The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-16

son for January II is, THE Beginning
OF the Christian Church. Acts
2:22-47.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
The magazines are featuring" res
ligien lately because the editors have
discovered that it is the deepest and
most widespread human interest. The
church is one of the big concerns of
the world: the welfare of the latter is
inextrieably bound UP with the eff
ficiency of the former. The increasing
recognition of this truth is in many
that the conception Of Christianity's
mission is gravely changing in our
times. The old notion was that the
world existed for the church; that it
somehow was the divine right of the
church to possess the world, and to be
served by it. Now everybody admits
that the business of the church is to
serve the world. A social conception OF
religion has taken hold of the leaders
of our day. We now perceive that
Christianity best fulfills its mission
when it does the most service for man
kind, in all its aspects.
The magnificent audacity of the
church in her beginning is thrilling.
No sooner did she receive her creden-
tails than she threw out daring chal-
lenge and invitation to the world. I'M
mediately she began to have business
with humanity. Not only was the early
a world-serving church.
A Man Made Over.
All the books that have ever been
written against Christianity cannot ex-
plain or overcome the miracle of a
transformed life look at my friend,
a ciear-eyed, prosperous, respected
member Of the community, and de-
vout and efficient elder in the church;
I recall that a few years ago he was
tough" a low-down, drunken corner
inn
courts than with the church. And L
know that he is an obstacle which Vol
taire and Paine and Renan and Inger-
soil cannot get over.
So at this dramatic scene on the Day
of Fentecost, the outstanding person.
atty was a transformed man, Peter
the preacher, who few days before
had been as timorous as creeping
muskrat. Peter. who at the time OF
Christ's arrest was scared by a ser
want girls word, Is now pointing his
finger at this multitude and calling
them murderersl Before we can ex-
plain away this birthday of the church,
we must explain away Peter, man
made over in the new. The final argu-
ment for Christianity is a regenerated
man.
Here at the beginning of the story we
find the characteristic which may be
traced throughout the pages of the mar
rative: the Book of Acts is the book OF
boldness. A pursuit of that Word
throughout this history of Iuke's VIII
make an interesting Bible study for an
prayer meeting. All the old fear which
had hitherto haunted the disciples be-
came as a discarded garment at Pente-
cost Thenceforth, with free utterance
and sublime fearleSSneSS. the churCh
bore witness to her Lord and against
his enemies. So to this day the church
which is not a brave church Is not
worth the salt necessary to preserve 1t.
A trucking, boot-hcdng, time-serVins
hoe
SAVIOR of Pentecost and the apostoAc
type
when the Preachers shake Things.
The newspapers told the other day
how the government of New York CITY
had closed up more than 500 moving pic
ture shows because committee OF
clergymen had represented many or
them to be immoral and unsafe mat
incident is being repeated, in some De
gree, in many of the principal cities OF
the continent. There is no power 10
equal that of the preacher when he
speaks sanely and truly upon vital
themes of life and conduct. Peter
preaching on the Day of Penteeost
shook the multitude even as they had
not been shaken by the mighty, rush
Close to life was Peters mighty ser
mon, but it is to be remembered Dy
all who try to get their message, as
we'll as their Illustrations and appll-
cations out of the newspapers, that TINS
was an expository sermon. 1t told
what the Bible said. Searching the
Scriptures for the truth that would fit
the occasion. the preacher pressed 1t
hard and close upon the minds of his
hearers There is no substitute for
working mastery of the Bible. No Sun
day school teacher can prepare les
son by Swimming over a few helps"
there must be a reservoir OF knowledge
of what the Bible teaches. Then the
word in season" may be spoken.
The editor of a nationally famous
remarked the other day,
The reason I don't go to church, and
other men don't go to church, is that
the average preacher has nothing to
saw worth hearing. But take a man
like Dr.. Blank: he has something to
say, and he never has any trouble
about getting a congregation" That
statement was too sweeping, yet 1t
serves to stress the truth that the
Apostolic church was church with
clear and unmistakable message, aim
ed directly at the lives of men. 1t was
a fresh message, too. adapted to the
times. and the eternal contemporaries
business of the Gospel makes tins al
ways possible.
A Church'S Treasure.
What makes a sermon different from
a speech? Why is an ethical culture
meeting not like a church service?
What has the church better to offer