WHY AM I NOT A CHRISTIAN: (By an Officer.)

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 269, 2 June 1888, Page 4

WHY AM I NOT A CHRISTIAN: (By an Officer.)

I. Is it because I am afraid of ndiculc, and of what others may say ot me ' 'Whosoever ehall deny me Infoie men. him w ill I aL-o deny befoie my ["athet which is in heaven. — Matt. x. 33. ii. Is it because I fear peisecution • ' Bles=ed are the\ which arc pei-eca'cd for rirrhteousne-s' =ake foi thtu -> i^ the kingdom of heaven. -Matt. * . 10 in. I' it because if I tried to obc\ <--od I should ha\e to encounter opposition and enmity ? '"Wheu a man's wa\s please the L^id, He nrtketh even hi> enemie? to be at pi u c with him.'— Pro. xvi. 7, i\ . Is it because I cannot separate m\ =elf from my present companion* ' ' Wherefore come out from amonji thorn and be ye separate, saith the Loid. — 2 Coi \i. 17. * "\ . Is it because some, of w hn~c opinion I enteitain a high estimate, pioie— a dibelief in Chii^tanity '' 'If we iecei\e the witness of men. the witness oi <>od is gie.ite^t. '— 1 .Jim. \ -1. vi. Is it because of the incoiw^tuicic- of professing Chii^tian = ".' 'Every one of u 5u 5 -hall ;rhe ai count of himself to God.'— Rom. \i\. 12. \ ii. Is it because I should nor he of th» same mind as the othei munbei- of m\ family ? 'I am come to s et a man at \aiiant against hi? father, and the daughtu a'_am»| her mothei, and the dautrhtci in law againher mother-in law." — Matt. •". 55 \ in. 1^ it because 1 should ha\u to -~iaii r ' alone in my own famih '' 'God -etteth the sohtai) in famiLe-. — P.=. ixviii. 6. IX. Is It because C hiistian i>^o^.le appeal gloomy ? ' As sonowful, \etalway- ie)oicing.'--2 vi. 10. \. Is it because religion -eem- melancholy and mournful ' ' The heart of the wise ij in the hou^c <>' mourning ; but the heait <-■! fool- \t* in the house oi mirth.'— Eccl. vii 4. \F. I» it because I am joun^ and and leligion is all \eiy well in time-j of sickness '! 'Thero in but a ,-tep lxtwecn me and death/— I Sain. x\. 5. \!I. ].- it because J am too deeply engrossed m the plfcasujc- ot thi.- life "' sJjo\es Jj0\e not the woild, neithei the tiling that are in the woild. Ii any man lo\e the ■would, the love of the Fathei i> not in him.' — 1 Jno. ii. 15. mil 1^ it because world! v ])coj)lc seem to enjoy their share ot prospeuty ''. 'When I thought to know t,hi-, it wa & too painful for me ; until I went into the sanctuary of God ; then undeictood 1 their end. I—Ps.1 — Ps. Ixxiii. 16, 17. xiv. Is it because 1 must attend to my own concerns, and cannot tind time for the claims of Je^us Ch) Ist ? ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness ; and all these things, bhall be added unto you.'— Mat b. vi. 33. XV. Is it because I am waiting until I am married ? ' And another said, I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come.' — Luke xiv. 20. xvi. Is it becau.se Jam too proud to believe the gosuel ? « A man s pride shall bring him low ; but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. 5 — Prov. xxix. 23. xvii. Is it because lam better, certainly not worse than many of my neighbours t * Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.' l_2Cor. x. 18. xviiT. Is il because I have confidence in nay own wisdom and understanding 1

