July 26

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The Greatness of Child-like Faith

Posted by on July 26, 2012 in General | Leave a comment

stonewall jackson

Robert Lewis Dabney, in his work, Life and Campaigns of Lieutenant-General Thomas J. Jackson, describes an important key to the Christian faith and character of ‘Stonewall’ Jackson. He mentions that Jackson “embraced the doctrines common to all, with a faith so entire and prevalent.” This fine example of Christian integrity and the respect he received from others was not that he had spiritual insight that others had missed, nor was it that he was more ‘profound’ in speech or wisdom. It was simply the child-like embrace of God’s promises and truths common to every believer.

Dabney on Jackson:

Thus his soul dwelt habitually upon the plain and familiar promises of Gospel blessings, with a simplicity of faith like that of the little child. He did not entertain his mind with theological refinements and pretended profundities or novelties; but fed it with those known truths which are the common nourishment of all God’s people, wise and simple, and which are, therefore, the greatest truths of redemption. The eminence of his Christian character was not in that he affected to see doctrines unknown or recondite to others; but in this: that he embraced the doctrines common to all, with a faith so entire and prevalent. This character of his religion often suggested to those less spiritually minded than himself the opinion, that his was a common-place understanding. They forgot that it is by receiving the kingdom of God as a little child that we must enter therein. When they met Jackson in council or in action, in his own profession, they soon learned their mistake, and recognized in him the original force and power of true greatness.

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