The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-12-29

we do not claim to be better than other
people. I'VE claim only this, as Christians,
that we are seeking to do as Christ ap-
proves. that we re seeking to live the
kind of life He lays ont for us. The practl-
cal James in his New Testament eplstle
puts it in a succlnct way: I on say you
are honest; very well; show me your non, N,
esty without paying your debts and VII
pay my debts to SHOW: my honesty. ~ -
the practical outworking which eonvlnce:s e:
other men. Men are saved by their faltn
in Christ. But other men know that
thew are saved by the way they act, :.
Argument resulting so is worthy or
study. But it would be so Wild as TO be
silly to EXPECT men who look on the re-
lieion of Christ for the outside to labor
over 600 pages of profound work. we are
turned back again to the easier argument
in Christ's behalf-the visible effect he
has on life around. It was possible to
study Jesus in His own character. Ihe
crowd came that day to see Him and to
see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the
dead. Indeed, Lazarus, changed into new
life, was so strong an argument thaI MS
enemies would have killed him to silence
him. :
And it is still the commonest method to
explain away or to deny the ef1ects OF Je'
sus in the world. If He has laid hold on q
people, we must find out how cllmaoe any
ancestry and customs have been the Iea'
uplifting agencies. If He makes charac.
ter attractive and winsome, we tall. about
disposition and training. That IS, we want
Lazarus explained away unless v; mean
to acknowledge the power of Christ, Inc
changed life is the argument which the
world finds most forceful. The world IS
interested. not in Christ's theory, but IN
His success. That argument can be maze
IN a large way. His influence can be
traced through the long stretch OF years.
Our own race and nation could be mage
an illustration. Or the minds OF men couid
be pointed to peoples only yesterday IN
savaqery and now lifted into well negu9i
civilization I read recently the lite OF
James Chalmers. the. missionary IN the
South Seas. Just after ne pecame &C.
ouainted with the people one OF ms Wile 5
friends, as mark Of respect ana aHee!lo;H,
cooked. as a dainty for her own table.
They were often invited to cannibal feasts.
IN new island, only four years ago,
Chalmers was killed and his body eaten:
And the gospel of Christ. with the arts OF
cjv;!ization. has taken hold upon such peo.
ple and make them fraternal and safe and
helpful. There is no Christian island IN
The South Seas where a voyager IS not
safe: there is no non-Christian island waere
he is safe.
It is a life of hope. It has not yet re-
ceived its best things. The best times are
not mast nor present, however glad they
NAV be. There are better things to. come
ont of the Fathers love as we 60 on IN the
Fathers world. And this hope works into
the sight of men in the form OF cheer, OF
brightness, of encouragement: some one
asked the other day what i thougnt OF
laughing Christians. 1t was new phrase
to me. We do not think much OF slily
Christians, I suppose, OF shallow, Chris-
tians, whose JOY compares, with real 1oy as
giggle compares with laugh. out WA
can one think of Christian lie whose
hone never comes out into the cheer and
brightness of a joyous life? l heard a
child saw a. little piece once, in which was
explained that one day in heaven God be-
came weary of the dinging Of the harps
and the singing of the angels, so he 81.
fenced them all and sang strain OF music
Himself. and ere it had died away ne
caught, it, threw about it a beautiful Piu-
mage and cast it into the air, and SO tne
sonebirds came to earth. They are Goo
music sent into life. And are we otner;
Who SO well as we may eaten the gao
strain of JOY and make our lives giaoaen,,
ing influence in the world! And II lnstsao
we droop and pine, and Will not pear !nc
sorrows as though they were charged VIII
pIad meaning from our Father, and Will
not cast radiance of JOY into other ETes'
where is the changed life!
The Kings of the Hoy Roman Empire
were crowned with triple crown, IN one
of which was nail of the true cross: AND
in the triple crowning which marks the
changed life. one bears the nail OF the
cross. For supreme;y the changed HE Is
the life of love, and love means sacrlhce'
love means service, love means helpful
ness. No man can see another's love save
as il shows itself in the service OF help1ul-
mess it renders. When men seek the su-
preme example of love they look upon q
figure which giori6ed the cross, which had
the pierced hands and feet and side
figure Of One who came asa = e.senser OF
glad tiding- of peace-Hls teet 6eautl19i
upon the mountains. but bloodstaln!esa: 1!s1
And love is the hid fact of that best lie,
coming into sight Of others as he!pfuiness
and service. This is the supreme mark OF
the Christian iife-such love as makes us
helnfuI among men for Christ's sake. 1t
IS no mere pity of other mems needs; 1t IS
no shallow sentiment which cannot bear to
see suffering. It is a far deeper thing
than that. 1t is the commanding motive IN
all life-to serve. 1t means laying out 't.od our
lives for that wherever they are lived.
Sometimes it demands large things. Some
times it comes out in the daily, common
life. We may not do for men what they
want. but we learn to do for them IN one
measure what they need. And so life be-
comes constant help to others. =,
These are the plain marks OF the
changed life, which stands as arsumens
for Christ. Faith, within which comes
out in view as faithfulness everywhere.
Hope. coming out into view as cheerful
nrsitnSSs t. Sosr Lie hsvs
tr;nIy marked. net by fortunate birth. no.
in shallow ways, but deeply and because
you have known Him: i it is, 1t then ,!;2', you
in your commonplace lie arc HIS daily
argument, the Lazarus OF the present day,
drawing men to Hin.
The Hichcst Hcroisn.
There is vet harder and higher hero.