The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-12-01

kind, and the beginning OF this COM
ing or presence was at Pentecost.
Fourthly-It contains other puzzling
statements which can be conscien-
tiously believed when the mind and
heart have long considered their con-
tents.
Now, this creed, say, is the result
of conclusions of a Ninth century
church. Church authority must not
be allowed to overpower the tender
mind and compel acqpiescence in such
religious en:gmas. What it wants
and needs is that simplicity of funda-
mentals which will provide a soil for
healthy and large growth.
BY this, we do not mean that the
Apostles Greed is TO be wholly dis
carded. But, as criterion for the
new life in Christ, it is to be rejected.
1t may mark consummation for
some, but cannot be used as an OPEN
ing door into the fold of God for all.
It is too partial and obsolete.
But there are other differences be-
tween the old and revised covenants.
The latter does not ask for the confess
sion of sins to the church, or minister.
However, no one can approach the
sinless Jesus without such confession,
consequently let that confession be
made to Him and to Him only. Some
churches seem to hold tenaciously
to the idea that repentance must
be made ito an earthly priest.
Not so, for the Individual enters into
transaction which is between two
personalities, himself and God.
Another difference is that the re-
vised covenant speaks of walking in
His steps," whereas the old covenant
requires the candidate to "walk with
this church. - A true walk with Him
will lead one in the pathway of the
best church life, but walking with the
church is not always walking in His
steps. Here Jesus is exalted over every
institution, as He should be. Loyalty
to Him will make for. loyalty to the
best interests of His cause.
There are other minor differences,
but the omission. of the Apostles
Creed is the most noticeable and
needed. No7Fourth century or Ninth
century creed can satisfy the Nine
teenth century honest and thinking
man. The so-called Apostles Greed
is both too narrow and too wide. Too
narrow, in it's idea of God and of the
presence of Jesus, and generally, as a
condition of church membership; too
wide in its attempt to lay down all
theological dogmas concerning Jesus
our Lord. Some things concerning
Him will always be more or less dis.
puted, but that need not necessarily
bar a soul from Gods kingdom.
Now, what are the meaning and re.
suits of this attempt to simplify th6
conditions of Christian discipleshipi
The meaning may be eouched in tive
great desires: First-to gnt back tt
the simplicity and liberality OF Jesus
He was more simple and liberal thar
the Pharisees of His day. He under
mined the popular belief as to thei'
traditions, and consequently was tht
object of their odium. Between Christ.
day and ours are centuries of theO
logical discussion and ecclesiastical
flats which tend to blur the picture O.
Him who is the Truth. Our minds are
lost in the maze of complexity and
narrowness OF. intervening centuries
We must fearlessly ride through The
\ labyrinth of this uncertainty back te
the certainty and simplicity of Jesus
Christ. ~ ~ = ,.s
The meaning of this attempt is AGAR
seen in the desire to form a basis of .
few essentials. We dabble with toe
many non-essentials and consequently
lose sight of the few essentials. We
need a broad and deep Foundation
upon which each individual can indc
pendently stand and work himself VI
to the things and principles not 50
essential. 1 find that men are quite
ready to stand upon the fundamental.
of Jesus, but they cannot honestly ac
cept conditions which are too fre
quently laid before them. The rather
will they maintain their integrity ant
not subscribe thougbtlessly to a hos
of half-believed non-essentials.