Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-03-04

Messiah, at. all. Divinity, they
claimed, could not be subject to hui
manity. Matter is. essentially evil.
All sin comes from the body. The
passion story is drama, not history.
Nothing is real but mind. They
called themselves advanced think
ers,". because they wanted Christian
ity to keep pace with the times and
infuse itself with the popular. Oriental
mysticism. Progress" was their
watchword. In reality says John, it
is retrogress, for they "go onward by
not abiding in the teaching of Christ"
The glamour we r inclined to
cast about the early church is not
justified. It's members had the same
failings as ours. It's vagaries are
strikingly duplicated now and here.
Theosophy, Free Thinking, Christian
Science flourished in Ephesus. *"The
teaching Of the Twelve Apostles" a
church manual probably written be-
fore John died, warns believers
against many who went into evangel-
ism for what they could make out of
it. It lays down this very practical
test of genuineness: IF he stays
more than two days he is false. If he
teaches the truth and doeth it not, he
is false. Whatsoever shall say in the
spirit. Give me silver or anything
else, We shall not listen to him. If he
tell you to give for others who are
In want, let no man Judge him
Let US apply this test or the pres
ent-day professed improvements. upon
the old faith: How much do, they
charge for their text books? What
Is the price of their treatment? Do
the poor have these substitute gospels
preached to them?
The central thought of this minia-
ture epistle is the same as in all of
Johns writings. love. Faith is loves
basis. When belief is false, love dis
appears. The disciple whom Jesus
loved was now a hundred years old.
Although his handwriting was trem-
ulous with age, he was still a Son of
Thunder. His conception of love was
not an invertebrate sentimentality,
but a discerning reasonableness. He
ever emphasized the need of an &C
tual. incarnate Christ on whom to
focus affection.
So he hurled his thunaers at who.
aver would emasculate the 1ove-re-
ligion and stirred Cyrfa to guard her
family against them.
J Shortly a~fterward, John is said to
have returned to Ephesus, SO weak
be needed to be carried to the Chris
tisn meeting place On young mems
shoulders. Unable to stand up an6
preach, Sunday after Sunday ht
spread his hands over the worshipers
using the same five-word sermon
Little children, love one another.
When asked why, he replied, BE
cause that is the command Of thu
Lord, and nothing al be done unless
this is DONE"
The word "Cyria" has still anothe
meaning. It is what relates to tn
Lord" and hence church." From i
comes the Scotch kirk" the Dutcl
"kerk" and the German "kirche.
Some think it should be so rendere
in this epistle, and that this lady /
the Ephesian Church personified, he
sister the church where John wa
holding services at the time, her Chi
dren the sorely tempted sEphesia
converts.
If so, the significance simply broad
: lens from the family home to tn
! church home. The lesson was an
remains appropriate to both. >Neithe
! at the house nor in the church do W
need a new theology, o addition,
3 commandments. In both places W
: need the Pentacostal spirit inspirin
= us with one accord to continue stea,
? ? fast in the temple; with gladness an
:. singleness Of heart breaking bread
: home;" in church, in the house,
!. the street constantly r%eiteratfn
: thoughtfully contemplating, logical
: applying the duplex commandment
) love. IS
: Such a widowed saint as I ha,
: imagined Cyria, when a boy I W;
privileged to know. Her time, to
: was spent in helping others. o.
[day she stopped me on the street al
!. said: my boy, do you rememb
- how Nero wished all the Romans b;
= one neck, that he might wiring /
: Well, / was just wishing that all t
= Christians of York had one neck, tn
y I might hug it." Her life. wheth
= ~WoTshiping at the temple or brea
y Ing bread at home, approved b
= words. :
What a warning is Johns .Look
n yourselves that We receive a full
= ward Religion is more than
= means for gaining heaven or escapi
hell. In neither place, any more tn
"a upon earth, are rewards and punis
= ments melted out with stupid and