' Behold, the fear of tho Loul, that is wisdom ; and todepait tiom evil is understanding.' — Job xwiii. 28. \i\. Is it because I feel good enough as I" am ? ' T came not to call tho righteous!, but sinner? to lepentance. ' — Luke \. 32. \\. Ts it because I am trusting in my own goodncs- '! 1 Theie is none that doeth good, no, not one.'— Horn iii. 12. wt. Is it because \ am lookinu to be saved by my good works ' 'Not' of ■works, lost any man .should boa.s(.'-K[ili. ii. °. \\n. Is it bee.ui-e 1 am doing the best 1 can, and Hod ought to be s.uisiied with that? ' \\ ho?OC\er sliall keep the w hole law , and \ct oileud in one point, he is guilty of all ' — ,1 aines ii 10. win. Is if bei au-e 1 am tiyinu a- far a^ pos-ible to keep the ten commandment-. ' 'If n^hicou-v;ess c mie b\ t}\v law , then (. lui-t I- ilcad in vain.'- <.'al. it 21 \\T\. Is it bee:u-e I .-cc so main di.lei cut icligions, I know 1101 what to think 'UeiiAed, believe nole\eiv smut, i'nt tis tin pnil^ wheihei the\ .ueottvod. I .Ino. iv . 1. wv Is it because ot ihe lack o! unity .miiui" profe— itu: ( 'ui-tiau-' ; ' Theic aie dnei -it.e- of opeiation-. but it is the sune <uui w hit Ii weikeili .dl in all ' I Coi. \ii. o \\\l. is it because I ( io Mot want -fe-us C'hn-L to .-a\e me 4 Theic is none otiiei '.arne vndiM* h a\en gi\ en among men. tneieb\ \^ c inu-t be sa\ed. Acts i\. 12. \\mi. L- it beeau-o 1 kvhuic i-iiiii tiom lk\i\en to peisiiadt- me ' 'Xc ther will the) be pei-u<id''d, {hough one 10-e tiom the deed Luke wt. 31 \wlll I- it because i doubt the po—ibiht\ of at l % inu (u 'd in the po-ition 111 wlueh I am placed 0 'Let e\ti\ man. wheiein he i- < illedi tlieiem abide vit ii t-od. -1 Co 1 \i>. 24. \\i\, L- it iv'i <mm' f df nut eon-i'lei nn-elt po--t 3 -ed of th" -nen^th iri'o'mi\ to w:ih-tand tht tempt itioe- to which t hn-tians aie ueee— aid) -üb]i ckd' 4 Foi in that He Him-eU hath -ulli-ud beuiLT temuteu, lit i- able ro -net om them that <ue tempted -lieb. ii Is!I s ! \\\. I- ir becaipe 1 am in-laved 1>) some be^ettinjj; ,-m '' ' Le n^ la) aside evei\ weight, and the -in whiuli ilot h -o ea-il\ lu'-et v-, ano ii^t ulunwnh patience tin iaft that 1- -et befoie v-, lookiru unro-lesii- '-- lltb \n 1, 2 \\\l. I- it beeau'-e I do not leai the ion "•equuicc- ot -in ? ' F>e -me \ oui -in v.i'l ii-if I )on out. Num. \\ vi 25. \\\F 1- it beeau-e m\ -m- have too -tioti^ a hold on me ' ' T'U tin- puipo-e \\w "-on ot (..kI \ a- v-inai.ire-tfd, that He might dt.-tio) tlie wo' k- of the de\il — 1 'no 111. b' \\\m Is it lkcui-e m\ -in- a;e too gncvmi- ' • All mannei of -in and ola-plum) shall be toigivLii unto ir.cn - M ittliew mi o\ \\\\\, Js it beoaii- I teai that 1 am too git. at a -ninei ' •The blood of .10-u- C'h'i-t Hi- Son clcau-Lth u- tiom all -in. — 1 I no. 1 7 \\\ v . 1- it because !"\ heait -tern- ii'«i du>ed ag'iin-t lt'igion ' T.ehold. 1 am the L.vi!. t L< <.»> 1 or ail I'l-Ii 1- tiieie an) thing too haul f<>> .in 11.1 \ *\n. 27 \s,\i. 1- it beeau-e Ida 1 » • 1 * beiievi in comei-ion ' 'F.Mtpt \ be cmvtii'd, i'id!)iioni' alittle ( uildien. y -ha 1 ! imt owi iito tue ki')L''ii)in oi lk,iu;i ~Vit. .; '\\\li. I- it bet_au-t i do -lot -((. ih. j ne c--it\ tui uii\ gie<-t <'iiangc ' ' P.\(cpt a man bi. botu a^'aitt, '<" « -I'u.ol -cc t iiu kingdom ft (Jo - J ito di <) \\v\iii I- it be« au-< 1 ' M •< In <ri * .i.'_r!d to ti u-t to hum .u aid iniln-emitui-' •L.nd. uj whom -hall v. c go ' Thou lia-f the v. oid- of elLin.a lile iiu >i C, vn-.p. i- it liecau-u 1 l..e'. a motnefoi lo\t to < -cd ' ■ \\ *, love him Lcccvi-c Ho tn-V. i >v ud 11- — 1 ./no. i\ VJ, \\,. U it betJuisc 1 am not wdiu q to gi\e up all ioi Cln i-t ' ( \\ Irit i- a m ir. ino'iltd. 11 he -h ill gam tin. whole wol d. and 10-c hi- own -oui ' Maft. \\i. 26 \ii. 1- it, becut-c lam afiaid i -hotdd not bo accepted ' ' Him that coineth iinio mo 1 Mill in no w i-e cast out --a' no. si. 07. \'ii. I- it b( 1 au<-e I ha\e tued and failed ' "And ie -hall s C ek im, and iin<l me, when >c iKiU -caich toi me with all yoili hcai I. —Jei . \\i\ 15. \r vi. I- it bee,i'i-c 1 do not like to think about tlir"-e things '' 'Son lcmembci. Lnko xi . 25. \r,i\. Is it bteiui-e I hojic to become a Chustian some day ? ' ?>oast not thyself of i<.-monow , for thou knowest not what a day may bnnt^ ioith.' — l'ro% . \.wii. 1. \lv. Ii- it hecau.se 1 am prone to the e\il of piociastination ? 'Behold, nov. ic the accepted lime ; behold, now is the day of salvation.'— '2. Co>. vi. 2. \j vi. J« it because I am po=tponino the matter without any definite icasonV ' How f-hall we escape, if we neglect so gicat saUation .' — lleb. ii. 7>. \l\ 11. Is it becauhe I feel oppressed with care and .sorrow ? 'When they in their tiouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, ard nought Him, He was found of them. '--2 Chr. xv. 4. \ia]Jl. Is it because I think that if J trusted Je-u.s Chri.st, 1 could not continue following Him? ' As many as received tlim, to them ga\e He power to become the sons of Cod, even to them that believe on UU name '—.3 no. i. 12. \\A\. Is it because I doubt the power of (Jod to keep me unto the end '{

'Ho which hath began a good work m you will pertorm it until tho day ot .lesus Christ.'- Phil, i. 6. i,. Is it because lluue not. boon invited to accept Clu^t ? "And l.ho Spirit and iho brido .siy, Come. And lot him that hoavoth say, Come. Uuv. x\n. 17. ' TlllMs ON Till Ml TUlNtis.' Phil. i\. * c :.