The Tupelo journal., 1906-03-30

(Chicago) Sunday School Asso-
citation on the International
S. S. LesSonS.)
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 7:15-E9
Warning Against False Teachers.
1t should not seem strange to any
student of the Bible that there SHOULD
be found within the ranks of Christian
ity men who, though outwardly
wearing it's garb, yet inwardly ars
traitors to its cause. Christ Himself
predicted such a condition of things,
The traitor in the guise of the pa
triot, the wolf in sleeps clothing" is
to be looked for. Christianity mus,
be on the constant lookout for its
Benedict Arnold.
Traitors Within It's Own Camp.
We are not to look for these false
teachers within the ranks OF In
fidelity, but in the pulpit, the pro-
fessor's chair, the theological sem
mary, the university. The very places
which should stand for the defense
and purity of the Christian faith ara
to be watched for its most bitter and
effective enemies. Contemplate be-
yond degree is that man who. pos
ing as an exponentand defender of Chris.
tian truth is yet traitorous to that
faith; who, by false teaching, is under
mining the very foundations of the
faith of those who by their sacrifices
and gifts are his daily support. That
a man has a right, MAYNARD, to be-
lieve and teach what he believes to
be truth should be acknowledged, bu:
let him not occupy the chair in !
Christian institution, nor the pulpit
in a Christian chruch in order to de-
stroy the very things that chair and
that pulpit call upon him to sacredly
defend. Benedict Arnold was a gen
tleman compared to this class of men
he got out of the camp and went
over to the British. Let some of our
preachers and theological professors
have the honesty and character enough
to get out of the ranks of the churco
the moment they find themselves to be
out of accord with it's doctrinal teach
ing and spirit.
True Teaching to Be Known by Its
Fruits.
What fruits are produced by such
false teaching? Uncertainty; unbe'
lief; doubt of the ~veracity of the Bible
revelation; denial of the resurrection
of Christ, His Deity, and redeemina
work; disbelief in the immortality OF
the soul. Are these the fruits which
should be produced by the men wh1
profess to represent the truth OF
God as it is n.Jesus Christ? By such
fruits we shall know t~hem-know that
they are false.
A Message to Individual Christians.
This lesson sounds a solemn note OF
warning to every Christian, great AMI
small. 1t seems to assert the fac;
that there is the possibility, yea, the
certainty, of some people waking VI
in the resurrection morning sadly dis
appointed. They thought they were
saved; now they find out they ara
not. Three surprises may be in store
for us in the Judgment day: We
shall be surprised to see many people
in Heaven whom we did not expect u
see there; we shall miss many people
we expected to see there; we shall be
surprised to find ourselves there-at
least to find ourselves inheritors OF
such magnificent glory.
What Is the True Test of Christianity
Not profession, but obedience. Bet
ter profession and obedience. 1t is
not enough to call Christ pretty names.
We must do what He tells us. There
is a danger of our resting content N
merely believing all Christs claims for
mere ritualistic lip confession 81
Christ. Active heart obedience to His
commands must accompany this con-
fession. The mar who hears Christ's
words, and coucedes them to be true,
and then does not make them the COLI
trolling power of his life, is the man
who builds his house on the sand. A
testing day is certainly coming. Christ,
the eternal truth, has said so. In that
day such a nan will find that his
professions have been merely empty
words: they may have satisfied him IN
life; they cannot satisfy the Son OF
God in judgment. Punishment from
the presence Of God will be his por-
ton forever and ever.
Benefcence Does Not Save.
No one a read this lesson thought
fully without realizing that it is pos
sible for a person to be an active
the pulpit a great soulwinner, a theo-
logical professor, and yet be lost in
the last great day. Christian work not
done from true motive-faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the
worlds not truly Christian work,
and receives no saving merit in that
day. 1t is an awful thing to think
that a man may go to hell from be-
meath the pulpit; but it is a NOR
awful thing for a man to go to hell
logical professors chair. Yet this les
son is taught here. Let us make our
calling sure.
Assurance as Well as Warning.
II this lesson tells us who may be
disappointed, it also tells us who may
be assured as to their eternal des-
tiny. Those who build upon the rock
are safe. But what is it to build
upon the rock? Our Lord Himself tells
us: Everyone that heareth these
sayings of Mine and docth them"-he
is the safe man, the man whose house