Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-08-13

q God. He IS my Father ana your
Father" Some men there are who
find it easy to believe on their own
experience that God Is Father. Others
can believe only when the sun is
bright and the sea is calm. When I
the storm breaks their hearts faint
within them. But the multitude OF
lis men and women are glad that
Jesus is part Of our life. Our bright
est moments of assurance get their
light from Him; Our darkest mo- /
ments are not altogether black be
cause He is part Of life. It is by
faith In His experience, supported by !
His character, His sanity, His truth,I
His deeds that we keep faith in God.
Faith in the Elder Brother makes US
| His fellow children; keep faith In
the Father through storm and sun ]
shine.
When a man sees the cursed spot !
upon his soul can he remove It? "A
man." said Jesus, had two sehs."
One went into the far country and
| painted his soul black with loose and
unworthy deeds. When his money
was gone he felt his disgrace and
shame. He did not commit suicide;
he went straight home. No ooner
had he reached the road outside the
gate when he vas hailed and his
father ran to meet him. Whatever
the spot may be upon the soul II a
man will take his disgrace and shame
to God he will find in Him a Father.
So with social failure. Is the time
short that remains? Waste it not
in vain regrets over It. The past is
irreparable, but the future is still
ones own. "Come let is be going"
When a man dies shall he live
again? knowledge gives no better
answer than in the days of Aristotle.
What seems to be scientific proof,
when examined, turns out to be
simply mans hope expressed in scien-
tifc phrases. But man has trust
worthy evidence, not in the spiri-
tualistic sense. but in the inference
as to what. the other. world is like
from what we know OF this, in his
hopes and faith, In the testimony Of
his poets and prophets. And Of ell
such witnesses to life that desires to
be eternal stands Jesus. u Elder
Brother. Before the gate OF death
He stands and holds the key. It i4
sight Of Him, master Of life and
{ death, that strengthens u faith in
! immortality, quickens our hope for
! the dead and casts about life here and
there>the golden radiance which SUR
passes the sunset glow.
For all these experiences o. life, in
answer to all these deep Questionings.
faith in God as Father, in Jesus as
] Elder Brother is Sufficient.
In Korea the Christian Church has
learned to ask this faith OF its con.
= verts and no more When will the
church at home learn this much
l oo4I@l 1~er~~9 H1harn o~n r,,aefi~na
Z which this simple faith does not an
swer. Christianity no sooner had
: reached the educated Greek than the
questions came: What Is the relation
-Ebetween Jesus and God? How is the
!. Elder Brother related to the other
I brothers? What Is the true idea OF
: Incarnation and of atonement? Men
Lhave a right to ask these questions.
That right was won long ago by ORR.
gen, of Alexandria. But let It be
clearly understood that all such mat.
$ tiers of speculation, while legitimate
e are not the "fa1th once delivered
J. The faith once delivered is related te
n speculative faith, as it historically
/ has found expression IN the creeds
} and doctrines of the church, as thu
e tree is related to its leaves. Thu
a faith once delivered, trust in God a!
Father, in Jesus as Elder Brother Il
q the tree. The creeds and doctrines
are the leaves. From season to sea
IS son they must change as new lif'
l. pushes off old forms, because the tre'
e itself abides.
o. I wish I could persuade men VIII
7r to-day reject all creeds, and witt
a. them the faith, to see this distinction
between faith and creeds. It Is posi-
a BILE to reject the latter and live b
the former. I wish that I could per
suade men who identify faith an
creeds to make this distinction. ]
Is would do much to win the thinkin
world to the religion Of Jesus. It
a real distinction. The faith ono
er delivered existed many generation
at before the most venerable creeds (
C~hristendom were born. It will col
e. tinue to inspire and strengthen me
u wheG all our creeds shall have passe
us away. The faith is once for all d
livered.
. Subtlest thought shall fail and learnil
VI falter,
CO. Churches change, forms perish, syster
go;
GER But our human needs-they will not alte
led Christ no after age shall e'er outgrow.
~. a Yea, Amen! o, changeless One, Thou on
as Art LIES guide and spiritual goal,
Thou, the light across the dark vale lone
ard Thou, the eternal heaven Of the soul
sed
Giving is Getting.