Holiness Must Be Preached Part 9

161. Is it not often objected to professors of holiness that they indulge in censoriousness?

It is, and it always will be, so long as there are so many worldly, formal, backslidden professors in the church. No man can successfully wage a campaign against the formalism or deadness which hides itself under the pretense of dignity and decency without appearing to be censorious. We do not deny that some may have given an occasion for this objection; but let any Christian, in the ministry or laity, do his whole duty to the church and the world in their present state -- let him speak to them and of them as they really are -- and he will of course incur the charge of censoriousness. Who suffered more of this than Mr. Wesley?

Rev. Charles G. Finney says: "Entire sanctification implies the doing of all our duty. But to do all our duty we must rebuke sin in high places an in low places. Can this be done with all needed severity without, in many cases, giving offense, and incurring the charge of censoriousness? No, it is impossible; and to maintain the contrary would be to impeach the wisdom and holiness of Jesus Christ himself."

With some people it is a common thing if a brother has not "charity" enough to apologize for sin and cover up the "works of the devil," to charge him with "censoriousness," "sour godliness," &c. There can be no holiness which has no rebuke for sin, or opposition to Satan. Look at the Great Exemplar -- the Son of God. The Spirit of God and the spirit of the world can never harmonize they are perfect antagonisms.

162. Are there two kinds of holiness among men, one a sweet, loving, peaceful holiness, and the other a fighting one?

Holiness is the same in kind in God, angels, and men. It invariably secures peace, meekness, and love as sweet as heaven. But these very elements make men hate the devil, and oppose sin with all their might. Perfect love makes its possessor as meek as a lamb and as bold as a lion. While it inspires love and gentleness, it teaches an uncompromising opposition to all unrighteousness. It makes its possessor a burning, shining, loving, fighting, conquering soldier of Christ.

They said the meek and lowly Jesus had a devil. John Wesley was accused incessantly, for years, of being heady, willful, self-conceited, censorious, and bigoted. He could be led by a hair in the right direction, but the combined powers of earth and hell could not move him an inch contrary to his honest convictions of duty.

If standing up straight for God, loving all he loves, hating all he hates, and opposing all sin, either in or out of the church, constitutes a fighting Christian, we hope to live and die one.