The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-05-31

who, although they believe in Christ.
have never confessed Him in that way,
at least.
Again we find the answer in the text.
"NevertheieS< even OF the rulers many
believed Oh Him: but because OF the
PharseeS they did not confess II. lest
they should be put out of the sEna-
so@ue; for they loved the glory OF men
more than the glory of God"
The first reason is, false fears. These
t!mid believers did not confess Christ
fer fear of being put out of the syna-
yo%ue. The pharisees had issued de-
cree that if any member of their syna-
cocues should so much as confess that
he knew Jesus lie would be eScommu-
nicated from the synagogue. They
were afraid of this threat or decree,
and 50 they did not confess Christ.
They did not have faith enough to
make them bold and fearless or to iead
them to Go their duty whatever might
be the consequences. They took coun-
sci Of their fears. and so they failed III
their duly. 1t meant much to them to
lose their place i'll tie synagogue. They
knew that. 1t really meant more 10
them TO confess Christ even II they dld
lost their place ill the synagogue. Ihey
did not know that They did not know
that as we know it to-day. We blame
them. but in blaming them we condemn
ourselves. and the people OF this oay
Who do not confess Chris.
There are very many to-day who be-
lieve IN Christ with more or Jess faith
who Go not make any public confession
or profession OF their faith. What him
ders them: Many things, no doubt,
but among those many things this
"A false fear. the fear of giving
up or losing some coveted position or
Measure. Let me illustrate what
mean. There was q family at one time
attending this church quite regularly.
! asked them several times if they
would not like to make public profes-
sion of their faith and join our church.
They always objected. and gave me
some weak excuse, but finally they
gave me the real reason. They SAID:
You know, we like to play cards some
times. and we so to the theatre once
in a While. and we don't think that
church member ought to 10 these
things, so we don't join the church.
Thus. for the fear Of losing these
things. they never made a public con-
fess!on of their faith by uniting with
the church. They We're wrong, and l
told them so. They were wrong III the
first place, in concluding that church
member might never play cards, or go
to tie theatre. without injury to his
soul. or to the church: and then they
were utterly wrong in the second place.
in that they concluded that these things
were wrong for the believer in the
church. and especially, in the thlrd
place, in believing that these thlngs'
even if they were wrong ana nad TO
be given up, were Of more Importance
than joining the church. and SO chose
these rather than the fulfilling OF their
faith by public confession.
I believe there are many like them
who put sor2e little thing. or false tear,
ip the way Of doing their full duty to-
ward their God. And thus they stul-
tify their souls and prove false to their
faith. There are many 40 say tc me:
~ would like to be Christian ald join
the church, but there are SO many
things that would have to give up
that now I like to do They are
wrong. n becoming 4 Christian we
need to give up only what Is wrong,
and every true person ought to he Will
ing to do that, anyway. And then the
things that we Lose are as nothing COM
pared to the things that we gain, When
we can say. with Paul "Eor me to live
iS Christ" then we will count all other
coveted things as refuse in order that
we may have more of Christ. aye.
even death will be a gain to US. for 1t
will give us more of Christ. 'Godll-
ness is profitable. both for the life that
now is, and for the life that is 10
come"
Away. then, with all false fears and
silly excuses. and let all who believe in
Christ confess Christ. This is His own
desire for us, as we know. For Who
soever shall confess Ne before men.
him will confess before Ny Father Id
heaven"
But not only do false fears keep peo-
rle from the duty and the privilege OF
confessing their faith in Christ: there
is another reason given in the text. IL
is falSe loves. = UT tueS lO'So Oho
glory of men more than the glory OF
God" They wished TO be thought well
of by these Pnarisees Of the synagogue
and to receive their praise. Their
praise was something real and present
and tangible The praise Of God for
Gu:y we'll done: that was far off and
uncertain. They believed in this lowly
Nazarene. They thought He was the
Messiah. and. if He was the Messiah.
it would certainly be to the glory OF
God if they would confess their faith
in Him. It would help on Gods king
dom in the world. But if they should
declare their faith in Christ. the Phari-
sees would be displeased and no longer
praise and slorify' them. And 50 they
choose the glory and praise Of the Phar-
isess. rather than the glory and praise
>cf God. ,.,-'. - 49,
There are very many today who
make that mistake They love the
nra!se CT lncn. OF their comrades. more
than the praise OF God. ard.se they fall
in doing their full duty to God. They
are afraid of what some OF their
friends will say if they come out and
make a bold confession of their faith
in Christ. I believe this love OF the