The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-20


In a sermon entitled Docs the World
Want Christi at the Cook Avenue Presby.
terrain Church yeste day morning the Rev
erend J. Twyman Bower said that did the
question depend upon the will Of the world
he would hesitate to put 1t to a vote in
Christendom
The text for his discourse was Luke Xxx,
Il: This is the heir; come. let us kill him.
that the Inheritance may be ours" He said
in part:
wicked husbandmen. They suggest ::
serious question for our own time Does
the world really want Christi"
While the world generally Is not mad
with murderous hate one With some zeal
for the masters cause cannot but note tbs
fact that Jesus would not be wanted to-day
in the way that he would come.
No doubt he would have been gra.iously
| received by those wicked husbandmen Il
he had come as their guest for :, short time
observing their customs, paying his respects
and wishing them continued prosperity. ard
had left them again in full control OF the
vineyard.
THE answer to this question hy the
world depends altogether Upon now Jesus
would come. II he is to come as a guest
and benefactor, observing he customs of
the time. respecting the traditions. subject
to the powers that be; If he should come as
healer of the sick. making The lame to
walk. giving sight to the olini. speaking
ONLY blessings and beatitudes. the world
would hail him with international celebra-
tons. in roarous demonstrations, with fly
ing banners. booming cannons and magnifi-
cent pyrotechrIcal displays.
But Jesus comes not In that way, and
the world knows it. and II l we're jealous
for the masters coming in his own way. to
relieve oppression. to overthrow inquiry,
to bind UP the broken-hear.ed. to set the
captives free. to sit upon the throne of uni
versal empire and rule in right sousness to
rule In my life as my Lord and my God
II his coming depended upon the will of the
world, / would hesitate to put the question
to a vote even in Christendom.
WOULD NOT BE WANTED.
Christ would not be wanted to-day by
many for the same reason ne waE not
wanted in his day. The world wants him
as burden bearer. as a savior, but only
saving and forgiving sins.
THE world does not want him - law
! maker. ruler and king. HeroG did 10.
want him because he was born King of the
Jews; Nazareth did not want him because
while he was an humble carpenter, he be-
came prophet and teacher; the Gadarenes
did not want him because he WIS nc, a
lover and feeder of swine; Caperaau Tin did
not want him because ne would feed them
the bread of life instead of bread for their
stomachs; the rich young ruler did not
want him because he must sell his goods
and distribute them 10 the poor. and take
up his cross and follow him.
IF we could decide the matter by ballot
as Christians, we would certainly vote To
have all lands illuminated by the sun of
Righteousness. to have the banner of the
Lord Jesus carried in triumph into every
II liz
after all. want Christ? This is a searching
personal question that goes to the rout Of
the religious life; 1t expresses and deter
mines what we really are: It ~ of trernen-
dous Importance, for 1t decides o,ir destiny.
DO we want Christ as king of our heart
and lord of our life? Do we want him to
come so close to us as to make US conscious
of our sin. humble in heart. lovers OF
truth and righteousness, and sincere chill
dren of the heavenly Father
do we want Christ in aur home 20 cor
rect the relation Of husband and wife, par
ent and child according TO his own spirit ?
If not. can We truthtu'iy say we want
Christ?
do we want Christ in he church? Oh
you say, that is an Idle question. The
church is Christs. He gave himself for ii.
We so to worship, believing that he comes
into his church. Do yoL really want him
Suppose while you arc angry witt, YOUR
brother he comes and teacn..s you the les
son of love. rebukes you for your anger
you speak evil of some one. your worcs
have cut to the heart and YOU know 1t.
You spoke them that they might cut. Do
you want Christ TO come and chlda you2
You are ambitious like James md John. do
you want him to teach You the lesson If
humility?
Il believe there are MANI that really
want Christ to-day, but they are few c.,n-
pared with the multitude who would nc,
have Christ come in his own way These
few are the light of the world, they are the
salt of the earth. The question is a search
ing one and 1t is well that many PROCESSING
followers of Christ think carefully upon 1t. !"