The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-25
OBEDIENCE is FAITH
APPROVED BY HEAVEN
Rev. Blount Says that God in Ma
ture Is Not a Superstition, but
Belief in Divinity.
TO OBEY IS PROGRESS

1.-The Faith Approved by Jesus. was the
subject of the sermon delivered by the Rev.
Harry Blunt. at the Plymouth Church. yes
terday morning. He said I'm part:
The faith approved by Jesus: the send
ing forth OF the doves from the ark and
their return. finding no place on which 10
rest their feet or bringing olive leaf. hap
PLY illustrates the situation OF many weary
in the ark OF antiquated customs. dogmas
and creeds, who have gone forth TO discover
a place i'm which to rest their faith. They
do not care longer to remain i'm the ark. but
are still flying about not having found
place upon which To rest
"rhe value Of the incident Of the centurion
is that it brings before us that for which
he is looking, who has left the ark. Here is
case Of faith which received the approval
of Jesus without qualification.
II IS clear that approval was not given
because Of any intellectual conceptions held
by the centurion. lie had no conception OF
God as the Father. or Jesus as the Son OF
God. But 50 far as he aDDrehcnded Him
ne obeyed. trustfully translating his vision
IN character and conduct. Here alone can
We mo the ground OF Jesus approval and
we are led TO the conclusion that the faith
whlch Jesus approves Is obedience 90 God
IN whatever form app-ehended by rs.
. Jesus bases this upon three great princi-
pies That religion IS adapted 10 the stage
OF Development OF the individual o. The race
In the New Hebrides their religion Is found
10 be nature worship. Still other races were
capable or seeing in man their highest con-
Ception. Still later after centuries 81 the
development Of the law. men see in Christ
their highest conception Of God Always
Jesus presented His thought to men accord
ing % the degree OF their capacity for he
knoweth what was i'm men
Gods manifestations Of himself are also
progressive. This is too often ignored aud
II leaves The developing man 90 evolve MS
own conceptions OF the ideal. while. In fac.
there Is progressive manifestation OF the
ideal as wei as progressive realization q
u. God manifrsts himself I'm all His crea-
ton, nature. man. art. Christ chiefly. and
eVermore is 10 the mission Of the Holy
Spirit. 10 make real 10 men the concrete
manifestation Of the ideal in the world
Finally. the great principle upon which
all progression in moral and spiritual ap-
prehens.On Is based, and likewise which de-
termines ones faith. approved OF otherwise
II obedience 10 God In whatever form aD-
pretended.
How shall one who sees God in Christ
think of one who sees him in nature only2
lie must look behind the form and discern
there whether he is obedient 10 his vision.
for that is the only test
'Cr how shall one who sees Kim only
in nature or man think OF him whose con-
ceptions come from the highest manifesto
ton in Christi Many call IL following myths
and supcrstitiOus, but the sincere and true
soul will look beyond all this and inquire
Is he Obedient 10 God a. he apprehends
3 Him2 II so. Jesus approves his faith. shall
not We? II. therefore. marks the critical
fact OF every religious life. as 10 did with
Paul. Wherefore / was not disOhedicnt TO
the heavenly vision. How practical then
/ Is this approval OF Jesus. calling as away
from the nature and form Of this vision and
laying the emphasis upon our attitude to-
ward IL. Wherefore lea us not be- disohe-
dent 10 the heavenly vision lron whatevcr
source 20 may come. and our faith viii find
approval I'm heaven. III not cart p.