The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-14

| suicidebV'auSe they cannot find ItI Can
you say that this is none Of your bust
nessg Let each man look after himself?
| Would it not be true. think you, that
| IL every Christian in America did as
Jesus would Go society itself, the busi-
ness world-yes the very political sys-
TEN 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 dot 1t is not possible to
soy in detail what the effect would be-
but 1t 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-
pleshipf Isit not the same as in Christ's
own lifetimef Have our surroundings
modified or changed the testH 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 himf I believe he
would do that II 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 tho earth
and said. Except a 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.
"What would be the result if lin this
city every church member should begin
~ do as Jesus would dof 1t is not easy
to go into.details Of the result, but We
all know that certain things would be
impossible that are now practiced by
church members. What would Jesus do
ia the matter of wealth? Hcw would
he spend itG What principle would reg.
ulate his use Of money? Would he be
likely to, live in great luxury and sperS
ten times as muca 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 a home
and no such possibility as privacy or
cleanliness?
"What would Jesus do about the
great army Of unemployed and desper.
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 ac-
count OF the desperate conflict to get it?
Would Jesus care nothing for them?
Would he go his way in comparative
ease and comforty Would he say it was
none of his business? Would he excuse
himself from all responsibility to remove
the causes of such condition?
what would Jesus do in the center
OF civilization that hurries so fast
after money that the very girls en-
ployed In great business housesare not
paid enough to keep soul and BODY to-
gether without fearful temptations. SO
great that scores of them fall and are
swept over the great. boiling abyss:
where the demands of trade sacrifice
hupdreds 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 Ii he were here today. as a 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 dor Is he
not commanded to follow in his steps?
How much is the Christianity of the
age suffering for himy Is it denying it.
self at the cost of ease. comfort. luxury.
elegance of living? What does the age
need more than personal sacrifice? Docs
the church do its duty in following
Jesus when it gives little money to
establish missions or relieve extreme
cases OF wantg Is it any sacrifice for
man who is worth $40, 900. OOJ simply
to give $4,000 for some benevolent
work? Is he not giving something that
costs him practically nothing SO far az
any personal pain or suffering goesg Is
it true that the Christian disciples to.
day in most Of our churches are living
soft. easy. selfish lives very far from
any sacrifice that can be called sacrificey
What would Jesus dor
ut Is the personal element that
Christian discipleship needs to empha-
size The gift without the giver is
bare. The Christianity that attempts
to suffer by proxy is not the Christian
ity Of Christ Each individual Chris.
t'an. business man. citizen. needs to
follow in his steps along the path of
personal sacrifice for him. There is not
different path today from that of
Jesus own times 1t is the same path.
The call Of this dying century and of
the new one soon to be is called for a
new discipleship, u new fellowship of
JeSus more lka tha oorlv- ,;,n,,lo 80.