The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-03

There is a deepy rooted idea In the
minds Of many people that Christian
lty is a religion Of gloom. More than
one great thinker has called it tie
religion of sorrow, and poets, who de-
light in things bright and beautiful,
sink into minor tones when they sing
OF religion. True II Is that In a GER
tain sense Christianity may legitimate
~ be called the religion Of sor-
row. It's founder, the Lord Jesus
Christ, was a man OF sorrows
and acquainted with grief. It's
symbol is a cross, significant Of sus
fering and shame The condition OF
It's service is. III any iNan VII come
after me, let lNm deny Himself and
take up his cross and follow me- Its
triumphant disciples are thOse WHO
have come out OF great tribulation
and have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood Of the
Lamb. Yet the Joy Of the Lord. under
lying the sorrow OF the Christian life
and often bursting out with radiance
which changes the sky from dull gray
to glowing brightness. ought never to
be forgotten. We are so apt to EN-.
phasize the sorrow that we obscure
the Joy The sorrow IS only accidental
and tiansie1. while the Joy Is essen
tai and permanent.
Both In the old Testament and In
the new religion Is described as Joy
Gus in the character. The Hebrew
economy was iubllant in its arrange.
ments for worship. calling into play
the music Of harp, viol tabrct. cymbal,
stringed instruments and organ. There
was Joy in the daily service OF lhe
temple. and at the great feasts. when
all the people kept holiday; the land
was filled with gladness. from noun.
tain top TO valley. Thus the Hebret r
recognized the duty OF being glad ana
put It into practice.
The teaching OF the New Testament
IS no less emphatic. The very mes
sage of Christianity is the gospel. the
good news OF redeemlng love. Chris
uanity was introduced by a summons
Of Joy: Fear not. for behold I bring
you good tldings Of great Joy. which
shall be 70 all people" On the ni@it
Of his betrayal. when the shadows of
the approaching crucihxion fell thick
and fast. Christ gathered his dis
ciples around him and told hem OF
the blessed mystery OF their union TO
him, ending with the striking declara-
tion: These words have | spoken
70 you that my Joy may be in you ="
The purpose OF the Christian life. as
revealed in the teaching OF our Lord
and his apostles, Is TO MI heart and
life with the Joy Of Christ When the
believer realizes that truth he quickly
apprehends the privilege and duty OF
being glad. and soon he walks IN the
sunshine OF a joy which cannot be
hanlshed by the fog OF human doubts
or the clouds OF earthly trials.
Gloomy Christians repel: sunny
Christians attract. We are the worlds
Bible. and men judge the religion we
profess by us who profess IT, II we
are duh and sad In our intercourse
with our fellows. can we wonder at
their blaming our religion? What we
need to-day in our Christian life is a
baptism OF gladness that shall send
us on our way with shining faces and
jubilant praise. Rejoicing in the Lord,
we should recommend Christianity by
the winsomeness OF our words and
deeds In the worry and strain OF our
generation no more welcome strength
could come into any life than the
abiding gladness Of faith IN the Lord
Jesus Christ. The surface Of life may
be troubled with a passing storm. but
eternal peace viii dwell in the heart.
Car stream in the desert may be EN-
Uttered by a Marah. but there viii
always be a sweetening tree al hand.
We may be brought into our garden
Of Gethsemane. but there will always
be an angel near TO comfort and
strengthen. Why then, be sad
Should we not cast all gloom. born
OF doubt and fear. behind us. and live
out full and happy lives In the sun
shine OF faith?-James E. c. Sawyer,
D.D.