Three Misleading Marks

Men get different conceptions of what constitutes deep spirituality. And as they see things differently, their lives correspond more or less with their theories. Hence the need of a proper, Scriptural standard. There are at least three things that many good people mistake as sure evidences of a spiritual mind:

1. Noise, or demonstration.
2. Knowledge, or discernment.
3. Zeal, or outward religion.

1. There are numbers of good people who think that a preacher or meeting does not amount to much unless there is more or less noise and emotion. With this class, it seems that their emotional nature is more highly developed than their piety in the home life. This is one reason why some people are opposed to shouting; they hear those shout, who afterwards find fault around home, leave bills unpaid, drive close bargains, and do various other things that are inconsistent with a loud profession. Brother, sister, remember a big shout in meeting will never atone for an unsanctified tongue around home. Understand, we are not opposed to demonstrations and freedom of the Spirit. No! Let us have more of it. But we are opposed to making this the test and standard of deep spirituality. The fact is, experience proves that the justified life has more outbursts of emotion than the entirely sanctified life, but the latter has a depth of uninterrupted peace and soul rest not to be found in the former state. Hence it is wrong to think that he who has lots of gush, blubber, and “hurrah boys” is more spiritual than others.

2. There is another class of people who, as a rule, are not demonstrative, but whose conception of spirituality is to be well indoctrinated so as to know exactly where to draw the line between the genuine and the false. This is very good, but one can have great knowledge and discernment and be very deficient in spirituality. The bulk of this class are backslidden preachers and old, retired professors who sit around, look wise and tell the younger ones how to do things. They are like the stove that is well set up, nicely polished, and has every requisite at hand. The only thing that is needed is fire. This is all that is lacking in many preachers and professors. Their sermons are orthodox and rhetorical; their prayers and testimonies sound well. The only trouble is, that one can hear them but not feel them. They lack the fire of the Holy Ghost.

3. Then there is a third class of earnest souls, whose conception of spirituality is a great deal of zeal in religious activities. But there never was a truer saying than that of one who wrote, “Many a man’s spirituality is buried in the grave of his activities.” Who are more zealous than the adherents of Mormonism, Seventh-day Adventism, Millennial Dawnism, and every other devilism? And yet where are the spiritually-minded? Some of you are very zealous about plainness of dress, church attendance, orderliness, etc. This is good, but remember you can be as strict as the strictest sect of the Pharisees and as void of the Spirit. Understand, we are not crying down outward evidences of religion. No, let us insist on it, but let us also insist on the “life and peace”* (Romans 8:6) of God in the soul. Without this you will become mere legalists. You can have all these three—noise, knowledge, and zeal—and not have the Spirit, but if you become spiritually-minded, you will very probably have all of these.