The Indirect Effects of Christianity
‘Behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house.” — Ezux, xlvii. 1.
HE healing waters of God’s temple are not
limited to the inside; they come through the door to the outer world. The idea I take to be that the outer world, the secular world, is to receive an indirect benefit from Messianic times — that even those who do not accept the Messiah are to be affected by His atmosphere. “Thou hast received gifts, even among the rebellious” is the striking statement of a Jewish poet. And it expresses a profound truth regarding the Messiah’s kingdom. In one sense that kingdom is confined to a comparatively small number; so far as its actual membership is concerned it is limited in its range. But its
influence has gone far beyond its membership; the waters have issued from under the threshold of the door. The unchristianised India of the twentieth century is in a totally different position from the unchristianised India of the first. And why so? Because Christ is not only the head of the Church but the head of principalities and powers. He has not only regenerated the soul; He has raised the body. He has changed the fashion. He has refined society. He has softened the laws. He has sweetened the manners. He has repressed the power of kings. He has mitigated wars. He has ennobled sacrifice. He has enlarged charity. He has exalted woman. He has beautified the altar of family life. Christ is not only in the creed but in the air. ‘Of His fulness we have all received” — Christian and Pagan, believer and unbeliever, convert and opponent. A lady said to me the other day, “Can you explain how it is that a friend of mine who is an absolute unbeliever lives as if she were a Christian?” I have no difficulty in explaining it. I may put Christ out of my creed; but I cannot put Him out of my atmosphere. I may refuse to hear Him; but I cannot refuse to breathe Him. He meets me on that very road to Damascus where I have gone to persecute Him. I may reject the faith; but I cannot get rid of His face.
O Thou who art the water of life, I thank Thee that Thou art not confined to Thy sanctuary. The streams of Thy river make glad Thy city; but they make glad more than that; they come out into the world of men. I can say of Thee, O Christ, “Whither can I flee from Thy presence!” The image of Thy Cross is everywhere. I cannot shut Thee out by closing my Bible. If I go into the market-place, I escape not the sight of Thy great white throne; men in the exchange have learned to judge themselves by Thy standard; their code of commercial honour is based on Thee. If I go into the drawing-room, I cannot escape the sight of Thy throne; all my criticisms on society are answers to the question, What would Jesus do? If I traverse the field of pleasure, I cannot escape the sight of Thy throne; I measure the value of the bread by its power to go round the multitude. Thy Sermon on the Mount rings over my plain. Thy voice at Cana sanctifies my joy. Thine hour in the wilderness illumines my solitude.
Thy home at Nazareth kindles my household
fire. Thy moments at Bethany bless my
friendships. Thy sojourn in Sidon enlarges my charity. Thy visit to the tax-gatherer glorifies my business calling. Thou hast given Thyself to the Father; but Thou hast
‘
!
é also paid tribute unto Cssar — enriched the world as a world. I bless Thee that the waters of Thy life have flowed through the door of the temple into the bosom of the rebellious.