Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-05-10
WhyI I'm A Christian .

c. Z. WILLIAMSON,


in The Ch~i-tirn church at this place
last Sunday night:
':rhe worl "why" is oftentimes a
very dangerous woid with which to
deal Ii is a double edged sword
There are things the "whyDess" of
which we have nothing to do with.
These are Gods provid noes, and let
us not "why" with our Heavenly
Father. Let us trust Him without a
question and without a murmer. We
ought, however, always to be ready
with an answer aud reason for our
own acts, plans, purposes and posi-
ton. We ought to be able % tell
why we are a democrat or republican
or prOhibitionist. Not less ought we
be ale 10 tell why we are Baptist,
Methodist, Episcopalian or Presbyte-
rian, or why we wear any other
UNCONVENTIONAL name. Your answer
ought to be not only a good one but
a sufficient one.
ut is my purpose this morning,
dear hearers, to tell why I am a
Christian, and l don't mea Christian
as differentiated from an infdel or
skeptic, but why do / belong to the
Christian church?
II rejoice to say that the Christian
church, along with other evangelical
churches. agrees in the great cardinal
principles Of Protestant Christianity.
We believe il the Trinity, tho divini.
ity of Christ, the work of the Holy
Spirit, the inspiration of the Scrip
lures and the great doctrine of the
atonement. There are differences,
however, between US and our reli-
gious neigbbors, and L honestly
believe that the Christian church
stands nearer in its doctrines and
pr actices to Apostolic Christianity
than does any of the Great Protest
ant churches. If any other stands
closer [ want to be identified with it.
II am member of the Christian
church because the Christian church
takes no risks
81. We recognize no human
creed. Creeds have caused divisions,
always did and always will. Demon
nations are built on creeds, and
denominationalism is opposed to the
spirit and genius of Christianity
The creed of the Christian church is
not humanity compiled book, but q
divine person. Jesus, the Christ
the son of the Lying God and the
Savior of men, is my creed. be-
lieve that there is some truth in
Calvinism. believe that there is
some truth in Armenianism, but
believe there is fullness of truth il
Jesus, who is 1.-THE truth, fine life and
the way"
2. ''The Christian church is mi
que among the great religious organ
izations in its answer to inquirer
who desire to know what to do to bt
saved. The so-called evangelical
world has largely one answer, anC
that is believe on the Lord jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved
This Is the correct answer TO b,
given TO one who is in similar cir.
cumstsnces with the Philippian iailer
But tue world seems: to forget tina
this man was a heather and al
unbeliever when he asked the ones
i ton. So to unbelievers, we say
u believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved" The Qrea
majority, however, who seek salvation
II are not unbelievers, but either i'm
g penitent or penitent believers. /
J. impenitent believers, am.command
t ed to tell them Repent and be bsr
e hzed, every one of you, in the nam
| OF Jesus Christ, for the remission G
| sins, and you shall receive the Hol
1t Spirit" (Acts 2:3S If those in
During the way of salvation are per
= itent be levers, as was Saul of Tarsu
S when he was visited by Ananias, the
r l am required to tell them, as wa
Il told SAIL, arise aud be baptize
IS and wash away thy sins, calling o
the name of the Lord" The religion
4 world too frequently stops bt for
- baptism at the anxious seat,u {
pray for pardon. President Charlie
= tinney, of Oberlin College, who ha