The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-25
WHAT IS A PROMOTER?
QUESTION ASKED By REV. JAMES W.,
BAKER, OF HYDE PARK.
Lessons Drawn from q Conversation
with q Downtown Acquaintance
Promoters OF Gods Kingdom.


Methodist Episcopal Church the pastor,
the Rev. James w. Baker, spoke on PRO
motors Of the Kingdom of Cod
In part he said. Down on Washington
street few days ago in conversation with
an acquaintance, / asked his business and
received the answer, L am a promoter
"A promoter said /, What is a pro-
moter? Well, promoter is one who pro-
notes; one who advances, forwards or en-
courages; a helper: one who sets on foot
and takes preliminary steps in a scheme
for organizing a joint stock company or
the like. Every man is a promoter of some
thing. Whether he be conscious OF IT or
not. he is promoter of righteousness or
unreligiousness. The business man pro-
notes his business; the farmer his farm;
the school teacher the interest Of his
school; the preacher the best interests or
his flock; the mayor the best interests OF
the city; the Governor that of the State;
and each man in doing what he conceives
to be the best thing. is doing that which.
If unselfishly done. is for the advancement
of the kingdom of God.
I'm going down into Egypt at the call Of
God to deliver the Israelites from bond
age Moses became promoter of the king
dom among Gods chosen people. In
leading Israel across Jordan, and success
fully advancing the campaign against the
Inhabitants of Canaan and capturing Jer-
icho, Joshua proves himself helper and
leader Of the Lords hosts. In his strenu-
Gus efforts to compass land and sea-
preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ to Jews and Greeks, barbarians.
Scythians, bond or free, Paul so success
fully promoted the cause Of God that he
was In journeyings often, in WEAKNESS and
painfulness of the flesh often, in watch
ings often, in prosecutions often and in
gloryings unsurpassed. Luther. in his eff
forts to reform the Roman Church. pro-
noted his cause with success, to which the
church bearing his name to-day oners
to reform the Established Church was not
only successful In promoting reforma-
ton which touched all England scotland:
Wales and Ireland: but he INDEPENDENTLY
became the founder of another church
which has been greatly blessed of God In
advancing his kingdom not only in British
isles, but throughout the world Wilber-
force, William Lloyd Garrison, Mrs. stowe
and John Brown, were all promoters of the
black mans liberties.
But history, as well as experience,
teaches that the most successful promoters
of any enterprise are stockholders-those
who have a personal interest in the insti-
tuition or concern which they hope to ad-
vance. May we not rightly infer that pro-
motors who would successfully advance
the interests of Gods kingdom must be
stockholders? Stock in human concerns is
bought and sold: sometimes above, at
others below par, sometimes approaching.
at others depreciating. Stock in Gods
kingdom is had for the asking, without
money and without price. 1t is never be-
low par, and always approaching. IL is
like good stock in human concerns In that
the more you get the more you want, put
unlike it in that you are never AFRAID that
somebody will rob you of what you already
have.
1.-The more stock one takes in the king
dom, the more he wants, and the more
ciate its value until we have first sub
scribed A few shares of righteousness will
expand into those of peace, and these, In
turn into those OF Joy; increasing hndrsd some fo1d
But how may we successfully promote
the kingdom of God after becoming stock
holders? After the n Sri tben ba
promote the interest of the kingdom best
through the divinely-appointed agencies,
"The family. Family life is ordained of
God. The Lord God said it is not good for
man to be alone, will make for him an
helpmete. When God had created woman
to be an helpmete for man, Adam said.
this is bone of my bone and flesh of my
fesh'-therefore shall man leave his
father and mother, and cleaye unto his
advance the kingdom Of God through the
family love must reign there. The family
established on the basis of love, thus be-
comes the proper place for training chill
dren in the way which they should go,
that when they become old they will not
depart from it. 1t is in the family that
fathers must provoke not their children
to wrath. 1t is here that children are ex-
pected TO learn to obey their parents. 1t
Is here they should be taught to love God.
1.-The state is another divinely appointed
agency for advancing Gods kingdom.
With righteous government. and right
eous laws, the state becomes factor in
elevating the race. The Master recognized
the value of the state when he said Rem
der unto Caesar the things which are
Caesars and also, he came not to de-
stroy the law but to fulfill it.
The church as an agency for promot-
ing the kingdom Of God must not only
call men to righteousness, but must be
able to define it; 1t must not only teach
doctrines, but must learn to apply them;
it must not only advocate creeds, but
life; it must not only hold to belief in God,
but must show how vital goodness may
be practiced; ii must teach not only the
acceptance of Jesus Christ as savior.
but must show that Christianity means
service and sacrifice. This being done the
church promotes Gods kingdom through
ITSELF through the family, state and in
dividual.'