Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-10-09
.rp. FOR PRAcucABILITY.
Bv Rev. Howard r..

,,.-o-.,ore that heareth these sayings
- mine and doeth them not, shall be
,,,o,od INTO foolish man, which built
49, bonse upon the sand.-St. Matthew
vii e,
The christian religion is not mere
y philosophy. 1t is a divinely re
..lo5 nile of life. The church is not
university. 1t Is a technical school.
rho function of the preacher is to teach
v.,en how TO take the raw material or
1,fc and build it into character. The
.u.,pdpr Of the Christian church was
r,aat preacher. During His three years
ministry thousands hung upon His
words And yet, at the end He had
only about 1910 disciples. OF the many
wTn listened only these few were ac-
tdalIy learners.
N the Sermon on the Mount, Christ
lows down the great fundamental prin-
rnIes which should guide His follow
ers He closes by telling His hear
org that those who not only hear His
words but do them, are like a wise
man who built his house upon rock.
when "the rain descended and the
floods came and the winds blew and
heat upon that house, it stood. But
those VINO hear without attempting to
prarticp are like foolish man who
blilt his house upon the sand. When
the time of testing came, his house fell.
There are many such to-day. Men and
women whose religion is that of hear
ing only
There is story told of a certain
new farmland who was instructed by
his employer to feed his favorite horse
some corn ''in the ear" He was dis
covered some hours later endeayoring
to pour The grain into the ears Of the
unfortunate animal. We cannot get
any vital religion through the ears
only The truths Of Christianity must
he digcsted and made a part of our
very life before they can nourlsh us.
The only way to accomplish this is to
practice them.
Many Christians fall when tempta
tiur comes because they are only hear
Inc Christians. They go to church
regularly. They are familiar with the
tnues Of the particular religious body
to which they belong. but they have
lever practiced what they hear. THY
are like students at q technical school
who have listened to many lectures
about the general principles and tools
Of their trade, but have never actually
taken those tools in hand and expert
moutcd with them.
Jesus Christ was very practical.
Out Of The many who came to hear
Him. lie choose twelve who seemed
very much in earnest. These He made
practice religion. He took them with
Him on His preaching tours He
taught them to help others Later He
selected seventy more and gave them
likewise something to do. At the time
q His ascension there were about one
hundred and twenty such learners.
This is what He wants us all to be
learners In the school of practical re-
lgion. The man who thinks that hear
Jig the gospel preached makes him
Christian and will bring him saliva
ton has a bitter disappointment IN
store ST James says: BE We doors
of The Word and not hearers only, de-
ceY!ng Your own selves
Hearing is important as first step.
Faith cometh by hearing" Faith is
important as q foundation. But faith
without works is dead. One cannot
erect substantial building without
good foundation, but how bad it is to
see strong foundation with no super
structure built thereon. Such a sight
speaks Of failure of disappointed --opes.
many a man has been disappointed in
ms religion because his Christianity
mas consisted Of faith without works.
foundation without building. hear
ing without doing.
Let Us be practical. Do not be like
me man who built his house upon the
sane. Join the ranks of the real dis
'lpies Be learners. Handle the tools
III fonT religion. Practice the construc-
non ef character. Begin by putting
III least one principle Of Christianity to
use Do at least one kind act each day
Try 10 conquer some one fault. Go 70
some Christian leader and ask him
10 allow you to help in his work He
vi" give you an opportunity. And as
you become more familiar with the
ooIS Of your Christian profession God
Will set You harder tasks. and viii
give You at the same time greater JOY
!" Your religion. Your spiritual house
VIII oe founded upon a rock.
THE NEW FAITH AND THE OLD.
speak unto the children of Israel
'N"J they go forward. Eek. 14:lJ.
he first impression of any forward
movement is that it means a dissolu
'on Of all the things to which ore can
"'' Slowly dawns the truth that the
1'Il1 OF man was not mad, to tie 10
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