“_Christianity is the bearing in upon us of a character until we find
the character irresistible._”
The study of the Muslim ideal of life throws into prominence several
too-rarely considered peculiarities of Christ’s ideal life.
[Sidenote: At-one-ment of Life]
1. There is, in Christ’s view, no division between the secular and
the religious life. The beginning of His revelation of the Father’s
work was His meeting of a difficulty at a village wedding feast, which
thereupon became a sacrament; and from that time onward we find no
trace of any distinction in His own Life or in His teaching. To Him all
life was sacred; and consisted in loyalty to the Father, and service
of the brethren, one undivided duty. “Inasmuch,” He taught, “as ye did
your unconscious daily brotherly task, _you did it to Me_;” and “_I and
the Father are One_.”
[Sidenote: Freedom]
2. The Christian view of life is one of perfect freedom. We are not
slaves, but sons, and free. Free, that is, as children are; free of
the Father’s presence, gifts, love; free within the Family traditions;
free, in sympathy with the Father to choose always the better and the
best; without any suggestion of limit to the possibilities of the child
nature. “_Perfect as the Father is perfect_” is Christ’s own amazing
word.
[Sidenote: Progress]
3. Freedom, and therefore progress, for each son in his own life, for
each generation of sons according to the situation and the call. Not
uniformity within the Brotherhood, but individuality within the limits
of the Family likeness, under the safe direction of the Spirit of the
Father present with each one. The spaciousness of the Life-plan for
every son of the Father cannot be exaggerated; there is no rigidity in
Christianity.
[Sidenote: Brotherhood]
4. There is another Christian idea suggested by a study of Islam, which
emerges from the last, the idea of the Brotherhood of the Father’s
children. This is of the very essence of Christianity as it is of
Islam; but has never been carried into effect in the same magnificent
way. There are various illustrations of this. The absence of all
caste distinction in Muslim society, the kindly relations which exist
between master and servant, rich and poor, Mussulmans of various
races. Christianity has much to learn in these directions. [Sidenote:
The Missionary Impulse] Again, the desire to bring men within the
Brotherhood is a passion with every true Muslim. “Every Mussulman is
more or less of a missionary—that is, he intensely desires to secure
converts from non-mussulman peoples.... All the emotions which impel
a Christian to proselytize are in a Mussulman, strengthened by all
the motives which impel a political leader, and all the motives which
sway a recruiting sergeant, until proselytism has become a passion,
which whenever success seems practicable and especially success on a
large scale, develops in the quietest Mussulman a fury of ardour which
induces him to break down every obstacle, his own strongest prejudices
included, rather than stand for an instant in a neophyte’s way.”[1]
Until the same imperialism—the word is hackneyed, but best conveys the
idea—has seized the Christian imagination and conscience, the children
of the Father will not have proved worthy of their name; for He loved
and longed after the world of men, and His children should one and all
do likewise.
[1] Meredith Townsend, in _Asia and Europe_.