The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-09-13
N THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
What Church Folk Are Think
ing Abont and Doing
IRVING TO TRAP A TEACHER.
rha International Sunday School Les
son for September 18 is Three
otcstj0ns' Matt. 22:15-46.
& (By William T. EiLiS.)

Nv the police in an endeavOr to extOft
ovidence, or a confession of guilt, has
boan the subject Of much controversy.
y is no modern device, being really
hut . modification of the ancient prac-
70. of trial by torture. The insincer-
Nv and cruelty Of it had an illustration
~ the case of Jesus. The big men Of
hic time were bounding him to death.
Thay were determined to trip him UP
in his speech and to put an evil con-
ctrrctiOn upon his words, so that they
might have a semblance of evidence
against him
"a conspiracy was entered into be-
tween w opposing parties, the Phari-
sees. who were bitterly anti-ROman,
and the HerOdians, who truckled to
Rome. That "politics make strange
hndfpllCWs," is no new observation.
They sent students, aVowed K
aft,r knowledge, hoping thereby 20
catch Jesus off his guard by the
Dlaus biIity of their questions. Doubt
less all the parties to this petty plot
tb0ught themselves the servants Of
the cause of organized religion: for
from the beginning until now l'"dors
of religious institutions have StODTed
to unhOIy means to reach what they
regard as holy ends. Somehow the
passion for truth, which is the bright
est torch lighted at the altar of God,
FLOWS I'LL oIid LIZ nv oi11ohy
in the close atmosphere OF institution
allied Christianity, and the zeal pro
rhnt. are too often found outside the
Churches.
Our GuiIefuI Generation.
The controversy was as between
guile and simple simplicity. Somehow
it seems to be the tendency Of q highly
organized society to depart from sim
plicity and direccness. Guile and So
phisticati1n are Fashionable failings.
C0nside~-if the unlOve,," spectacle
may be contemplated for 4 moment
all the white lies" that Ia been
told this week in society. imagine the
sage not at home" to UnwelcOme
guests; the a~cquaintances who, face
to face. have been so glad to see
you" when they were inWardly am
noyed at the meeting; the guests who
have told hostesses they "have had
such q lovely time" whereas the fUnc-
ton has been an ordeal.
But stay; let us get on the safer and
more comfortable ground of the obi
Gus insincerity of hos prOfessed seek
erS after light who came to Jesus
with subtle and dishonest questions:
forgetting that God desires truth in
the inward parts, and that all false
hood is a reputation of the God OF
truth. There is no sight among men
10A1 u ia liz i doC|l "AISA
truth: and none more disheartening
than wisdom and knowledge being
used to buttress an unhOly or insincere
position.
Some ~Hypocrites and a Question.
These questiOners, confident that
they could impale Jesus on one horn
OF the dilemma or the other, asked,
us it lawful to give tribute unto Cae-
sar or not? - If he said yes, the Jewish
patriot party would be about his ears:
II he said no, Rome and its adherents
would have to be reckOned with. The
Teacher, unperpleXed n unafraid,
pierced through the question to the
spirit Of the false and flattering Ques-
toners. Y hypocrites!" No gentle
speech that, for craft and guileful-
ness and dishonesty on the part Of
religious teachers are not to be dealt
with tenderly, as one deals with the
sinful and the ignorant. God pity
the Church that forgets how to be pa
tent with the erring weak and i'm
patient with her own deliberately
erring leaders.
The question itself. was easily and
strlkIngly answered by the clear
judgment Of Jesus. He called for a
piece of tribute money, bearing the
image and name Of the reigning en-
perof. Their very use Of the coln
shoWod that they were under Obliga-
uon to the civil government for cur
lehcE' for law and order, for high
Ways, and multitudinous c~onvenienCeSt
Render therefore unto Caesar the
,hlh8S that are Ceasar's." Of course
mere are earthly Royalties and Obliga-
IONS A man is a poor citizen Of the
h"Sdom OF heaven who is not also 9
900 citizen of his own country. Pa
u1otiSn is a religious duty. Christian
siuHenS nave ever been the best citi-
~enS' as many a bloody page Of history
agcordS. The existence of bad gov
eminent is a reflection upon the fdel-
~ OF Christian citizenship.
AS coins are stamped, so are souls
me human spirit bears the image ani
aoptrScrlptiOn of God. Therefore rem
e. ~ unto God the things that ara
tIboD5' The life belongs to the Lord
neart was made in his Likeness
bH II only finds it's full mission ir
in@ o service, Whosoever is not yield.