The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-10-05
JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE THURSDAY OCTOBER g. 1905
Society Christians.

One evening, at small literary
gathering, at which Carlyle was pres
ent, lady was bewailing the wicked
ness Of the Jews in not receiving
Christ, and ended her dlatribe against
them by expressing her regret that he
had not appeared in our own time.
'How delighted, " said she, we would
all have been to throw our doors open
to him and listen to his Divine pre-
cepts; don't you think so, Mr.. Carlyle?
"No madam, I do not. / think that,
had he come very fashionably dressed,
with plenty of money and preaching
doctrines palatable to the higher orders,
! might had the honor of receiving
from you card of invitation, on the
back of which would be written, 'To
meet our Savioor;" but if he had come
uttering his sublime precepts, denounc-
lug the "Pharisees" and associating
with the 'Publioans" and lower orders
as he did-you would have treated
him much as the Jews did and have
cried ont, take him to Newgate and
hang him."
Aristocracy, reserve, exclusiveness,
never formed a part of Christ's teach
ings. He never came into this world
to advocate social enjoyment, in the
manner that those devotees of modern
society who claim to be religious,
seem to think is warranted by the
Scriptures.
The church of God was not organ
izied to promote enjoyment of any
kind, social, religious or otherwise, but
to aid in carrying out the plans of God
for the salvation of men. The COM
mand to the organized church is, to go
out into the highways and compel
them to come in. If by chance any
wayfarer should straggle in, without a
special invitation, he is not to be
regarded as an intruder, or looked
upon with suspicion, but he is entitled
to full explanation of the conditions
of Salvation. If he is a sinner, repen-
trnt and willing to accept the over
lures of mercy, then he is within his
"scriptural rights" as q seeker for for
giveness and upon his making the
"glad confession" he is not to be
placed on six-months probation list
in order to satisfy the church that he
is sincere and worthy Of confidence
nor should he be required to remain OIL
trial for the purpose of establishing {
character, because the Savior Of mel
\ never authorized any such procedure
and | believe that we can safely infer
that the practice of many so-calle(
Christiuns in maintaining sort Of pur
gatory for the cleansing Of the appli
cant for Christian fellowship before b.
. is wo1thy of association with the i'm
) maculate and the elect, is not onl
contrary to the doctrines of God
\ word and a positive hindrance to tn
\ progress of Christianity with unbelieN
ers but it may safely be looked upon q
an artifice of Satan to dalude thos
J. who profess to be the children of Goo
y into the belief that can adopt th
@ methods of aristocrats and the worldly
1t minded followers of the Devil, in the
a efforts to serve the cause of Him WI
d became incarnate in order that sinnel
might be brought to repentance I'll
81 call Of Jesus was not the righteou
h He was pre,eminently "a friend of sill
% ners." See Luke Z, 81.
The ideal man was, above all else, g
e ideal friend. Even the eold-hearte
k aristocrats of his day recognized th
10 and flung at him the term of reproaC
e which has since become his glory.
The most helpful expression of ar
mans religion is in simple friendshi
for men. He is most like God WI
most loves man. Keeping ones Sc
= ''unspotted from the world" means,
. avoid the methods of the world, not
= avoid contact with those with who
: Jesus was in daily association.
:, If a mere modicum of the care th,
: is taken to preserve the society Chri
: tian from contamination were expende
i in self-sacrifcing effort to relie'
distress, enlightening ignorance an
. spreading the Gospel, it would haste
a the time when all men would come to
- knowledge of the Lord.
ORREN MILLER,