The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-11-12

I'M HRw recognize any re-
4Sk-U M | ligious obligation,
I--s2 ss2@aaEz may live very
closely in harmony
with the teachings of Christ And on the
olner hand the man who has accepted
Shrlst as his Saviour, and has been
soTn again by the operation upon his
aeart OF the Divine Spirit, may live so
Iar below the ideals and teachings of
Jesus as to have the genuineness of his
religious experience called into Ques-
lion. TO the world the former would be
classified with the people known as
Christians, and probably the latter
would be placed IN another list, and yet
IL the sight of God the classification
would be exactly reversed. That there
Is great and growing confusion as to
what constitutes Christian is evident
from the increasing number of so-called
orthodox ministers Of the Gospel who
are preaching q religion Of renovation
rather than OF regeneration. The test is
not the blood Of Christ which has been
applied to the sinful heart, it is not the
faith which has accepted Christ as the
one and only Saviour, it is not the
new birth which comes with the quick
sning work OF the Holy Spirit, but the
test Is rather one Of ethics and CHART
able benevolences. Does man live out
Wardly In beautiful harmony with the
teachings OF Christ? Is he honest and
clean In his life? Is he q faithful hus-
band and father, loyal citizen, and
contributor In time and money to char
table and reform movements? Then,
says the world. he Is Christian if ever
there vas one. It is question of what
man has done for himself, instead OF
what God has done in him and for him.
It - renovation; not regeneration.
THAT Eicodemus had a misconcep-
ton which Jesus sought to correct
is evident from the conversation be-
tween the two. II that exemplary teach
er and leader of the Jews, that worthy
member Of the august body Of Sanhedrin,
had been presenting himself before the
liberal exponent OF the modern day re
ligion there would have been very diff
eerent test proposed than that which
Jesus made of regeneration. There
would have been little talk Of the Christ
lifted up upon the cross and shedding
His precious blood for the redemption
OF the world. There would not have
been an emphasis Of the spiritual. and
an ignoring OF the excellences Of the life
and character. Evidently Nieodemus
lacked something which was absolutely
essential to his coming within Gods
classification OF the members of His
kingdom 1t was plain that the test was
not one of SO many commandments kept,
Of SO much good done, Of so high stand
ing In the community attained. Had It
been 50. Jesus would have welcomed
Nicodemus as most promising acquisi-
ton and have added his name to the list
ST the members of His kingdom But
when the test was that of the new birth.
the being born into the kingdom through |
the operation of the spirit of God, here
was something which went. beyond the
realm OF the flesh. Il was something
which could not be realized by the effort |
and attachments Of the natural man. E |
was a process in which God was the |
moving power. It was transition from |
the kingdom Of the world TO the king |
dom of God. which God by His Holy |
Spirit aione could accomplish for man.
IA ND have the nineteen hundred years
- which have come and gone since |
then 30 changed the conditions OF en- |
trance TO the Kingdom OF Jesus Chris. |
that 1t is no longer question of regen-
GRAFTON, but Of renovation. Is it Ques- |
ton now of culture and refinement, and I
ethics and philanthropy and charity? |
Are repentance for sin and faith In |
Jesus Christ as the only Saviour from I
sin through His atoning sacrifice upon I
the cross to be set aside as out OF date I
and unsuited to this advanced age of I
culture and refinement, and external |
tests satisfactory to man to be substi- /
futed? Certain IL Is that there is great f
CONFUSION In the minds OF many rs TO
what really constitutes a Christian.
Gods preachers have. many of them,
developed an ambition TO write tie
gfngdOm In large and liberal letters,
and to bring within the compass of the
church all who act and appear like
Christians Because there are a refine
menE and culture II the world in mar
tnouy with the teachings and principles
DC the Christian religion: because very
many LIN the world are discovering that
honesty Is the best policy. that clean
1ess OF life and moral reetitude give the
truest Joy and satisfaction In life: that
nan ewes something TO his fellow man
d ere way of sympathy and help: that
he Golden Rule has proved a high ard
Ehalesome standard by which to order
he life: because all this Is true, does not l
,roye the extension OF Christ's King II
,orn In the hearts of men. We call this Il
nation Christian, We pride ourselves L
suan the Christian community in which |
re live. but the term Christian thus used
5 man applied. Gods Kingdom ts not
considered In bulk God picks its MEM d
,ers one by one And each one must ],
a,bmit to the searching test OF tina Il
,aw birth, he must be born again. Goo
Ices not receive men ID carload lots and i
,ernit the ungenuine TO slip In with the
genuine. as the grain merchant might f
he inferior corn that had been mixed
nth that Of first grade. d
< YETHTER has God turned over the
~ registry Office OF His Kingdom Co
nan and commissioned him 10 write the
certificates OF mem bershfp. But one i
ronid think SO TO hear the bland way In
k~Sz Is