Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-21
EVERY IDLE WORD

Judgment, for by thy words taON shalt be Jus
titled. and by thy words thou SHALT be con-
demned." Matt, 1873 81.
Some time must consider Tor me
benefit OF fellow Christians what the Bible
has TO say respecting the Day OF Judgment
For the present suffice ourselves with the
general explanation that this term Day OF
Judgment" has been seriously misconst rued ty
theologians ara by the public. II mas neon
Used out Of harmony with the ScriptrraI uSaS-'
1t has been used out OF harmony Win reason.
able loglcSl deductions. The term Day OF
Judgment is generally understood &c mean
day OF sentence or Gay OF dcCm- IN tact'
Doomsday Is frequently used as a synonym
without the slightest wsrrsnt. Inc term
DAY Of Judgment signifies the day OF rlaI
or testing; as in our text we read thar 'nen
shall give an account in the Day OF JuusIne en-
for every IDLE word. The prCYcr Thought on
, the subject of Judgment from the bible sunni
point is this: God created our ilrst paIeh,,s
innocent, perfect, and placed item on trial.
Their day Of Judgment was ia Eden ioN
long II would have lasted had they remnihe,I
faithful to God We IRE nos informed, put as
soon as they had disobeyed tic Divine con-
mand their LAY Of trial or Judgment was
epded. and ths sentence Dying; 'hou . sna,
or trial OF Adam over, and since all u
his Dcsterity share his imperfecTIons AMI arc
cqually unworthy Of life on that account, there.
die" rests upon every memter OF the rae.
Just us though each individual had ceen IN
trial in Eden and had lost in the trial, Win
Father Adam. This matter st. Paul clearly
cnunciates, saying, by one mans dlsoOediencs'
sin entered into tie world and death as the
result Of sin. Thus death passed upon all NELL
because all are sinners. Rom, 5;i2
This being true, how comes II that there is
any mention made in the Scriptures OF an"ther
judgment day. If all mankind ALREADY are
judged unworthy Of eternal life and worthy
Of the death everlasting, why should there be
eny further judgment ne Bible answss 20
reference &c a future Judgment day had IL not
Teen that God had provided a Redecmer, Christ
Jesus by whose merit the first penalty against
| nur Adam eventually
rogated, set aside. IL consequence or the set-
ting aside of the first sentence OF death, q
second trial Judgment will be Qnened ="
every n emt or Of the race. The first trial or
Judgment Of enc nan Adam, Tor all OF
his race. :" 'ond tri or Judgment cured
by the Redeemer, will treat Adam and all on
his race individually. granting them each an
individual or personal trial; hence. unlike the
first trial in Eden, which was OF one man
and for the race. This second trial has not
yet been provided for our race, except In the
sense that II has been prepaid for and prom
ised-"God hath appointed day IN which nc
will Judge the world In righteousness" mat
day viii be the MilleEnial dsy-a thousand
years in length. 1t will be the worlds trial
day or time of individual testing.
Whoever OF the world comes TO a knowledge
Of the fact that God has provided such III
tlre trial. such a future Opportunity OF obtain
ing eternal life, is notice at once ~
ery intelligent act Of his in the present nfc
will have a hearing upon his prospect for etcr-
nal life in the future. II now he uses wisely
the opportunities Of the present life he may
upbuld for himself a measure OF character,
sclf-control etc which will prepare him Tor
more honorable place during inc MiIlenniai
Kingdom and make his progress there the more
rapid and the more easy. Or, OF the contrary.
by degrading himself in the present life No
may undermine his character and, during the
Millennlal Day OF Judgment (trial) find aim
self so much lower in the human scale nnd
have so much further to advance out OF sin
and death conditions into the cndition OF per-
lection and everlasting life.
