While reading a book titled Doctrinal Discourses by Robertson Whiteside, I came along a piece that he calls “Anvil Sparks.” These little tidbits are over a hundred years old and were written for members of the church at that time. It is interesting to note how they can apply to us today. I thought I would share some of these with you.
Much falsehood lies wrapped up in old sayings. For instance: honesty is the best policy. But honesty is not a policy, it is a principal. There is no such thing as honesty for policy’s sake.
Some “additions” to the church are not conversions to the Lord.
Someone said to a church, “Nothing is so small but that you can have trouble over it if you want to, and no trouble is so large but that can be settled if you want to.”
We may become so busy trying to build up the Lord’s church that we forget he has any right or authority in it.
A knowing look does not necessarily indicate a knowing mind. Brass is a poor substitute for brains, but, if polished, it is shinier.
When one who loves to flatter meets one who loves to be flattered, you have the proper combination: the slobber and his bib.
The elders should not lord it over the church, neither should the church lord it over the elders. It has to be practiced both ways.
In churches, as in nations, peace at any price generally results in war at any cost.
Narrow minded? Well, a person’s mind should be narrow enough to shut out everything but truth and broad enough to accept all truth.
The pessimist has no motor, the optimist has no brakes.
Knowledge without wisdom is as dangerous as a car with neither steering nor brakes.
Elders are not infallible. Neither are majorities. Besides, a majority in a church manipulated absolutely by one man is in reality a minority, for it expresses the thinking of only one man. Think on this.
For the elders, Tony Williams