The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-02-10
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED.
THE WORLDS INTEREST CHRIST"
The Rev. DIR. Cleland Boyd McAfee Tells
What is the Best Argument For Jesus
His Own Character with It's Striking
Symmetry is Completely Convincing.

pastor-elect Of the Lafayette Avenue Pres
byterian Church, preached there Sunday.
His subject was "The Worlds Interest in
the Success of Christ" The text was from
therefore, knew that He was there: and
they came not for Jesus sake only, but
| that they might see Lazarus also, whom He
had raised from the dead" Dr.. McAfee
said:
This is at least candid There was no
magic magnetism about Jesus. lie drew
men to Him in no subtle, indefinable way.
He drew them by what they saw Him do,
by what they saw Him to be. Here was a
crowd drawn to Jesus by the effect He had
had on man. That is the sermon of the
morning in a sentence. The best argu-
ment for Jesus is the effect He has on
men. / call it best, not as most philo-
sophical or profound, and not as bearing
logical tests better than others. 1t is
best because we can all see it and feel the
force of it.
asked a wise man once what he count
ed the best argument in behalf Of Christ.
He replied, christian" And what is the
best argument against Christ? Instantly
| he replied again, Christian" Broaden it.
What is the best argument for Christ and
His gospel? The Christcndom of to-day
Set Christendom over against heathenism
and see what Christ can do with men. Set
should be and see what Christ has still to
do.
Now all that is very simple, and it is at
such simple points in our lives that Christ
comes into closest contact With US. The
only claim He makes to Klngship is based
on the fact that He is one who can.
He can bring things to pass. He can ac-
complish. He can achieve. You remem-
Der how constant His fame ran ahead of
Jsa IL 1oI
and they told it. He taught others and
they announced it. He fed multitude
and they chung to Him. ] am not suppos-
ing that the crowd really believed in Jesus
for what He claimed to be, but the crowd
was drawn to Him by the effect He had
had on men, and thus was brought under
His spell. And no man will ever believe
in Jesus On the mere evidence of lives
about Him. He must accept Him for Him
self. But the effect He has on lives will
have its part to-day as then in turning
men to Him. The unchanged life does not
draw. The thoroughly changed life is His
best argument.
You remember I have already said that
there are better arguments for Christ than
the lives of His followers-better iphilo-
sophically and logically. He is Himself
His best argument. just careful, candid
study of His own character with its Pc
symmetry-that would be very convinc-
ing. For my part / enjoy the sc-called
metaphysical arguments, even some which
are not popular in the philosophical facul-
ties nowadays There are very profound
books written which men might read with
profit.
But we are just common men, and we do
very little profound thinking. almost no
abstract thinking, and we are reached
hn n
ment of results. There are men, of course,
not SO bright as ourselves, who would be
hard pressed just to read the books which
present these obstruse arguments. In my
reading, the other day, | ran across a sem
tence from one of these profound writers
which will interest you, Just by way of
illustration. 1t is definition of religion
and runs this way: Religion is the ulti-
mate and vital apprehension by the indf-
vidual of what is conceived to re reality in
its fullest sense, the inner truth of things;
whether such reality be regarded as CO.
extensive with, as included in, or as dis
tinct from the world of natural phenom-
ena, it always, however, being regarded as
in some way related to the individual HIM
self; any such apprehension embracing be-
lief, emotional response and the determine
alton of conduct, in 50 far as conduct is
supposed to have bearing on the con-
rection of the individual with such real
ity." Now that is not very bad way of
stating certain facts about religion, and
yet l doubt if some of us would care to
go far in books worded that way. Some of
YOU have been under the influence of re-
Egi0n good many years, but have never
worded it just that way
There are easier ways of wording the |
profound truth of Christianity. / wish it
seemed possible, for example, to get a
wide reading for the two-year-old book by |
Principal Fairbairn of Oxford Mansfield |
College. He has called it ''The Philosophy |
of the Christian Religion" The book |
grew out of Principal Fairbanks appoint
ment as Haskell lecturer in India. He had |
the sacred books of Hinduism and felt that |
he knew how to meet its positions with |
understanding. When he |
reached India, however; he found Hindu
ism very different thing IN practice. That |
turned him back upon candid study of |
his own faith, to see whether and wherein |
it might differ in present practice from it's
original form. Such study was certain
to result profoundly. and it is profound
book. I wish all of lis Christians might |
follow an argument which results in such |
sentences as these: "The Son of God holds
in His pierced hands the keys of all re-
ligions, explains all the factors of their
being and all the persons through whom
they have been realized" 1.-THE Incarna
CIon is Ine very truth which turns nature |
and man, history and religion into the
luminous dwelling place of God" l think
shall not forget that phrase that the In
carnation turned the world into the lum-
nous dwelling place of God, that Jesus.
once born into manhood has never died !
out of manhood. and shall instead draw
manhood into His own fellowship and
likeness.
We shall be able to feel the personal
meaning of all this when we stop to name
over some of the traits w,ch mark the |
changed life. 1t is a life Of faith-of quiet |
confidence in God. There is no idleness
nor lazy trusting that things will come
out right by some mysterious method It
is the life of belief that we are in a Fa-
theirs world, making our way to a Fa-
theirs house. That faith stands over
against the doubt and fear and anxiety of |