The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-02-21

thy to be in the social set OIL one WHO
was of the line of David. All, no!
Christ took them, one and all, at their
face value-as men and sinners. ne
saw in them only men waiting and
longing for the touch of loving
hand and the comfort Of sure SAL
vation. He called them and they lett
their work. their families and their
friends. and they followed where He
led. And, as they followed. lie
taught them, and He showed them
how, by the power that He alone
could give, they might work social
and spiritual miracles and translor-
nations in their own lives and also
in the lives Of other men and OF ma
tions. And, withal, He loved them
with that mighty. godly love where
with none other had ever loved them
before. Such was the love of Christ
to His disciples. Such was the char
acter of the affection, in the broadest
Interpretation, that He lavished upon
them. Such was the love which: IN
it's fullest application. He wished
them to- manifest to all men. He had
loved them as sinners. They must
love other men in sin. He had dealt
kindly and patiently and with all
forehearance with them They must
do the same with their fellows. 10
be sure, they were to Strive for mar
mony among themselves at ai3 times
that they might be known and read
of all men as His disciples. Only
thus could their teachings gain or
retain a merited respect. But the
wider expression of the love of Christ
that was spread abroad IN their
hearts demanded, as it demands to-
day, that they look upon all men IN
sin. rs we'll as upon all Christians, as
brothers--and love them.
But. I hear some one ask, suppose
Christian men to-day do love, spe-
cifcally and generically. as Christ
commanded that the disciples should
love. what then?
That is just the point that I wish
to consider. This command OF
Christ, in. it's application both to the
relation of the Christian to the other
faithful and to the world of men in
sin about him, is Just as imperative
upon us as it was upon any of the
eleven. And the outworlSing of that
Christ principle in all the depart
ments Of human activity will ensure
the final solution Of all difficulties
that now perplex and distress MS and
the consummation of the Kingdom OF
our Lord. 1t is so perfectly easy and
so very simple that the ease and SIM
plicity of it all astonishes US. We
have become so accustomed to think
of our problems as exceptionally Eard
to solve. We seem to take much Joy
! to assure ourselves Of the almost in
surmountab1e difficulty to set the
world right with the eternal plan OF
God. We would much rather, so it
would seem, that the whole matter
| remain complex. We think, perhaps,
that God will be easy or US if we fail
in difficult task.
Beloved, it is difficult it is we'll
night. yea actually, insurmountable,
this sin in the world, when squared
to the possibilities Of our own I'M
aided powers. But did we open our
hearts wide toward Heaven once, and
| let the power of the Spirit of the liv-
ing Father I'll us to the full; did we
but empty out our Spirit-fllled hearts
in love upon our fellow men; did we
| but put into action once this simple
plan of God toward the rehabilitation
of the world. we would learn, and
that quickly. what are the possibilities
of the power that cometh from on
high. And the only way to rectify
1.-the results of the spiritual, moral,
economic and political sins Of this
world, Individual and social, is to
! let the love Of God fill you and
through you the world of men about
! you. This done, the task is light, for
our basis of action is changed. We
| no longer rely upon the wisdom OF
the PHILOSOPHERS Of men and their
theories, but we clutch tightly to the
power arm of that Ruler OF us all to
whom all things are possible-and
we seize the first thing first.
Now this command Of Christ to
| love one another even as He has loved
US, is imperative 1t is mandatory
and not permissive. If we would be
good Christians of full and regular
standing in the household Of faith
we must obey. It is not for US to
decide whether or no in our case the
law shall be valid. Christ commands,
anu only ty obedience to His demand
do We so I've thet az men shall
know that we are His disct-
pies. The test of fidelity is in obedi-
ence. Lip testimony is judged by
fealty in service. Some one has said:
What you do speaks so loud that I
cannot hear what you say" 1t IS this
| central fact that Christ recognizes
when He commands a loving order
ing of our outward life. We are
Christians, but do we live the life of
love? s.
These words of Christ should come
home to each Of us with more than
! usual force at this season Of the
year. Christmas is over; shortly we
shall be face to face with those sad
der days which are so full Of mem
cries of Him who, for our sakes, sui.