The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-17

do-just what young people always
should do when they receive Christ
They should consort with Christ's peu-
pie, finding their friends among them
and taking them for companions They
should come out and be separate from
the world, thus casting all their infu-
ence on Christ's side Too many people
In these days join the church and yet stay
in the world, keeping their companion
ships their friendships. their pleasures.
their business, their amusements in
the world From the very beginning
Of its career some of the very best
friends of Christianity have been among
the women. II was so at Thessalonica.
The church there seemed to spring into
a vigorous and active life from the very
start, and by its example and faith was
instrumental in spreading the gospel in
many directions But when Christ's peo-
pie are particularly thriving and grow
ing in grace and spiritual power in any
one place, mischief is generally brewing
in other quarters. So it was at Thes-
saIonica.
The unbelieving Jews were the first 90
strike a blow at the life of the church.
They were stirred by envy at the sue
cess of the Christians. They allied them
selves with the baser elements of So
ciety-the loafers and vile fellows about
the streets and market places. They iu-
cited these to mob violence When
bigots are beaten in argument they usu
ally resort to force - The haters OF
Paurs arguments we're willing TO use
tools of any kind against him. The
weapons that are used by different war
ring factions or persons prove theiH
characters for good or i'll The rabbIe
mob attacked the house where Paul and
his companions had been staying. and. not
finding them. dragged the owner of the
house before the rulers of the city and
had him put under a kind of peace OF
good citizenship bond. In their charge
and indictment. screamed out in their
excitement. they unwittingIy enunciated
several great truths. One was that
Jesus is a king. That is true. Another
was that these men who have turned
the world upside down are come hitler.
That is the work of the gospel-to turn
this evil world upside down and TO make
it over in righteousness.
The Noble Bereans
Paul and Siias that night withdrew to
Berea. a quiet little city forty-fve miles
away II is best sometimes for Chris
tian people TO let the cyclone of pas
sion. bigotry. and prejudice to wear it
self out and not to fight il The Be
reans proved to be an open and fair
minded people, and they intelligentIy
examined the Scriptures to see whether
the new doctrines promulgated by Paul
were true BY means of this investi-
CATION many of them were converted.
Research and study are the allies of
Christianity. A religion that fears the
light OF reason and investigation is in
herentIy weak The Bible being a reve-
lation BIS God of the way of salvation. is
the great source Of authority IN con
ending disputes about doctrine. The
Bereans did not accept what Paul said
because ne said It, but because what he
said squared with the Scriptures The
Bereans were noble in character and
mind because they searched for the
truth and obeyed it when they found it
There is such thing as being intel
Iectually honest All men are not So