sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
--2 Corinthians 2:17
Much that passes for Christianity today is the brief bright effort
of the severed branch to bring forth its fruit in its season. But
the deep laws of life are against it. Preoccupation with
appearances and a corresponding neglect of the out-of-sight root
of the true spiritual life are prophetic signs which go unheeded.
Immediate 'results' are all that matter, quick proofs of present
success without a thought of next week or next year. Religious
pragmatism is running wild among the orthodox. Truth is whatever
works. If it gets results it is good. There is but one test for
the religious leader: success. Everything is forgiven him except
failure.
A tree can weather almost any storm if its root is sound, but when
the fig tree which our Lord cursed "dried up from the roots" it
immediately "withered away." A church that is soundly rooted cannot
be destroyed, but nothing can save a church whose root is dried up.
No stimulation, no advertising campaigns, no gifts of money and no
beautiful edifice can bring back life to the rootless tree. The
Root of the Righteous, 4-5.
