The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-08
The Danvlle Methodists on the
Christlike Spirit and Kind Word

CThe Christian Advocate will print the fol-
lowing In Its current issue.)
The editor of the Advocate made 1t prin.
cipie of action many Years ago to endeavor to
find out where the truth lies, to determine with
care when the interests of Gods kingdom
Qulre that the truth shall be declared, and then
to declare it without regard to the personal
criticism abuse that might follow, and with
out being swerved from the path by an utterly
lopsided and murky view OF the meaning OF the
great doctrine OF Christian love.
Many speakers and writer's, IL they express
their real sentiments: have very partial I'M
Outstanding of the character of Jesus and his
work on earth. They picture him all gem
tleness and meekness, and they talk of the
! Christ-like spirit IL 1t meant that one could
never be Christ-like IL he became indignant,
If he denounced sin. II he strongly and forcibiy
described sinful conduct and the true character
OF those who practice evil.
But that picture OF the Master is fatally de-
fective, which forgets that he stood in the tenn
pie with scourge of small cords. driving out
the profane and covetous. who were defiling
the sacred place for gain. which forgets that
/ ne declared to these men, I'VE have made II d
den of thieves; which forgets that he stood
In the temple facing the angry Pharisees, who
/ sought to destroy his influence with the peo-
pie, and told them, not with gentleness but with
and the lusts of your father ye will do. He
was murderer from the beginning for
he is "a liar and the father Of it." Where Is
the genteness Of this language? What would
some OF our lovers of peace at all hazards have
said had they been there?
What man who knows his Bible has not pic
{
he went to the cross to die because he loved
sinners and wanted to them He stood
IN the temple courts. surrounded by the multi
tude and his disciples whom he teaching.
The Pharisees and scrihes. with hearts full of
hate and rage, determined to kill him. tried
their best to discredit him before the people
by puzzling questions. He stood alone, and met
their delegations one after one. and drove them.
beaten. from the arena, and then. looking them
in tina face before the assembled multitude, he
uttered the most scathing philippe that was
ever pronounced. He likened them to whited
sepulchre full of dead mems bones and all I'M
/ cleanness. He said I'VE serpents. We genera
uon OF Vlpers, how can We. escape the .damna.
ton OF he'll
This was the loving Saviour. He egied on the
cross: Father. forgive them, they know not
what they do" But he hated sin ana stand
ing face to face with the sinners, he denounced
them for their sinfulness. 1t Is habby Chris
tianity that is always calling upon us to show
the spirit of Christ, and utterly ignores the
righteous spirit of Christ, which declared IT
not to send peace but sword and
which always distinguished between the peni-
tent sinner and the stubborn Pharisee
Certainly the apostolic church did not inter-
pref the Christ spirit do those brethren who
insist that If have the spirit OF the Master
we will always use kind words" in our treat
ment OF sin.
Did Peter use kind words when he told Ana
Mas and Sapphire that they had lied to the Holy
Ghost. and sentenced them to death? Did
Stephen use kind words when he declared to
the Sanhedrin: We stiff necked and uncircum-
sized in heart and ears. We do always resist the
Holy Ghost: AS your father did. do ye."
cana yet IN q rev minutes Afterward. the
cruel stones were beating out his life, he cried:
Lay not this sin to their charge.")
Did Paul kind words when he rebuked
Eyrnas, who opposing Paul in his work:
20, full of all subtility and all mischief. thou
child of the devil. thou enemy of all righteous
ness" Would these brethren consider this to
be Christ--ike language or kind words?
Did Paul use kind words when in the council
Ananias commanded that he be smitten on
the mouth: God shall smite thee thou whited
WALL for sittest thou to judge me after the law,
and commanded to be snitten contrary to
the law" Would these brethren consider this
to be Christ-like spirit?
The New Testament abounds In statements
both by our Lord and the apostles. that love
itself demands a faithful dealing with sin, and
that the welfare of humanity demands that
there should be oftentfmes great severity In
our treatment of evil conduct. Our Lord gives
us sweeping advice when he Gays. Give not
that which is holy unto the dogs neither cast
ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample
you" St Paul says: And have no Fellowship
with the unfruitful works OF darkness, but ra-
Their reprove them"
The above statements from the Scripture in
dictate the general position held by the editor
of the Advocate. He believes that the Christ
like spirit will hate sin and love Righteousness
and that In Its hatred OF sn and love of right.
eousness the Christ-likc spirit win Sometimes
demand n plain. severe characterization OF evil
conduct and that the severity OF the expressiCn
will not indicate any wrong spirit. but faithfui-
ness to the demand OF the particular evil cx-
posed and denounced. Nor will It show any
hatred toward the individuals involved N the