The Washington herald., 1907-07-29
INTOLERANCE Not Christlike.

Editor The Washington Herald:
One of the saddest features which con
fronts the student Of the history Of Chris
tianity is the spirit Of intolerance so fire.
quentiy manifested by the professed fol-
lowers Of Jesus Christ toward those who
differ with them. A few instances in
Christ's life are indicative of His attitude
toward those who were in the wrong and
Of those who refused 10 believe in OF fol-
low Him.
Scribes and Pharisees bring to Christ
woman against whom the evidence of
guilt was so clear IL could not be contro-
yerted John. yiii:D. Moses, in the law,
commanded US that she should be stoned.
but what sayest thou?'' Apparently ig-
noring their question, He stopped down
and wrote with His finger in the sand
not the wOmans condemnation. but the
sins OF her aceusers. As the oldest, per
haps a gray-haired libeTtine, saw the rec
ord of his life in the sand, saw that Christ
knew ne had much to do with the wom-
ans downfall, with a convicted conscience
he went out; and so on down to the
youngest. They were all equally guilty
with the woman. When Christ arose, He
was alone with her-guilt In the presence
Of matchless purity. " Woman.
hath no man condemned thee2 No man,
LORD Neither co I condemn thee go.
and sin no more" And she went away
with her sins forgiven. a transformed
woman, the peace Of God in her heart. and
her wOmanly heritage, purity. again SOW
ereign in her life. Sin had been written
in the sand. to be erased later by the
wash Of the waves or the blowing OF the
wind teaching a lesson Of hope to all
who have Sinned, and also that sin is not
to remain forever in Gods universe. The
law which reveals and condemns sin was
written on the rock, evidence Of the eter-
nal nature Of righteousness. Should the
cause of the downfall of many a poor
OUtcast-in our time be written by the
same finger. perhaps many a man now
hOnored by society, or even by the church.
would be unable 10 face the record, but
turn from il with a convicted conscieS2e,
as did the scribes and Pharisees in
Chrst's time. Let us nope they went out
to repent and reform, and not to lay
snares to catch the feet Of some innocent,
dragging her down to ruin.
Jesus travels toward Jerusalem and on
maritans. between whom and the Jews
there existed bitter rivalry and hatred
When the Samaritans saw that His face
was turned toward Jerusalem, they re-
fused to receiver Him. This incensed
James and John, who said. Lord. wilt
thou that we command fire TO come down
from heaven and consume them?" But
He turned and rebuked them, and said.
Ye know not what manner Of spirit We
are of. For the Son of man came not to
destroy mems lives but to save them
Luke, iX:5i. How different would be the
record Of Christianity had all its adher-
ents imbibed this spirit No word of CEN
sure to those who rejected Him, no desire
TO prosecute or destroy any. He recog-
nized and taught the eternal truth. that
to God alone is man responsible for his
faith for his religion. If any man hear
My word. and believe not, 7 judge him
not theiword that have spoken.
the same shall judge him in the last day"
John. xii:47
In the closing hours Of Christs life oc-
CURED an incident which again revealed
the spirit of the Nazarene. which again
rebuked physical force in matter reIi-
gious. Judas had betrayed Jesus; Roman
soldiers laid hands on Him. and took
Him. Enraged at this insult to the cause