The church has her judgment day in the
present life during this Gospel Age All con-
are now on trial for everlasting life for ever
lasting death new creatures In Christ
Jesus" II such do not comply with the con-
dltions Of their conservation, but draw oack
to sin, their trial will be in one sense nsel''ss
and the sentence Of utter destruction will rest
upon them-''the second death"
IDLE WORDS-PERNIC1OUS WORDS.
The context shows that our Lord In our text
addressed. not his disciples, but the worldly,
the Pharisecs Doubtless the same principle ap-
plies to tho church. Every idle or pernicious
word OF ours has its weight, has its influence
with ourselves and with others. Those who are
rightly Informed respecting the Lords will In
such matters. the Lords consecrated people,
have great responsibility responsibility OF
what effect their words and influence have upon
others. Our words. whether written or spoken,
exercise an influence upon the minds and
thought Of others. frequently they 80 from one
to another and thus, II pernicious, evil Is spread
far and near and the word once uttered cannot
be recalled. Some one has wisely said that
Error can get around the world while Truth is
derous world o. the power Of an inslnuation!
Yea. OF a shrug Of the shoulders! Who
does not know III VINO is unaware OF me tae d
alas. the practice also Of many OF Gods people
protesting Christians! The bitter word Of
sarcasm or iDsinuation is shot out often I'M
thinkingly but the terrible poison goes from
heart to heart and fresh roots OF bitterness are
scattered abroad. which a lifetime Of holy living
On the contrary. what a power the tongue has
for good, using the word tongue In Its broad
sense representing not only the words spoken,
t,,,T fha q
tration: What speaker or writer has ever done
more to help poor humanity than the Prophet
Truly. as Solomon has said, "A word fifty
spoken is like apples Of gold in pictures OF
silver" prov. 25:11.D AS for the church, the
Lord has indeed agreed that he will not judge
the church according to their words and to their
deeds entirely but according to their spirit.
their intention. their will. their energy, their
zeal for Him and His Truth. Nevertheless he
assures the church that out Of the abundance OF
the heart the mouth will speak and that the. they
hearts right-full OF love for God. for the
brethren. for mankind. for their enemies, they
and kindness in words as well as in deeds. Tie
good heart out OF its good treasure will shower
tlessings-fruits and flowers OF refreshment and
Kindness. while the evil heart Will send forth
bitter words poisoned arrows, INJURIOUS to all
with whom they come in contact.
uaiiy stirring up strife and wounding his friends
rhould promptly make an examination Of his
Deart to ascertain the trouble there. He should
heart that is not full OF goodness, kindness,
generosity, love, will likely not control the
tongue properly. We must reach the place
where not only do not will TO do harm TO
our neighborS, but where sincerely wish TO
do them good. Then that good heart out Of its
treasure Of goodness, will speak words of kind
ness. of love. From such the bitter and unkind
and injurious words will rarely proceed. because
they do not stand related with their good
thoughts. good intentions. good wishes.
MEN SHALL GIVE AN ACCOUNT.
But now, considering the words OF out text
as applicable to the Millennium. how will
the world render it's account in the future
rcsecting the words Of the present life7 Not
surely in line with the teachings Of the dark
world could be ranged in line and each indi-
vidual remember each pernicious word and
evil act and give account Of the same to
the Great Judge? Quite different will the
reality be. The Judgment Day will be the
thousand-year period of the Millennium. and
the account Of every evil act. and of every
sinful deed and Of every pernicious word will
be recorded in the individuals own character,
Just as a towel bears the mark Of every un-
clean wash dried upon Ii. In other words.
the wrongdoer not only Injuries others. but
specially injuries and marks himself by the
wrong he has practiced in evil speaking ana
evil-doing. and the more deeply has he mark
ed his character accordingly. II is in line
with this that the Scriptures assure us that
I'm the resurrection time many will come
forth 10 shame and lasting contempt II is
a time in which characters will be shown up.
How terribly ashamed some will be Of their
able indeed-some who rank fairly high
amongst men. will then be in truer col