Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-01-03

ourselves wholly within the class OF
the so-called ethnic faiths. In other
words some of us, too many of US in
fact, have become so broad that we
have become shallow, and so tolerant
that we have become vague, and so
good-nstured that we have become
Superficial. Too many have forgotten
that the heavens and the seas are
both wide and hospitable to all and
deep. Because shake the hand of a
Mohammedan and have respect for
his convictions and admire his SINGER
| ity and emphasize the points of agree
| ment that exist between his system
and my own is no sign that / relin.
quish in any sense or fashion my con-
victions as to the personality of Jesus
Christ or the finality of the gospel
that He preached. Because / 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 is no trlth so COM
prehensive, no salvation SO efficient,
no message so ultimate, universal or
exacting as that which is comprised
in the Christian scheme of 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 a 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 fighter.
He carried the warfare into the enc
mics country. He could turn His
back upon the representative of or
1ganized 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 &c
down to the warfare against wrong
wherever we may assail 1t and what
ever may be the cost. II some
churches had a coat of arms a shil-
llalah rampant would have a promi
nent place thereupon. We need tc
quit "scrapping" and begin to fight
sin. For until we cease to belabol
each other, and besiege the strong
holds of sin we shall be neither true
; disciples of Jesus nor credited amoni
the men who live in the busy world
For we are called to a warfare, ant
the world knows the difference be
tween a row, a sham battle and ,
wa.
Jesus was man of optimistic fore
: sight. He had confidence. He be
lieved what He preached He did no
: discount sin or it's power. He wa
: never foolish enough to deny its &C
tuality and the grewsome evidence
, of its activities. He was no pessimist
) He was not so unwise as are som
2 contemporaneous optimists. But H
[ did have confidence in the future, Il
the efficacy of His truth, in the SUI
I ficiency of the God of ages. He wa
3 unlike too many Christians who seen
: to take delight in declaring the worl
of Transforming conditions that hav
e become intolerable impossible an,
e hopeless. And IL we are true disci
q pies of Him who never despaired W
: shall have to cease to doubt the ca
:. pacity of our truth or our Leader I
v dissolve difficulties and to remov
s mountains. We must be sanely hope
full.
A large outlook, a catholic spirit,
n militant righteousness, an optimisti
: foresight, upon the pattern out
e wrought by Christ will rehabilitat
= our forces and enthuse our member
II ship and inspire our souls and res1l
?, rect our hold as a church upon tn
:. hearts of men. And it is high tim
e we had them.