Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-01-13
WHAT is A CHRISTIAN,


This question was printed il the
LEADER and fifteen answers returned
to Pastor Buriff of the M. E. Church.
Posters were also put up in prominent
places announcing that DR.. Buriff
would preach On "What Is a Christian
last Sabbath evening, and a fine con-
gregation was present to hear him.
His sermon was a plain, logical dis.
cussion of the question and those who
heard him found that a true christian
spirit comes from the human will
power to serve the Master. "Many
who are church members are not
christians" said the speaker, land
mem berShip in a church and the
sacrament will not make n a chris
tian, but these prerequisites he lp.
Will power is essential to true chris.
tianity."
No man can truly serve the Lord un
less the will power is strong and
constant. The Lord has given
humanity will power and that alone
leads humanity through life. The
will power is divine gift and through
it all things are posi- ole within the
the scope of human endeavor.,
Rev. Burif made the question Of
human responsibility SO plain that
none can go astray who desire the
better life. Before he began his ser
mon he read the following answers Il
his printed question: What is q
Christian?'
Christian is a person whose sins are
for Jesus sake forgiven and who Is
made a new creature in Christ oul
Lord"
"We are to know that we are con
verified and love the Lord with all the
heart and try to win souls"
"a disciple of Jesus Christ; one who
has repented Of his sins; vino has
exercised saving faith in Jesus Christ,
one who is justified by Gods free
grace: one who is r~egenerated by
Gods power; one who has entire
sanctiication."
"a person who has faith in God"
"a person who earnestly seeks tC
follow the example of Christ; who
strives to love, trust and obey the
Savior of men,"
'It is he that does the will of God
"One that loves God and keeps his
Sin theory one is a Christian who
believes in Christ. In fact, n Is 9
Christian who not only believes iL
Christ, but who also practices con
tinually,-- or nearly So Christ:
moral teaching"
christian, Christ-one; like Chris,
in thought, word and deed. One wht
really loves God with all his heart
soul, mind and strength, and hi
neighbor as himself"
"a person who honestly tries, and
honestly trying, keeps the ten com
mandments, as near as he can, al
the time"
believe that a Christian shOulc
be strictly honest with his fellow
man; should have charity and abid.
ing faith in God"
my idea of a Christian is any per
son who is willing to and does prac
tice Christianity out of the church a.
well as in it,"
To surrender ell to Jesus. Come
out from among the world. Take uI
the cross and follow him. To keeI
ones self unspotted from the world
which think means n for his rea,
worth as a man and citizen, rather
than by what he possesses of materia.
things"
"A man who minds his own bus.
mess at all times and in all places
God despises a h%ypocrite."
"One who has accepted Christ and
through repentance has received par.
don aud has become a new creature,
living daily a clean and pure life
bringing love and a sweet spirit ia
himself and all others with whom he
comes In contact"
Rev. Buriff's defnition;--was as fol
lows: A Christian is a person who has
~consecrated himself in loving obed.
fence to Jesus Christ, whereby divine
life is impaired to the soul.
1t will be observed that the fifteen
answers to DR.. Buriff's question dc
not differ materially, but they give
one a chance to measure the human
estimate of what one must be to be a
christian.