Keeping the Cutting Edge Sharp 6/29/41
Scripture: Romans 12: 1-8.
Text: Romans 12: 2; “Be ye not conformed --- but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Harold Smith’s remark re: sharp tools (Kokohalu clearing) - 3 times as effective.
Sharpening of my tools. sickle, cane knife, pruning saw - each for a special task.
Craftsman does not use same saw for everything.
Rip saw
Cross cut saw
pruning saw
A Boy Scout knows that a jack knife has many uses, but not every job can be regimented to a jack knife. (Most jobs should not.)
A variety of tools and a variety of abilities are needed to do the work of the world. There are disciplines which help to keep the cutting edge sharp - to keep us ready for tomorrow. (1) Church attendance. (2) Communion service. The matter of conformity or non-conformity to the world is another.
That great Christian, Paul the Apostle, wrote to those Roman Christians, “Be ye not conformed” - “to this world.”
Now conformity to some rules, laws, customs is a good thing.
Rules that are proven
Customs and laws that have been tried, or seem reasonable.
(It is a good idea to conform to the traffic lights on Second Street and Grand Avenue, for the good of all. If you don’t, you may not live long, or you may be instrumental for injuring someone else.)
But, “be ye not conformed to the world” in general. There is too much in the world that needs improving.
[The only good that can come out of such a totalitarian government as that in Germany today would seem to be temporary. Even high officers of the army have been concerned at the stifling of initiative and individual ability by Hitler’s regimentation.]
“Be ye not conformed to the world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This is the way to keep the cutting edge of our abilities sharp - to keep us ready for tomorrow - for the rest of today!
One of the gladdest things in the life of any church is the joyous hope that is added every time young people join the membership. One of the heart-saddening observations in the life of most churches is to think over a number of young (and older) people who enter into the fellowship with enthusiasm, become dulled, then drop away. We need transforming by the constant renewing of our minds - a kind of evangelism, of oft-repeated Christian vows and the duties of Christian service.
When we feel that we have grown beyond childish or adolescent, or youthful ideas and enthusiasms, let us not cast aside our religion and its fellowship because something about it may seem outgrown. Renew your minds, for instance, with a more mature concept of religion and the church. (my childish idea of God.)
If your childish mind-picture of God seems foolish, though it satisfied you as a child, seek a higher and more satisfying understanding of God. Thousands, yea hundreds of thousands have done it.
Probably every person in this room is a descendant of adventurous people who refused to conform to conditions as they were where they lived. And so they adventured to new lands, often with great uncertainty and sometimes in danger. But the pioneer spirit kept the edge of their minds keen and ready for the morrow and gave us a finer heritage.
Not all transforming is the result of what is new. Often a review of what is familiar will sharpen our dulled sensibilities. This seems to me most notably true in the repeated, faithful observance of the Lord’s Supper in the Christian Church.
In the midst of moral confusion, we may turn to Paul’s advice to the Philippians 1900 years ago and renew our keen edge on his words.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” [Philippians 4: 8].
------------
Dates and places delivered:
Pilgrim Church, November 26, 1939 PM
Wisconsin Rapids, June 29, 1941