Comfortable Christianity
Horatius Bonar challenges modern Christianity to rise above its feeble and self-indulgent state and work for God with might and strength.
Horatius Bonar challenges the notion of 'comfortable Christianity,' urging believers to reflect on their spiritual complacency and self-indulgence. He questions whether modern Christians are truly living as 'living sacrifices' to God, as exemplified by the apostles, or if they are merely seeking their own comfort while neglecting the needs of the world. Bonar calls for a wake-up call to action, emphasizing the urgency of serving others and dedicating oneself to God's work, rather than indulging in worldly pleasures. He warns that while Christians remain idle, souls are perishing, and the return of Christ is imminent. The sermon serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize spiritual commitment over personal comfort.
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Is the Christianity of our day of the lofty kind of which apostolic men have left us so bright an example? Is it not feeble, indolent, self-indulgent, second-rate? Is there in it anything of the presentation of 'living sacrifices' to God, which is our acceptable and reasonable service? Are we not seeking our own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's? Are we not feasting when the world is starving? Are we not at ease in Zion? Are we not sitting still and in luxurious comfort, when many noble and self-sacrificing ones amongst us are rushing into the toil or the war, and, for want of being supported by their fellow Christians, are sinking under the burden and heat of the day?
O easy, luxurious, comfortable Christian! While you are lolling on your couch the sinner is going down to woe! While you are soothing your conscience with the opiates of religious routine; or pampering the flesh; or killing time in mirth and music, at the concert, or oratorio, or social party; or idling days in sport; or talking politics; or drinking in the applause of public opinion; or sunning yourself in the blaze of the ballroom; or absorbed in the latest novel; or engrossed with the unmeaningness of the card table;--men are dying, the present scene is passing, the eternal world is hastening on, and the Judge is at the door!
Rouse thyself from thy indulgence, and work! Do it with thy might. Spend and be spent. Give thy money to the Master; give thy strength and thy life to Him. For He is at hand. He may be nearer than thou thinkest. And how shouldst thou like to be caught by Him lounging on thy soft couch, or feasting at thy well-spread table, when thou shouldst have been working for Him, or fighting His battles,--visiting His brethren, soothing His sorrowing children, ministering to His poor disciples, grudging no weariness or hardship for a Master like Him?
-Taken from Light & Truth: Bible Thoughts and Themes, Vol. IV, The Lesser Epistles, by Horatius Bonar, 1870.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Question of Our Day
- A. Is our Christianity of the lofty kind of which apostolic men have left us an example?
- B. Is it feeble, indolent, self-indulgent, and second-rate?
- II. The Contrast Between Our Christianity and Apostolic Christianity
- A. Presentation of 'living sacrifices' to God
- B. Seeking our own instead of the things which are Jesus Christ's
- III. The Consequences of Our Indulgence
- A. The sinner is going down to woe while we are at ease
- B. The eternal world is hastening on and the Judge is at the door
Key Quotes
“O easy, luxurious, comfortable Christian! While you are lolling on your couch the sinner is going down to woe!” — Horatius Bonar
“Rouse thyself from thy indulgence, and work! Do it with thy might. Spend and be spent.” — Horatius Bonar
“For He is at hand. He may be nearer than thou thinkest.” — Horatius Bonar
Application Points
- We should be working for God with our might and strength, rather than indulging in comfort and luxury.
- We should give our resources to the Master, including our money, strength, and life.
- We should be ministering to God's people and working for Him, rather than being caught lounging or feasting.