The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-02
Ry WILLIAM TT FILLS

Religion is more than a code of
| rules for conduct. Hard and unat-
tractive would it be if this were not
so. Nobody can conform to minute
regulations, embracing all behavior.
Christianity instead of this, offers an
animating life-principle. 1t deals with
the very springs of being and offers
to men a new nature. New perform
ance is made possible by new power
This is ''the mystery of grace" The
imported life of Jesus Christ, dwelling
in the heart of the believer. enables
him to live as a new creature. I'm
consciously and spontaneously, he
conforms to the higher law which is
not written in codes and regulations,
but in the nature of the new life which
is in Jesus Christ.
Religion must first be an inner ex-
perience before it can be an outward
manifestation.
The seed of the Christian life is out
of sight, but it's fruits are for the
whole worlds beholding and use.
This high and difficult letter to the
Ephesians-(which was meant by the
writer to be read in the other cities
where he had established churches)-I
has one recurring theme-the mys-
teal union of the Christian believer
of mysticism than ever Buddhism
dares. 1t writes down Christianity as
essentially spiritual before it is prac-
teal. Disciples of this new Way are
expected to do more than join
church or accept a creed or follow
certain practices: they are to partake
of the very life of their Master, being
united to him in bonds closer and
more real than those of wedlock. No |
longer does the Christian live his own |
life; there is a mysterious and mex
plicable interflow of the very life of
the Redeemer through the whole nature |
of the disciple. Thus Paul cried, For |
to me to live is Christ" Again. he |
declared, "I have been crucified with |
Christ; and it is no longer I that live, |
but Christ liveth in me-"
I once heard Joseph Cook, intro
ducing General Booth to a Faneuil |
Hall audience, paraphrase the famous
saying of Daniel Webster, inscribed on
the huge painting in Faneuil Hall, so
that 1t was rendered-"Union with
Christ, Liberty from sin-one and in
now and forever"
Some mysticism scars so that 1t
loses touch with earth altogether. Not
so with Paul. His spirituality was in
Joined in the most practical
sense. The mysticism which he taught
was a mysticism which could stand
the test of the every day of life. Thus
in the same soaring letter we find
those practical admonitions to chill
L
masters.
Genuine spirituality is the deadliest
foe to all forms of immortality. One
cannot be spiritual and selfish; or
spiritual and ill-tempered; or spiritual
and censorious; or spiritual and sor-
did. It was in this spiritual epistle
that Paul warned Christians against
greed, which he linked with unchas-
tity and boldly characterized as idol
airy. Spirituality never lifts a person
above the ordinary human obliga-
tons, but 1t infuses into these a new
dignity and sacredness.
Any teaching concerning "the high
er life'' that makes a person neglect
full of the common courtesies. obIi-
cations and relationships of ordinary
life. is a pernicious heresy.
Spirituality" is no substitute for
1uty.
A Christian business man tells the
story of having once employed as a
secretary young woman from an in
erior town who was active and prom
nent in religious work. Her spiritual
ty was of the most. ecstatic and sub
mated order. 1t took precedence over
LII such trifles as correct typewriting,
,arefulness in correspondence and
aithfulness in office work. When he
vas absent from the office she would
1T by the hour at his desk reading
he Bible-heed1ess Of the fact that
he desk was very dusty and there f
we're many duties unperformed. When /
t length her employer told her that t
he and the position were evidently 7
lot suited for each other. she flew {
nto a passion such as the worldIiest
+ women would never have diSplay- 4