Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-11
CHURCH PROBLEMS OLD AND
NEW.
The international Sunday School Les
sen fori February IA is, "The Apos-
ties Imprisoned" Acts 5: 17-42.
By William T. Ellis.

|
Times have changed since the apos-
ties went to Jail for naming the Name.
| So have the problems of Christianity.
In that earlier day the problems of re-
EIigion were chiefly from without. They
arose from the hostility of the big
world. Men suspected and feared
this new religion. They hated the
gentle Christians often for their very
goodness. Frequently jealousy was
the animus of their opposition and per-
secutio as in the instance that Is be-
ing studied this week by the Sunday
schools All this outward opposition
but served to solidify the body of be-
levers. and to intensity their faith IN
their Gospel.
Now. the church's problems chiefly
due to her own wealth and social
standing and widespread power, and
self-complacency. The Christians Of
subtler and more diff cult foes than
the raging, jealous Pharisees who
threw the apostles into Jail shortly
after Pentecost.
Evidently, problems of some kind
must engage the vigilance and faith
and courage cf the church to the end
of the chapter. Perhaps it Is a tribute
to her advanced powers that these
more delicate and difficult foes should
beset her in the latter days, rather
than the simpler and more primitive
ones that harried the apostolic church.
Who Was Scared7
once saw a Dowieite preaching
upon q street corner, in defiance Of dt-
rect instructions from the police au-
thorities, and he was constantly look,
ing over his shoulder for the expected
policeman. Do you suppose that that
is the way the apostles spoke, fur
lively glancing around every moment
: to see if someone was coming to ar
rest them? Were they scared by their
own temerity as well as by the pros
pect Of added punishment? Assuredly
not. Probably they gave no further
thought to the, authorities, so en-
crossed were they In delivering to the
ever-eager crowds the message Of
Life.
The frightened ones were those
, high officials and administrators of the
law. They did not send to arrest the
apostles, but their specific Instructions
to the police were that it was to be
done quietly and without any violence
! for the authorities themselves were
afraid of the free people. Populaces
, have way occasionally Of rising ur
, in vigorous championship of truth and
free speech. Subsequent to the inter
;, view with the arrested men, there is
!. tentativeness and fearfulness dis
, cernible in the attitude of the authori
: ties. Does this sound like whimper:
"You have, actually flooded Jerusalem
! with your teaching, and are wishing
+ to make us responsible for the deatt
of this Man?
= In contrast, note the almost belli
. cose attitude of the apostles, as they
= hurled back the unequivocal reply
), with it's attached charge: 1--WE must
6 obey God rather than men. The Goo
: of our ancestors has raised Jesus from
q the grave, whom you yourselves put
: to death by hanging him on cross
!, 1t was a grim fashion of the perse
e cuted apostles to throw repeatedly
= into the teeth of their accusers tn.
: charge that they were the murderer;
), of the Messiah. That was not an &C
9 ton of timorous men. 1t was possible
: of course, for the authorities to pu
the Christians into Jail; but in Jail q
+ out, the latter had in their hearts :;
:, peace and a liberty to which these &c
q clesiastical potentates were utterl.
F. strangers.
h Some Angry Judges.
d Sometimes truth breaks hearts, O.
:, softens them; but sometimes it onl,
;. hardens the heartE Of the hateful. Thu
nod .,p L,o Il,
:. the words of Peter. They wanted t.
o put him to death, as illegally as the.
had few years before put to dealt
his Master.
$ Among them was wise man, Doc
n tor Gamaliel, who applied a test am
l. uttered a warning that are universally
l. true. He said: Let them alone
s for if these designs and these proceed
n ings are only of human origin, the
S will come to an end; but If they are O
J. divine origin. you will be powerless +
end them" That test Christianity 10
stood. The Sanhedrin was powerles
IS to arrest the growth Of the littl
4 church. So was mighty Rome. S
u was all heathendom. So was all infide
a learning So were the powers of DARK
ness themselves.
Inc warning "nlCn GaUlallel au0e
babe them beware lest they find then
! selves fighting God. So long as i
n any cause or under any banner ma
- fights on Gods side, he can be happ,
y peaceful and successful. The minut
he finds himself in his heart or in ope
:, = conflict, arrayed against God, the
=. misery and failure are certain to ell
sue.
Arrogantly and unwarrantably fol
. ging the disciples, the council grud!
). ingly discharged them, because the
10 were afraid to do otherwise. TIL
apostles left the council chamber, sor
u but satisfied, needless Of the foggin
+ and rejoicing that they had the homo
to be disgraced in support of til
n Cause. Without regard to the imp
<. tent commands of the ruler
u they continued to fulfill the
d. great life ambition, as the narrati,
runs: Never for single day, eithe
IL in the Temple or in private house
r. did they discontinue teaching or tel