The Cairo bulletin., 1912-12-30

preaching AMI title
foolishness or preaching." In the
Church. the Gospel has the right nf
way. Ii some claim that people no
longer attend Divine service. there are
three reasons why they will not.
"a During the Dark Ages the Church
lost the Gospel, and few Christians
have recovered II. Gospel siguiiles
good fidings. q mcsSGge ~ 10y. hut the
message handed down from the DARK
Ages has been bad tidings of great
misery for nearly all mankind. No
wonder the majority reject this horri-
bic presentation OF the ereeds, Man-
kind have trials enough In The present
life. ard need encouragement to hope
for better things hereafter.
e. Responding to the growth of in
telligenee. ministers have cenSed TO
preach eternal misery for all hut the
very elect" Nearly all ministers iosi
In the theological seminaries their
faith In the Bible as the inspired Warii
of God. aud accepted the findings Of
unbelief-Higher Criticism So they
preach those things which they ought
not TO preach, and leave mnpreaehed
those things which they ought 10
Rreach How can such ministers avoid
foolish preaching:"
IA Having undermined faith in the
Bible. these ministers mix their higher
critical. evolutionary views with d.
luted morality. and serve this Instead
of the Gospel. Whoever thinks such
preaching win convert from sin and
unbelief to faith In God Is deceived.
The Gospel of Christ is glad tidillgS
Jesus died to bring mankind into har.
mony with God, Nothing is said about
an eternity OF torture at the hands Of
flre-proof demons nothing to dIscredit
the Wisdom. Justice, Love aud Power
of God II acknowledges that man-
kind are under just penaty-death
but sets before them glorious hope
of coming time when the curse Of
death will be removed. According to
the Scriptures. a New Day II dawn
ing a glorious prospect for all desiring
to come into harmony with God. but
stripes upon wilfu1 sinners
The True Gospel includes the Mes
sage that during this Age God is Sc
lecting Church. to be ioint-heirs with
our Lord In the honorable work of
blessing all the families Of the earth.
The number who attain this position Is
a Little Flock. to whom it is the
Fathers good pleasure to give the King
dom.
10 Gospel Preaching LoeicaI7
Pastor Russell said that st. Paul re-
fers to preaching the Gospel as fool
ishness." not In his own estimation.
hut in that OF the worldly-wise. THAT
a. man Of Jesus ability should go
about with few disciples. performing
some miracles and inviting chiefly the
poor to follow Him. seems foolish to
the world. They ask. Why did He not
make friends with Scribes. phal'isees
and Doctors OF the Law. " hose influence
with the people would have counted:
LII ftptysf hC aShru. liaVuE
done thus, who would have erucified
Him? How would Gods Plan have
been carried out: Ii s. we'll for the
world that Jesus did not follow the
suggestions OF worldly wisdom. Truly.
the Wisdom OF God IL fooiishncss with
| the world. even as worldly wisdom is
Ifoolishness with, God. s.
| Fromsthe worlds standpoint. 1t seems
foolish for God TO invite any to serve
EIirn--fors an all-powerfuI God TO en-
threat where He could compel obedi-
enee. Earthly kings enforce their
commands: in fact, every one executes
his own will. The Bible explains. how.
ever. that God seeks those to worship
Him who do so in spirit and in truth.
Therefore these must he given oppor.
tunity to disobey. Ii they choose TO de
so: and prosecutions, fluctuations and
attacks from the world. the flesh and
the Devil are permitted TO test them.
All Of Gods people are ordained to
breach. The begetting Influence of the
Holy Spirit is the only ordination nee.
essary, and without 1t no one has Di.
vine authority to preach. God's Book
makes no division of His people into
lclergy and laity. Let us DECLARE Gods
message in its purity and simplicity,
Let us not be disappointed that the
Iworldly-wise consider II foolishness
and that II. brings odium.. az 1t did upcn
I +
the Lord and His Appstiessas
God will find sshe ''pecuiiar people
whom he seeks. AS Messjnh's assoct
ates they will declare the decree. Al
mankind shall be brought to n knowl
edge of the Truth. the incorrigibie de
stroyed, and every knee bow and ever
tongue confess. to Gods glory.
|