December 28,1997
Dear Br. Bill:
I haven’t heard from or about you in several years despite two letters that I sent in that time. I know neither weather you are alive or dead, but I will assume, for the purposes of this letter, that you are alive, I hope!
Sevilla and I were speaking last night, rather wistfully, about
the time when the church will come under attack from her enemies,
not that we anticipate that time, but we long for the purifying
and unifying effect of such persecution. Now, our brothers and
sisters are indifferent to each others spiritual and physical
welfare but then it will be counted all joy to minister to each
others needs.
We understand, when the time of persecution arises, that the church
will be driven for solace to her Savior. At that moment, all animosities
or bickering, between brothers, will cease: all coldhearted indifference
will vanish in the face of universal need. All brothers and sisters,
surveying the hostile landscape, will flee to the Savior for protection
and to each other for comfort.
Like the star spangled night time sky, small groups of believers
will cluster close together for comfort, consolation, solace,
and protection. Among such believers, genuine love for each other
will be supreme. No longer will we inquire if you are I are worthy:
no longer will we stand by in disregard while a brother suffers
neglect or hostility. All hearts will be knit together in bonds
of genuine love and caring. All voices will be raised in harmony
to praise our Lord and Maker.
Why need we wait for persecution to unite together in love? Why
must we wait for the fires of conflict to melt away indifference?
That time will come all too surely and may find many of us sound
asleep.
What does it mean to be asleep, spiritually speaking, that is.
Driving through a neighborhood, on a dark evening, one sees houses
aglow with lights. Behind each closed blind or shade, there dwells
lonely hearts filled with sadness. Perhaps the blue flicker of
the television betrays some soul sold to Satan, the lowest bidder.
How cheaply we sell ourselves in his market!
The common bond of selfishness joins all of us in misery and unhappiness.
But you may say, I am happy and content, I have need of nothing.
Dear brother, how sad if you or I should ever speak such words
of hypocrisy, for no one can be happy or cheerful when one of
Christ’s children is languishing in the prison house of loneliness
or despair.
The flickering TVs that we see in house after house is mute testimony
to souls languishing in Satan’s prison house. Christ’s
faithful children are too busy to watch television for it ought
to be our greatest joy to love others, to shower them with gifts
of joy through the gift of ourselves.
If we have enough time for televisions, moves, or degraded books,
then we have time to lavish love upon our brothers through small
tokens of care and hope. To share ourselves with others, to give
of our time and attention to those who may be in misery and despair
from the lack of human companionship, ought to be one of our greatest
privileges.
If we claim to be Christ’s, yet stand by in indifference
to the needs of our brothers for someone to whisper love and hope
into their ear, is criminal neglect of the highest order. The
telephone is universally available, costing only a dime per minute
for long distance calls, yet how few of us pick it up and call
our brothers. How cheap, yet how expensive. Only ten cents, yet
it coasts us an effort of the selfish will to speak with and listen
to our brethren.
But what do I say to them, what if they spurn me, or what...?
Such fears are trivial. If we fear to call, then write, if we
are illiterate, others may write, if I have no hands or feet,
eyes or ears, I can at least pray. But such is not the circumstances.
We have voices, ears, feet, and hands, yet we act as if we have
none. What we lack is a heart, not a voice, or eyes; a soul, not
feet or hands.
And yet we claim to be Christians, beloved of Christ. What a shame
and fraud that His brothers, bought with such an infinite price,
fail of watching over the sheep in His pasture, as if we have
no responsibility for His heritage. With careless indifference,
we observe our brothers struggling alone when a helping hand,
offered in love and mercy, remembering that we are in the same
helpless position as he, might spell the difference between heaven
and hell. How thin is the line between paradise and infinite lose?
How shallow is the river crossing between one soul and another,
yet we hold back in fear least we get our feet wet.
Let us resolve today to cross that shallow river between our brothers,
lift the finger and dial the phone or write the letter. How many
lives are brightened with a word of thoughtfulness or how many
lives go into the grave dark and empty for the light of the candle
we claim to carry?
May the Lord encourage you to speak often with your brothers,
encouraging them on their heavenward journey. May you set aside
all that hinders you from coming in contact with those whom you
least know to cheer their weary hearts.
May the Lord bless you, your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson