The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-03-09

cf today. the church that is called after
Christ : own name, would refuse 70
fellow Jesus at the expense of suffering,
of physical loss Of temporary gains
The statement was made at large
gathering in the settlement last week
/ by leader Of workinglnon that it was
/ hopeless to look to the church for any
reform or redemption Of society. On
what was that statement based? Plain
lv on the assumption that the church
! contained for the most part men and
women who thouCht more Of their own
! ease and luxury than Of the sufferings
/ and needs and sins Of humanity. How
! far was that true: Are the Christians
} Of America ready TO have their disciple
ship tested! How about the men who
possess large wealth! are they ready to
take that wealth and use ii as Jesus
would: How about the men and women
of great talent: Ale they ready to con
secratc that talent to humanity. as Jesus
undoubtedly would do2
lis it not true that the call has come
in this age for new exhibition Of dis
cipleship, Christian discipleahip? You
who live in this great. sinful city must
know that better than do Is it posi-
bic you can go your ways careless or
thoughtlcss Of tho awful condition Of
men and women and children who are
dying. body and soul. for Christian
help? Is it not u matter of concern to
you personally that the saloon kills its
thousands more surely than warr Is it
not Il matter Cf personal suffering in
some form for you that thousands Of
ablebodied, willing men tramp the
streets Cf this city and all cities crying
for work and drifting into crime and
suicide EecaCse they cannot find it? Can
you say that this is none Of your bust
ness? Let each man look after himself
Would it not be true. think you, that
if every Christian in America cid as
| Jesus would do society itself. the bust
ness world-yes, the very political sys-
tenn under which our commercial and
governmental activity is carried on
would be so changed that human sHtfcr-
ing would he reduced to n minimum
what would be the result if all the
church members Of this city tried to Go
as Jesus would dc? 1t is not POSSIBLE to
say IN detGil what the effect would be.
but it is easy TO say. and it is tue. that
instantly the human problem would be-
gin TO find an adequate answer
What is the test Of Christian d:sci-
rlcship? Is it not the same as in Christ s
own lifetime? Have our surroundings
modified or changed tho test If Jesus
were here today. would he not call some
Of the members Of this very church to
Go jnst what he commanded the young
man and ask him to give up his wealth
and literally follow him? / believe he
would do that if he felt certain that
any church member thought more OF
his possessions than Of his Saviour The
test would Eo the same today as then
| believe Jesus would dcmand he does
demand now, as close a following. a!
much suffering, as great self denial. al
when he lived in person on the eartl
and said, Except man renounceth al
that he h&th. he cannot he my disciple
that is. unless he is willing to do ]
, for my sake he cannot be my disciple.
|, What would be the result if in thi
city every church member should begiI
TO do as Jesus would doH 1t is not cas-
to 20 into details of the result. but w,
al know that certain things would b.
, impossible that arc now p!acticed b,
, church members What would Jesus d,
, in tho matter of wealth. How woult
, lie spend it? What principle would reg
ulate his use Of money? Would he b
likely to live in great luxury and spen,
ten times az much on personal adorn
; ncEt ard entertainment as he spent t.
relieve the needs Of suffering humanity
,, How would Jesus be governed in tn