The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-02-03
Pure Religion.

FNiS Religion.
Pure religion and undehIed before Goa
and the her---James. H.. "a.
Every right minded and sound
hearted man or woman believes sn re-
hgion- That is. that man has facul-
ties fitting him for God. relations that
bind him TO God. duties owing to God
But what is pure religionz There are
SO many c0unserfeits. How shall /
tell the genuine articIeg~ is what per-
plexes many person who would like
10 be religious.
Some persons treat it as a matter
of snrewd calculation They think that
Il Is prudent and safe TO be religious
Il II good prop for the state and
makes good citizens. 1t is a certi-
A heate Of character Religious stand
ing In the community is looked upon
as a valuable asset, much the same as
a bank account. 1t may also be a pass-
port into heaven Hence. such per-
CONS are regular observers of church
services and perhaps large givers.
But this religion of interest is a hol-
low counterfeit, It reduces piety to
the level Of mere business. II has the
form OF godliness, but denies the fer
yor thereof And it does irreparable
harm 70 pure religion. Many take
these formalities as true types Of re-
ligion and they think that all piety is
but hollow show. empty ceremony.
sounding brass and tinkling symbal
There, again, is the religion Of law
This regards God as Law giyer who
must be feared and served. 1t thinks
OF Him with trembling and awe.
Hence with 1t Denance, rigor and self.
denial are the chief graces. Ii is a re-
iigion Of the conscience, and thorough
ly sincere. But its defect is that 1t
only sees one side of God 1t is mar
row, harsh and austere. 1t makes
religion a matter OF gloom and robs 1t
OF all sunshine. 1t tends, too. to self
righteousness. II manufactures Phar-
isees- Its yotaries become censors of
others. They judge all by their own
hard egotism, and whoever does not
square with their narrow, severe
standard they look disdainfulIy upon
as publicans and sinners
The third type is the religion OF love.
This does not. indeed, forget that God
is law and justice. but it recognizes
that supremely God is love" 1t looks |
upon Him as father, only desiring /
the highest well being Of His crea-
lures. II worships Him. not with fear,
but with rejoicing. 1t serves Him.
not iii the bondage of a slave. but
with the freedom Of SON 1t is not
hampered by the chains of the letter,
but lives in the liberty Of the spirit.
It is the religion of the heart. 1t is the
religion Of joy. 1t is the ideal relig-
ion OF the soul. This Is the pure re-
ligion" OF our text, ~undefled before
God and the Father
And SO we reach the last and fullest
outcome Of real religion, as defined in
the latter clause of our text. Pure re.
ligion is this, to visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction. The re-
ligion Of faith and love, of freedom
and JOY starts in the soul the streams
Of charity and goodwill. He who has
1t wishes all the world to share in its
blessed sunshine.
In one of Tissot's masterpieces Jesus
Is portrayed as moving through null
Iitude of sick, diseased and crippled.
AS He passes by the pallid cheek
slows with health. the enfeebied limbs
grow elastic. and the whole sorrowing
scene is changed into beauty, Joy and
sladness. So the final test of pure re-
igion is that 1t touches the soul with
he spirit Of kindness and that as its. s
moves through the world he I
las heart Of sympathy, a word of S
,entleness and a hand of help for z
very struggling brother And thus t
iverywhere a trail Of light and song 4
4 gratitude follow upon his gracious +
teps.-J. B. Remensnyder. f