The Stuff of Manhood: Some Needed Notes in American CharacterSpeer, Robert E. (Robert Elliott)
Philosophy
The Stuff of Manhood: Some Needed Notes in American Character
Speer, Robert E. (Robert Elliott)
Character; Christian life; Conduct of life; Moral education
There are two forms of disloyalty. One is flinching, the other is
compromise. Of course, the compromiser will never allow that he is
disloyal. He is a practical man who realizes that theories and ideals
have to be adapted to a practical world, and he gives up a part, and
as unimportant a part as possible, in order that he may gain the rest.
He feels himself quite capable of judging how much to give up and what
part may rightly be given up. He will simply abate the unreason of
a God who demands all righteousness, and to Whom the whole truth is
truth. Let us set up against such men the uncompromising principle of
the duty of non-compromise. It is a principle from which the wisest
and best of men are sometimes won away in the supposed interest of
the great ends which they seek, and for which they feel that they may
rightly sacrifice subordinate issues. There is what some regard as a
striking incident of this character in the life of that uncompromising
man, Saint Paul. It is an exciting and instructive story. This is the
way it is told in the twenty-first chapter of Acts (vs. 17–30):
“And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received
us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto
James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted
them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought
among the Gentiles through his ministry. And they, when they
heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him, Thou seest,
brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them
that have believed; and they are all zealous for the law: and
they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all
the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling
them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after
the customs. What is it therefore? they will certainly hear
that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We
have four men that have a vow on them; these take, and purify
thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may
shave their heads: and all shall know that there is no truth
in the things whereof they have been informed concerning
thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping
the law. But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we
wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from
things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is
strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and
the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple,
declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until
the offering was offered for every one of them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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