Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-12-28

TIE MISSION OF LIST.
BY Rev. Jam, o.. Stone. D. D.
This child is set for the fall and
rising again of many in Israel; and for
4 sign that shall be spoken against
st. Luke 2:34.
The religion of Jesus Christ is much
talked about and much misunderstood.
Its failures are dwelt upon Oftentimes
with more interest than its successes.
There are two ways of considering it
First making an ideal OF it according
TO our own conception of what it
should be, and reading into it fancies
that do not belong to it. Some think
that Christianity should insure success
in life or happiness or the readjust-
ment of conditions that disturb our
ambitions. Such an ideal does not cor
respond with the facts. Or. secondly,
we may take it as it is set forth i'll
the New TeStament-a revelation of
God from God, and not a revelation
of God made by man. According to
our way of considering it will be its
effect upon our life So the aged
Simeon said that some should fall as
well as others rise.
We are not to expect universal sue
cess for the gospel. 10 begin with, it
appeals only to those who are con-
scious of personal sin; to those who
hunger for righteousness, to those who
seek reconciliation with God, and the
harmony Of the human and divine will
and law, and to those who would have
light on the hereafter. help through
death, and welcome into life To 9th
ers it may be pretty philosophy, a
pleasant poem, even a cult, and per-
haps a hope, but Christ is a need for
those only who feel their need of him
H'he first gift of Christ is a cross
The ncient calendars expresseL this in
their arrangement of the Christmas
sea III. First came Christmas day,
with bells ringing, and every manifes-
tation of joy. The king had come.
Then the next day, as though to indi-
cate the mission of the king, was pre-
sented martyrdom, and the day after
conservation, and the third day suffer
ing on account of others. The ord is
significant. Instead of peace it is a
sword A battle with self and wrong.
Giving up some things that cause pain,
perhaps the death 10 not a few of our
hopes.
Then comes devotion. Some people
have no strength of character to be
anything: never do any harm; never do
any good. God wants positive virtue;
not mere negation. This means work;
doing something wisely and we'll for
somebody else. Philanthropicsl enter
prise; teaching the young; honesty and
honor in everything and everywhere:
diligence in the discharge of every
duty that devolvcs upon us; cultivating
our own spiritual life; these are the
good works that Christ lays upon us.
SO suffering for others. Perhaps
most of the suffering in the world
comes from people and conditions out
side of ourselves. We have to recog-
nize this fact The sufferers are not
always to be blamed-not even in
cases that seem so clear and certain.
You do not know the real history of
any soul. All sufferers should be
helped; sand all sin that causes it
should be punished. Every sin or
wrong on our part, causes some one
else to suffer And we should remem-
Der that God has laid on us the cbiga-
ton to share their sufferings by the
sacrifice of our time, effort, thought,
and means to their alienation. Christ
was q sufferer for others; ana because
Of others.
1t is the failure to rec-g1ize these
fundamental principles of Christianity
that occasions so much dlsappoint-
ment. We have expected something
different. Yet along these lines lies
the way to happiness and to God. The
man or woman who at this Christmas
time makes no effort TO kill all i'll feel
ing all enmities, all grudges; who does
not go to work 10 make somebody else
happy; and who VIZ not suffer incon-
veniences to cheer sufferers life, has
missed the mission God gave to Christ,
and which he would have every child
Of earth take up. No wonder such peo-
pie are disappointed in religion, In
stead of rising by its aid to sweetness
and grandeur of character. they have
fallen by its judgmen to useiossness
and shame.