Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-10


81.
The east came to the cradle of
Christ, the west came to his cross. The
Magi and the Greeks represent that en-
lightened religious instinct which, dis
satisfied with that which cannot feed
the soul, is able to rise above previous
education and prejudice and seek the
qualification of its deepest needs and
Its highest aspirations wherever that
qualification may be found.
These who thus came to Christ stood
for that large number Of Greeks, SO
frequently alluded to, who, perceiving
to something more satisfying, and
found in the synagogue service Of the
Jews something which appealed to the
cravings Of that instinct for God which
all men possess. Attaching themselves
more or less to Judaism without sub
mitting to the religious rites necessary
to give them full standing they came
to Jerusalem to worship the God in
whom they had come to believe. Here
they put themselves in communication
with one Of the disciples of Jesus and
request an interview with the man
who has created so great a stir in the
popular mind.
Their action may well be regarded
by us as suggesting the cry of an
enlightened religious instinct for the
personal Christ.
Mere curiosity may prompt such a
cry.
Now, as then, Jesus Christ Is the
problem Of the ages. He is a person
ality that must be explained; force
that must be accounted for. This man,
whom millions love and no one hates,
thrusts himself before us in such a
way that life Is entirely changed for
us after we meet him. "By what au-
thorlty doest thou these things?" is a
question we must have answered for
the sake Of our own peace of mind.
What shall l do with Jesus?' is the
inquiry of soul who is confronted by
this perplexing personality, this mas
terful man. The age Of inquiry in
which we live finds its curiosity baf-
fled by this teacher, whose character
defies human analysis, whose truth
transcends human philosophers, and
whose influence Is more living, more
personal, more powerful in each sue
ceeding age. Eager to wot what God
would have us to do and be, we turn
from all else to Jesus, in the hope that
at last we can find an authority upon
Which we can rest.
Appreciation may lead us to him. Be-
yond mere curiosity soul has come to
know enough of Jesus to make him
feel that life offers nothing better than
the study Of this character and life.
Moral beauties disclose themselves in
such way as to charm us. We are
fascinated by his graciousness, sub
dued by his tenderness. moved by his
love. We cease to wonder why 1t Is
that those who reject him vie with
those who accept him in laying their
tribute Of admiration at his feet, and
can understand how 1t Is that even an
intidel can find the life Of Jesus his
highest theme and greatest satisfac-
ton.
The motives which draw us to Jesus
may be even deeper than those. There
may be strong personal desire on our
part for Jesus because he has wooed
and won us. We hold him not at arms
length; we look not at him in the spirit
or inquiring criticism; we treat him not
as something outside Of ourselves, but
as dearer to us than all the world; we
desire to take him into our lives. TO
reign there king Of love and life.
In any and every case that which
this religious instinct cries for Is n per.
sonaliy. When the church. by those
rude methods which 1t once used. tried
to convert the world to Christianity. it
brought Into Its fold mass of bar.
barous and unsplrltual votaries, which
left Its Impress upon church life for n
thousand years. If the church Chris.
tianized paganism. paganism in turn
paganized Christianity. AS result
the personality Of Christ was largely
lost. 1t is the glory Of the present
time that the church is swinging back
more and more to the personal Christ
AS the din Of religious strife subsidies
there Is presented in new beauty and
power this one perfect personality. He
and he alone, meets the wants and
answers the cry of the present day
man. 1t Is an age of individualism.
Inc needs of man are paramount. As
the monarch has gone down. man has
gone up. Humanity wants Christ
Ia L. IL