and selling intoxicants as a beverage. And yet, notwithstanding this, not long since I heard it said of a church member, that "He can drink more whiskey than any man I ever saw." When professed Christians do the like of this I ask, what can the world think of us and our religion? What effect can the preaching of the Gospel have upon the world when they know we indulge such things as these? Brethren of Eastern Association, is it not high time for us as churches to arise out of sleep as to this matter for the sake of the souls of men, and in the fear of God purge ourselves of the drinkers and the sellers, admonishing our members to have nothing to do with the unclean thing?
Another thing which has done and is doing great harm to our religion, is a disposition to overreach and cheat in our dealings, and of breaking our word with our fellow men when it is to our pecuniary interest to do so, and when the man with whom we are dealing cannot help himself. And this seems to be even worse than the former things in some respects, because it betokens a dishonest principle, and this, men will not forgive, and if they should God will not overlook it. Sometimes a very little thing is sufficient to indicate very distinctly what a man's character is. David, in the 15th Psalm, says, "He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not," shall dwell in the tabernacle of the Lord, and that means the man who having obligated himself will not change, even though it be to his personal interest to change, but will keep his word. Every Christian's word ought to be just as good as his oath, and better than it is with some. But sometimes you will find a professed Christian that will do some of the meanest and least things imaginable, just because the law of the land will not take hold of them. But oh! how destructive to the influence of Christianity. Some other Christians will indulge in games, sports, and other worldly pleasures of a nature and to a degree that very materially injures the influence of Christianity. Some will engage in card playing, attending horse races or dancing, or allow it in their houses, or allow their children to do so. And these things, like the others spoken of have added their influence to the condemnation of thousands, and it usually has its greatest effect upon the nearest friends and relatives of the ones who indulge in them. And how awful the thought that we, by indulging our carnal natures, have caused the ruin of the souls of the very ones we of all others desired to be saved.
My brethren and sisters, do we realize that we indeed "Are not our own but God says, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." "For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." Now it does not say that you must not do it in a passion, and with intent to dishonor God, only you must not use his name in this way, whether in a passion or as an exclamation of surprise, or in any other way to us His name lightly. Some have a way of using a name of God in surprise, as God! or My God! or Lord! or My Lord! or Lordie! or God Almighty! or Good God! or God have mercy! or Jesus Christ! all of which and any other such expressions are down right taking the name of God in vain, and God will not hold such guiltless, but are under His frown, and the name of God is blasphemed through such Christians and the church loses its influence and souls go down to perdition. There are many other expressions used by some professed Christians which, if not taking God's name in vain, yet may be regarded as profanity, such as Darn, Durn, Drat, The devil, The Deuce, By George, By Jack's; I'll Swear, Gosh or By Gosh, or I'll Be Blamed, and many other like expressions, which the world around regard the same as other profanity and are but little removed from what we first spoke of, and are undoubtedly used as substitutes for the others, filling the same place, and we are admonished to "abstain from the appearance of evil."
My brother, let not such things ever pass your lips if you would please God, and get a full reward. And now, brethren, your attention being called to these things, you will be doubly guilty, if you persist in the practice of them. May God give you eyes to see.
P. J. Spoon ================== [Eastern Baptist Association (CA), 1889. Document was re-typed by Robert Cullifer, Folsom, CA and used with permission. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
More California Circular Letters
Baptist History Homepage