Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-04

was lack of information on the part of the
author OF why Am Not Churchman- .
Conclusion from the above: The writer
! has reckoned without his host Moral:
| Know whereof you afirm before you write
next
Again the o5jector finds fault with the
| support of foreign and domestic missions.
This objection may be answered by quoting
| Christs words; $50 We into all the world
ard preach the gospel to every creature. u
II the oblector knows a better plan TO dc
that than Is employed to-day he viii receive
/ the thanks of the Christian world He is
the man they seek. Let him bring forward
his plan.
Again, he says: ~ have known of men
who have lived u wicked life and then built
a church and gave literally to the support
| OF tee gospel of what they had robbed the
widow and orphan" Again, quote from
| Christ, whom Director claims to follow
Tine Son of Man came not to call the
| righteous, but sinners to repentance. y The
sick need the physician, not the well. See
/ the case of Zacheus in Luke, nineteenth
| chapter He was the rich high-sherih that
seems to have been just the wicked
/ thief Director describes. When he
| was converted all the unchurched
millions of directors murmured
that Christ would be guest of sinner
In fact Zacheus was little surprised him
| self Verse s tells US '1Zacheus stood and
said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half
| OF my goods give to the poor, and If 1
have taken anything from any man by false
accusation restore four-fold.' And Jesus
said, This day is salvation come to this
house. , Suppose Director mad been there:
| Wouldn't he have been rash like
Peter on another occasion, and said !:
'sNot SO, Lord, for he has lived
a wicked life" Then Christ might
have said, as to the young ruler: None is
| good save God'
Again, Obiector says: 1.-THE unchurched
millions think it hard to pay for the support
of the gospel.r They do not pay for the
| support of the gospel, and how do they
know whether it is hard or easy to pay for
| it If they will try the pay plan and re-
ceive the benefits of the preached gospel,
and practice its teaching, they will conclude
that it is the best investment for themselves
and children to be made, for it brings the
best returns.
Also he says: oThat the modern preacher
is not the preacher of the gospel is evident
from the signs of Mark xvi, 1870. not fol-
lowing their preaching" What are the
signsl They who believe shall cast out
devils in Christ's name. They shall speak
with new tongues, they shall take up SER
penis, etc. If Objector be an outside Chris
tian, do these signs follow his teachingl
For teaching and preaching are the same.
II not, he can not claim TO be Christian,
lOf Sl8IlS Will IOllOW UU6Ul DclleNe. Inc
conclusion IS that chufched or unchurched,
he must perform miracle or his own logic
proves him to be no Christian at all. The
supernatural power here spoken OF is that
of the Holy Spirit, and was used in the
Apostles days for outward proof that the
gospel was of God. That power shows
itself to-day only in changing the life of a
wicked man into that of good man, as of
Zacheus, quoted above. Does not the
tongue of such an one seem new tongue2
He who stole steals ano more. He who
swore swears no more. He who
hated God now loves him. He who
was violator of the law becomes a
law abiding citizen. Is rot that greater
miracle than picking up a serpent. and
recoveringl One is the healing of the
physical man; the other is the healing of
the moral or spiritual man. From being a
drunkard to being sober.
Again Director says: SIN all the modern
churches l am taught that can lay my sins
on Christ; that he, the Sinless One, will
bear all my iniquities; that after a life
spent in wickedness he, the Spotless One,
will assume all my crimes. Where in the
Gospel is this taught" Objector is not eX-
plicit and full II his statement of what is
taught in modern pulpits. SInis violation
of law imposed by God and binding on man.
Hence sin is against God. In modern pulpits
you will hear something preached besides
faith in Christ. John the Baptist said:
Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven
is at hand" ''And they were bap-
tised OF him in Jordan, confessing
their sins" Marki, Is: 'Jesus preached,
Repent and believe the gospel Mark
vi, II: ''They went and preached that men
should repent" Luke XIV, A: 'That re-
pentance and remission Of sins should be
preached" Acts Xxx, 81: "Testifying both
TO the Jews and also to the Greeks. repent
ance towards God and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ" Now as man has
sinned against God the Father, you will
hear in modern pulpits that man must re-
pent toward God, whereupon God offers
him the gift of eternal life through faith in
Christ. 'He that believeth on the Son
hath everlasting life" 1.-THE gift of God is
eternal life
AS to mans sins against his fellow-man,
he must make PREPARATION or his conscience
will not cease to lash him. God will see
that the scales balance. And instead of
being unpopular, as Obiecter says, the
doctrine Of Gods retributive justice boldly
preached will fill the house rather than
deplete the membership. For men love to
hear the truth, however they may strive to
hide behind their speculative faith. True
religion makes not only hearers but doors |
of the word.
Again Director states, Immortality is the |
reward of him who loves God and his fell |
low men," Also, ''that God promises i'm |
mortality" 1 wish to say in reply that |
God nowhere promises Immortality. He |
who fears God and keeps his command |
mentS, who accepts the promise of adap- |
ton, and thereby becomes child of God |
and heir of God, and joint heir with Jesus |
Christ, that man has not the promise of |
immortality, but everlasting life. John Vi, |
Al: He who rejects the offer
70 God has the promise of ever
lasting punishment. Matthew XIV, 46: |
These shall go away into everlasting |
punishment Thus you see Christ used |
everlasting in reference to both the |
righteous and the wicked, which use at
tributes immortality to both. 1t is the
difference in their. condition that makes
heaven or hell. With God is fullness of joy
and pleasures forever more This is |
heaven. To be without God is the absence
of the source of all good, which IS hell.
Thus saith Christ.
Our friend, Director, starts out to follow
Christ, but follows only in so far as Christ
agrees with him, as he himself says, and
the Saying: Each man must
make his theology to fit HIMSELF
Again he says: Let love rule and error
will vanish History has not so recorded.
Let truth rule would be better. God seeks
such as worship him in spirit and in truth
Lastly, he says mo Ingersoll can lead our
millions astray if the gospel of
Christ be preached, and his teachings
made our guide" To this we say amen.
But, according to his suggestions, con-
sidered above, there shall be no church
ho11SaS and No Supr,o,-tad rn1nirtarc RI 10 |