With the recent controversy happening a few weeks ago concerning the Boy Scouts of America considering whether or not to drop their discriminatory membership ban of non-practicing homosexuals from participating in the scouting program there was yet again the typical polarized extremes in opinions and rants across the airwaves and on the internet. It made me think about how easily it has become in society and especially in social media to emotionally tear each other apart like ravenous wolves. So often we see individuals who strut about in sheep's clothing (factious cloak of religious zealotry) only to show their true inner-wolf when they spew out vicious hatred, bigotry and blind judgement against anyone who differs in opinion and belief from their own.
I often reflect on how often Christ sat down and ate with the 'sinners' and 'out casts' of society. He sought to bring all unto him. His mission was to lift all where they stood and make them more than they were. He did not go in guns a blazing proving that he was right and they were wrong. He preached love and kindness. He promoted inclusion, not exclusion. Yet we see little of this in the world today. We are becoming more divisive, more polarized, and more intolerant or others and in so doing we remove ourselves from being able to reach, help, understand and lift others.
Recently at church I came across a great conference talk (October 1992) given by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin entitled, "Spiritual Bonfires of Testimony" (see it here). In it he tells of a story about a place in the Ukraine that was over run with wolves. Traveling in this remote countryside was fraught with peril and danger as these wolves were not scared of humans or their weapons. The only thing they were scared of was fire. As long as travelers had fire with them they were safe from attacks. He then transitions using this as an analogy as to our own spiritual danger in which Satan and his minions do circle round about us like wolves and attack us with temptation, evil and sin when we are weak or vulnerable. Supporting this warning we can read the words of the apostle Peter who similarly wrote, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
We are all vulnerable to spiritual attacks, he warns. However, we can fortify ourselves with the protection of a 'burning testimony'. Like the wolves that cower in fear from fire, so too will darkness and fear flee before the bonfire of a strong and faithful testimony.
Elder Wirthlin then relays that, "unfortunately, some in the Church may believe sincerely that their testimony is a raging bonfire when it really is little more than the faint flickering of a candle". He then explains the reason for their misperception, "Their faithfulness has more to do with habit than holiness...". How insightful and yet poignant.
To further clarify he quotes the Savior who was very explicit about the so-called 'righteous', “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21–23).
These tragic souls clearly spent their lives in church, adhering to every rule and participating in every ceremony, but yet were found wanting at the end. What happened? They came to love the church more than the source and purpose of church. With strict and unwavering adherence to the law, they lost perspective of the reason for the law. Through time they began to separate themselves from the rest of God's children as spiritually superior and more worthy due to their relentless conformity and church organizational worship. Yet amongst all their valiant exactness and efforts, they completely missed the mark. They failed to be charitable. They failed to be meek. They failed to be humble. As creatures of blind religious habits they outwardly did all the right things, but inwardly failed to become like Christ.
The Apostle Paul makes one of the most shocking and thought provoking comments in scriptural cannon when he wrote the following, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Setting aside the obvious declaration that one devoid of charity can still develop great spiritual gifts and powers and be called to hold lofty callings within the church and even take part in miracles, prophecies and revelations, the great exclamation mark of these verses is that regardless of all the rest of our accomplishments in life, without Charity we are NOTHING! We have failed! Charity is the measuring stick of valiance that Christ will hold to us at the judgement bar of God. We are not judged by what we have done, but what we have become at the end of this life.
Charity is more than service, it is more than good deeds. It is more than doing temple work, magnifying ones calling, going to church, giving to the poor or even sacrificing ones life (as Paul stated, 'though I give my body to be burned'). Charity is not an outward act performed, it is the internal motivation or source that precedes the act. It is true and selfless love. Giving service to others is great and noble--it is even sanctifying, but it is the driving motivation, the pure intention, the Christ-like love behind the service that is charity.
For those of us who devote our efforts 'defending' what we believe by tearing down others and their beliefs, making hurtful or demeaning comments or quickly passing 'righteous' judgements (with or without quoting scripture to supposedly justify yourself), know this, that THIS IS NOT CHARITY.
As Elder Wirthlin pleaded, we need more holiness in our lives and less 'habit'. As we cultivate true charity the flikering fire of our testimonies will grow brighter and brighter until our testimony (centered on Christ) will be a raging bonfire. The purpose of church and the scriptures are to bring us to Christ so that we can emulate our life after his and be converted. As our testimonies grows we will replace habit for holiness and become like he is.
The prophet Moroni quoting a letter he received from his father Mormon who writes that it is in the possessing and personifying of charity that we become true followers of Christ, "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen" (Moroni 7:45-48). We further read that Christ being our advocate with the Father will only claim to know those who spent their lives getting to know and becoming like him (Mosiah 26:21-27).
Christ is the definition of pure love--which charity, will be the yardstick to which we will all be judged. So the next time you may want to lay down your self-assessed moral outrage you may want to first sing this popular church hymn to yourself and then decide if your actions will indeed be Christ's actions:
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.
There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.
