The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-05-20
A BLOW AT BIGOTRY
International Bible Lesson for
May 20, 'oo-(Acts IS: 1850.

the book are chiefly occupied with the
story OF the rise and progress OF Chris.
tianity from the heart Of Judaism to
a place In the capital OF the world At
first II seems to be only one form OF
Judaism. It's founder was a Jew, his
disciples were Jews and the new doc
trines we're preached at first exclusive
ly to Jews. But when we reach the
end of the book we find that the new
faith has burst its early limitations.
Gentiles everywhere have been gather.
ed into the fold, and instead OF look
ing upon a phase OF Jewish religion,
we behold a faith adapted to all man
kind.
6hlpwreck Avoided.
But in order to bring about that re.
suit the church had to pass through
ers on lee shore, only escaping an
awful shipwreck through the able sea-
manship OF those who were in control
OF affairs. The trouble Game because
of the narrow bigotry OF the Jewish
converts. When the Gentiles began
to apply for admission to church men,
bership they insisted that they must
conform to the Mosaic law and OBJ
serve the customs Of the Jewish
church or they could not be saved.
One of the hardest lessons for men to
learn is to unlearn and act contrary
TO early impressions and convictions.
They become so much a part of our
mental and spiritual structure that it
seems like tearing down a part OF
ourselves to break away from these
ideas. Therefore those Jewish con.
rerts. though acknowledging that the
Mosaic yoke was one which neither
their fathers nor they were able to
bear, yet inconsistently insisted on
putting 1t upon the necks Of the Cen
tile disciples. When they saw other
people rejoicing in the liberty where
with Christ had set them free, they
picked up that ancient yoke, and said,
You must bear this as we do"
Against such a pernicious doctrine
Paul protested with all his might, and
he was supported by some of the lead
ers who had had their eyes opened to
the truth. In consequence the first
church council was held at Jerusalem
and it was unanimously decided that
the work OF the old dispensation had
been finished; that Christ was the
end of the law for righteousness to
every one that believeth. and thus
with their own hands these converted
Jews steered the ship of christianity
out of the breakers never to be in dan.
gee Of shipwreck at that point.
Caterpillar VS.. Butterfly.
That was the death blow of bigotry,
and yet the old veteran was not slain.
through all the ages he has been able
TO get In more or less OF his work The
remains of that narrow, self-righteous,
exclusiveness bothered the church for
generations. Paul wrote whole
epistle. Galations, to show that there
was no salvation by the works OF the
law, and that Christian believers were
under no obligations 20 it in any par
ucular. AS well might new born
butterfly carry around with 1t it's old
caterpillar existence, and attempt to
4
Jewish Christians from force Of habit
and because of affectionate veneration
for the past. for long time dragged
along their Jewish customs. But as
time wore ON they dropped them one
by one, and came to Paul's standard
which he describes las not having the
righteousness which is of the law, but
that which is through the faith OF
Christ" The butterfly does not de-
nounce. and condemn the caterpillar.
The Gentle Christians did not de.
nonnce Judaism. they simply had no
use for 1t. They were living in new
dispensation. they were worshipping
living redeemer, they had got be-
yond the alphabet, they saw no par
tcular need Of venerating the scaf-
folding when they had the building It,
self, they did not make the mistake
OF putting new wine into old bottles,
or sewing on new patches to an old
garment. They had new wine, and
new garments. and new promises, and
new priesthood, their Master had de- |
elared. Behold / make all things new.
Tyrant's Bedstead.
1t Is said of an ancient tyrant that |
he had an iron bedstead which he |
fitted to every one of his victims by |
the simple expedient of saving off the |
long and stretching out the short to |
bring them into the proper length.
There is the spirit of bigotry sym.
bolized. Get some peculiar idea in /
your head and then insist on stretch.
ing out or saving off everybody to fit |
that notion. 1t matters not what II Is.
1t may be a mode Of baptism, II may
be the observance Of day, 1t may be
statement Of theology, It may be
ci I'm Of infallibllity, it may be form
OF ordination. All 1t needs Is fanati.
cism enough to insist that a certain
thing Is essential to salvation and you
have got bigot, full-nedged and con.
troversial on your hands. The old
colored Baptist preacher could find
hr /