The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-11-10
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED.
"!MlTATORS OF C0D."
The Rev. DIR. John Reid Answers the
Somewhat Narrow Criticism That
Christianity Is Narrow in Its Spirit and
Contracting in It's Effect.


Christianity Is Narrow in Its Spirit and
Contracting in It's Effect.
BROOKLYN, Y. Y.-Dr. John Reid. pas
tor of the Memorial Presbyterian Church.
preached an eloquent sermon Sunday
morning. His text was taken from Ephe.
slams vi: "Be We therefore followers OF
God, as dear Children DR.. Reid said: ,
The Revised Version gives a better and
stronger translation: BE ye therefore lm!-
tators of God. as beloved children" lmi-
tators, as children. Being children OF God,
be We imitators or God.
Truth is practically always achievement,
superstructure, the keystone, last stroke:
There are what the metaphyslcians call
Immediate truth" that is, truth IN con-
nection with which our knowledge is intul-
tive, and where it comes in as the direct
and undeniable testimony OF the senses,
but as general thing, acquired truth is
the result of work done. the issue of bat
tie which has been won. In other words.
truth has 10 conquer before It can COM
mand. But in conflict or warfare OF what
soever kind, disguise is ever worse foe, to
meet than denial. And l suppose that
what is frequently affirmed is probably
true; namely. that the Christian rellgion
has always suffered more from those who,
sometimes Intentionally and sometimes un-
Intentionally, have perverted and mlsrep-
rensented it, than it has ever suffered from
those who have even formally opposed 1t.
There, for instance, is the somewhat trlte
criticism that Christianity as scheme IS
narrow in its spirit and contracting IN Its
effect; under it as system men do not at
tain the highest possible development. and,
therefore, they cannot display the Talrest
and finest fiber OF human character: 1t de-
velopes the passive and uninfluential. more
than the puissant and productive. elements
of our nature: it keeps its hand on life
brake to check and hold in. rather than
ON life's throttle valve to open and Jet 60;
it is in face lion. but in heart deer; the
thou shalt nots outrumber the thou shafts;
there is an unmistakabie favor OF pusll-
lanimity, of cowardiiness, of spiritlessness,
which nothing every wholly removes from
many of its principles and professions; re-
pentance, hunlbieness. meekness, forgive
ness of injuries. REIMBURSEMENT Of rights,
submission to what cannot be seen. accept
ance of what cannot be known-these are
not among the heroic virtues. All this has
been felt and expressed, not only by the
superficial and scofhng, but by the respect,
fm and thoughtful. And certainly 1t Is all
forceful. If it were true, Il might be even
fatal.
Yet from the beginning to end this whole
criticism that Christianity is narrow IN Its
spirit and contracting in its effects moves
ON misconception. Human ilte can never
be bound by hfeless process. 1t IS OF ne
cessity linked to living Person. And in
Christianity. it is the Almighty God who
is the standard Men are everywhere eX-
horted and expected to ascertain HIS VIII,
to keep His word, to lay hold OF His
strength. to walk in His light, and SO to
adorn His doctrine in all things: 1t IS the
example of God that is published as the
pattern. 1t is the purity Of God that ls
nut forth as the test. It IS the Will OF
God that is prescribed as the law. 1t IS
the love of God that is presented as the
motive power. 1t is the glory of God that
Is pointed to as the end. 1t IS the appro-
hation of God that is, urged as the lnsplra-
ton and the sweet reward. Likeness to
Godhood-tbat is Christianity's ideal OF
manhood; likeness; not simply represen-
tation, but a reproduction; an image; a
likeness which has its place, not in one
ness or identity of attributes, but IN one
ness or community Of life. In HIM we live
and move and have our being. sand Paul.
with all clearness and confidence. ''For
me to live is Christ" said the same great
apostle to the Gentiles. Literally. tor to
me. that is, in my case. in SO far as l. am
personallv concerned. life is Christ. In my
view and understanding of the term, life IS
but another name for Christ. Whatever
of life. or of time. or of talent: or OF
strength I have, it is all His. 4 hive. yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me-" That
mans great endeavor was, as near as pos.
sible, to reproduce in his life the life Of
his Master.
So here his exhortation to all others:
'eBs We therefore imitators of God, as be.
loved children" We have all known chill
dren who were so impressed with the char:
acteristics of their fathers that we could
never hear their form of expression or see
their modes of action without thinking OF
those from whom their opinions and con-
duct had received direction and form: we
say, chips OF the old block; the father
lives again in the son. Just so the true hte
of the Christian is. potentially at Least
simply reproduction of the hte OF the
Christ.
aImitators, as children Of God" What
ever the sentiments we may entertain re-
garding the claims of aristocrsey or the
rights of democracy, We all make much OF
ancestry. The son Of lord may become a
lord. The daughter Of queen Is OF the
blood royal. Everywhere men believe in
association Family glory Is good intro
duction and great help to any man VINO
can lawfully point to it as his. The valid
dy of that introduction is never ques-
toned, the integrity of that help is never
rejected, except where the man himself
becomes personally deficient or person
ally degenerate For doubtless everywhere.
when It comes to the purely practical side
of things, .twhat is he?" is of far greater
importance, than whence did he Gomez
A big fruit from little tree is worth
more than little fruit from a big tree.
when it is fruit that the market Is de-
mandiEg: And what this intense:y practi..
cal age demands is not so much ancestral
trees as palatable fruit.
confess that sometimes have found it
hard to preserve the proprieties when |
have heard people boasting Of ancestry. l
have sometimes wondered what the an
eestors would say if they suddenly saw the
progeny. Paternity is not always easi ~
recognizable in posterity. Neither in
things material nor in things moral does
past possession ever pay for present pow
erty. There must be some water IN the
channel to make river out of it, and it is
always the present water volume Of the
stream that determines the real water
value of the river.
"Oh, East is East. and West is West,
And never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and SlSy stand nrescnty at