Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-12-26
Iictlons as 70 the personallty 81 Jesus

victions as TO the personality OF Jesus
Christ or the finality Of the gospel
that He preached. Because I am
sensible enough to see the clear evil
dences Of the working of the Spirit
of God In faiths other than my own
is no reason why should belittle, &C
tually or inferentially, the supreme
consequence of Christian truth. For
1t Is as clear as day that whatever
may be the undoubted excellencies of
other faiths there p no truth so COM
prehensive, no salvation 20 efficient,
no message 10 ultimate, universal or
exacting 40 that which IL comprised
in the Christian, scheme Ct things.
Knowing that we should be tolerant
and at the same time fervent, we can
AFFORD to be.
Jesus was militantly righteous. He
had no use for the militarism of
Rome. Nor would He have any word
of appreciation for the militarism Of
to-day. He was man of peace, ex-
cept when He was face to face with
sin. He was peaceful in His attitude
toward sinners. He was militant
against their sin. Jesus was a fighter.
He carried the warfare into the ene-
mies' country. He could turn His
back upon the representative of or
ganized wickedness. He fought sin
with no care for the cost or the con-
sequences to Himself. But He was
no quarreller. He vas therefore diff
ferent from a host of His disciples.
The trouble with the church, among
other things, Is this, that we quarrel
rather than fight. We seem to enjoy
row among ourselves as much as
we fear to take up the cudgels Of
truth for God and humanity and go
down to the warfare against wrong
wherever we may assail It and what
ever may be the cost. II some
churches had coat of arms a shil-
llalah rampant would have promi-
nent place thereupon. We need to
quit "scrapping" and begin to fight
sin. For until We cease to belabor
each other, and besiege the strong
holds Of sin we shall be neither true
disciples Of Jesus nor credited among
the men who live in the busy world.
For we are called to warfare, and
the world knows the difference be-
tween q row. q sham battle and q
war.
Jesus was man Of optimistic fore
sight. He had confidence. He be-
leved what He preached He did not
discount sin or Its power. He was
never foolish enough to deny it's &C.
tuality and the grewsome evidences
Of Its activities. He was no pessimist.
He was not so unwise as are some
contemporaneous optimists. But He
did have confidence in the future, in
the efficacy of His truth, in the suf-
ficiency OF the God of ages. He was
unlike too many Christians who seem
to take delight in declaring the york
OF Transforming conditions that have
become intolerabls impossible and
hopeless. And II we are true disci-
pies of Him who never despaired We
shall have to cease to doubt the ca
pacity OF our truth or our Leader to
dissolve difficulties and to remove
mountains. We must be sanely hope
full.
A large outlook, catholic spirit, a
militant righteousness, an optimistic
foresight, upon the pattern out
wrought by Christ will rehabilitate
our forces and enthuse our member
ship and inspire our souls and reslr-
rect our hold as a church upon the
hearts OF men. And 1t Is high time
We had them.