The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-22

|
Did Jesus Have n Social Messnge.
| Ii 80. what was il? This Is the ques-
ton which is interesting very large
| number OF people today, who are trying
10 do something for the uplifting OF hu-
manity. During the past few years
vast amount OF literature has been pro-
duced upon this important theme ana
much OF il Is thoughtful and interest,"
| ing. have read and studied SOM "a
| II, but / make no claim TO ptolcso',D"' .
1 ism. | am not even an amateur ohiy
| novice picking up few pebbies Oh, Tue
| shore OF the vast eternity OF truth
Among the books l have reau arr :
Prof. Rausehenbushs Cnrishtiadn,ts .: aau
sus Christ and the Social Problem
Smaller Mathews essay on Inc Soc va
Teachings of Jesus; Or: Brown a..
! lectures on THE Social Message or tne
| Pulpit" DR.. Washington Giadden
| THE Church and Modern Lie, .,,,'.
Harnak's What liz Christianity i,'e
| Socialism OF Jesus" DIR. Cars masazihe,
''The Christian Socialist" and, last pul
| by no means least, the four GospeIs ny
Matthew, Mark. Luke and john fron,
these sources i have 5athtl'u 80, -
valuable knowledge and. IN my discus
! sion YOU will observe that I have drawn
freely from these authors ! opserNe
that in all this literature there are
many divergent opinions; no Two
exactly agree. Men diner as wiueis
those who write on Materia Medlca SUP
iects. When doctors disagree, VINO
shall decide?
I shall first proceed I'm the discussion
OF this subject by giving you the NleW =
OF two extremists who represent cer'ai"
classes among us. a..
10 The man who denies i'll toto the
fact that Jesus had social messsse W
offer His claim IS that he TOOK no III :
terest In social conditions. that Ills
teaching was purely and simply re-
ngious; that while He did take per
sonal interest In the poor, ,ne uis
tressed the sick. the down-troduen, ths
miserable IL was that He might ASSIST
them in getting ready for heaven ahu
TO escape hell. His program was
Each man must look out. for MS own
soul; he must fit II for the skies 90
he sings with much enthusiasm:
"A charge to keep L nave
A God to Rlorify,
A never-dy!ng soul TO save
And ut 1t for the skies.
He seems To forget the other verse
ITO serve the present age,
Ny calling TO fulhll,
O. may il all my powers engage
To do my Masters VIII.
This class earnestly maintains that
our Lord neither taught nor practiced
/, anything that could be interpreted 10
mean socialism. That His mission to
this world was primarily to increase
the census of heaven. He taught, they
saw that this world was winderness
through which all mankind must pass
as pilgrims on their way 70 the heaven
~ Canaan. And no earlier than the
twentieth century. In the year OF our
Lord 1905, the principal campaign song
of n group OF evangcltsts who are mold
ing meetings In the largest centers In
this country is:
81 am stranger mere. Withln 1orclSh
land.
NV home Is far away. upon a golden
strand.
Ambassador TO be OF realms beyond
I'm here on business for my king"
MY home is brighter far than Sharon's
Eternal life and Joy throughout It's vast
domain.
My Sovereign binds me tell how NOR
tails there may DWELL.
And that's my business for my king.
THIS class OF people believe that
Jesus taught that this life is proba =
ton. the purpose of which is 10 prepare
man for death. that the discipline or
life is to wean him from the follies OF
time and sense and 10 get him ready
for the white robes OF the celestial city.
This class OF extremists believe also
Il at Jesus taught that, If we are truly
spiritually minded. we shall have only
very limited and somewhat question
able interest in the things Of this world.
such as art and science and invention,
in the progress OF civilization; In poll,
tics and social reforms. In business and
recreation, because these things are or
the earth earthly.
Christ's Teachings Misunderstood.
do not want you TO infer that L be-
lieve that all who do not accept the So
cial teachings of Jesus have this mar,
ork, for, as DIR. Josiah Strong says,
Many "a mans common sense would
save him from this logic" but L still
maintain that this conception OF the
Ma ~ fnfa lOHicallN follows
misrepresentation OF his social teach
ings. ,,,,,,-,
ihis Extreme Is class las Far be It
for me to underrate the value
OF this Christian classic. 1t had
a living message for the people , 2f
nineteenth century. such motives ns
are set forth In this great work do not
move the intelligent people of this day
and age. We are slowly waxing UP TO
the fact that Christ taught that the
supreme object OF living Is not. as one
puts it, to try to escape from the city
OF Destruction aud gain as soon as pos
sible tho Celestial city, hut the supreme
object OF the Christ-tauXht and christ
filled man IL to remain in the City OF
Destruction and do his Utmost To save
II for God and humanity. christ taught
the world to pray. Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done. In earth as II ia I'm
heaven
(2) We VIII next taxi up the views
OF the opposite extremist. lie main
tains that Jesus was trst and foremost
"a social refOrmer. His object in comm <
into this world was to lift up the lower
classes OF Ills time from the wretched
condition into which they had fallen
In proclaitning the Kingdom OF God he
was only hcralding social program
and this social program contemplated
the equality of all men, relief from eco
nomiCal distress and deliverance from
misery and oppression Of all kinds
growing out OF the selfish relations OF
mankind. | quote the language OF a
weIl-known Socialist: stripped OF ira
ditional theological interpretations.
which have only served TO OBJ
J scure its meaning. the gospel
/ OF Jesus was simply n working
mans movement In uis tiwr Jesus
/ was quite like the modern labor aEi-
I tstor. attacking on tuN orc hand the
tcNistii * government. AID cu the e. hei
lbsnd tic ricil Being Himself work
ingmau and having for mis- companion,
/ only mer of what IL called the pruls,
tariat the burden of tits preachihr
wss. Woe unto you chat are rlcn