Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-02-07
TN IT'S STEPS
*'ai1l1at l1u1lld .apsl1a 1n!?'" :.
Bv CHARLES N. SHELDON.
copyrighted and published in book form
by The Advance Publishing Co. OF, Chicago.]
CONTINUED

lis it true, continued Henry Max
well. and his fine, thoughtful face
glowed with passion of appeal that
stirred tho people as they had seldom
been stirred-'tis it true that the church
Of today, the church that is called after
.Chrlst's own name, would refuse to
follow Jesus at the expense of suffering,
OF physical loss. Of temporary gain
The statement was made at a large
gathering in the settlement last week
by leader Of workingmen that it was
hopeless to look to the church for any
reform or redemption of society. On
what was that statement based? Plain
~ on the assumption that the church
contained for the most part men and
women who thought 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 it as Jesus
would? How about the men and women
of great talent? Are they ready to con-
secrate that talent to humanity, as Jesus
undoubtedly would do?
SIS it not true that the call has come
in this age for new exhibition of dis
cipleship, Christian discipleship? You
who live in this great, sinful city must
know that better than l do. Is it posi-
BILE you can go your ways careless or
thoughtless of the awful condition of
men and women and children who are
dying, body and soul. for Christian
help? Is it not matter of concern to
you personally that the saloon kills its
thousands more surely than war? Is it
not matter of personal suffering in
some form for you that thousands of
ablebodied, willing men tramp the
streets CT this city and all cities crying
for work and drifting into crime and
suicide because 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 did 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 suffer-
ing would be reduced to minimum?
''What would be the result if all the
church members Of this city tried to do
as Jesus would do? It is not possible to
say in detail what the effect would be,
but it is easy to say, and it is true. that
instantly the human problem would be.
gin to find an adequate answer
"What is the test Of Christian disci-
pleship? Is it not the same as in Christ's
own lifetime? Have our surroundings
modified or changed the test? If Jesus
were here today, would he not call some
Of the members Of this very church to
do just what he commanded the young
man and ask him to give up his wealth
and literally follow him? I 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 be the same today as then.
| believe Jesus would demand, he does
demand now, as close a following, as
much suffering, as great self denial, as
when he lived in person on the earth
and said, Except man renounceth all
that he hath, he cannot be my disciple
that is, unless he is willing to do it
for my sake he cannot be my disciple.
"Wh4t would be the result if in this
city every church member should begin
to do as JESUS would do? 1t is not easy
10 go iato details of the result, but we
all know that certain things would be
that are now practiced by
church members What would Jesus do
in the matter Of wealth? How would
he spend it? What principle would reg
ulate his use of money? Would he be
likely to live in great luxury and spend
ten times as much on personal adorn-
ment and entertainment as he spent to
relieve the needs Of suffering humanity?
How would Jesus be governed in the
making Of money? Would he take rent
ais from saloon and other disreputable
property or even from tenement prop
erty that was SO constructed that the
inmates had no such thing as home
and no such possibility as privacy or
"What would Jesus dc about the
great army Of unemployed and dcsper-
ate who tramp the streets and curse
the church or are Indifferent to it, lost
in the bitter struggle for the bread that
tastes bitter when it is earned, on &C
count of the desperate conflict to get it ?
Would Jesus care nothing for them?
Would he go his way in comparative
ease and comfort? Would he say it was
none of bis business? Would he excuse
himself from all responsibility to remove
the causes of such Il condition.
"What would Jesus do in the center
Of a civilization that hurries so fast
after money that the very girls en-
ployed in great business houses are not
paid enough to keep soul and body to-
gether without fearful temptations, 50
great that scores of them fall and are
swept over tho great, boiling abyss
where the demands of trade sacrifice
of lads in a business that ig-
nores all Christian duties toward them
In the way of education and moral
training and personal affection? Would
Jesus if he were here today, as part
Of our age and commercial industry.
feel nothing, do nothing, say nothing,
in the face of these facts, which every
business man knows2
"What would Jesus do? Is not that
what the disciple ought to do? Is he
not commanded to follow in his steps?
How much is the Christianity Of the
age suffering for him2 Is it denying it.
self at the cost of ease, comfort. luxury,
o1anonno Of Euino2 What does thu aoa