Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-02-11
What Is Ii to Be a
 Christian?
By Dr. H. T. MUSSELLMAN, of Philadelphia

TENT-TIow often shall my brother sin against me and l forgive him?-Matt. XVIII, 21.
 What is it to be q Christian? It Is to possess the spirit of Jesus. Jesus was greater than the things he did, Every Christian must be greater than the things he does. I am d Christian in so far as l possess the spirit Of Christ. l do not possess it complete ly, If l did, l would be a second Christ cannot possess the spirit of Christ completely. But l am a Chris tian in so far as I possess this spirit of Christ.
 What was the spirit of Christ? must seek to have the mind of Jesus. In the first place. Jesus Christ pos sesscd the spirit of trust. He never was afraid. Then the first thing in Christian spirit is trust. There were T '%hts when Ee WGni out under tho eastern stars and gazed up at the cerulean blue and talked to God in prayer. Yet even in the garden of Gethsemane as he prayed, Father, fl it be possible let this cup pass from my lips" he was not afraid. It was his heavenly Fathers world. A man is a Christian insofar as he possesses the spirit of trust Why should we be afraid in this world when "the Eeavens declare the glory of God?" It is Gods world. When calamities come they should not dismay. I am not sure that even God could develop US into the kind of characters he wants us to be without the aid of trouble
 Jesus Christ also possessed the spirit of trust in men. He felt that Teople are worth while. Let him who has not sinned cast the first stone This petty jealousy, this crooking the finger of scorn, this lack of trust and faith in men, is almost as bad as the lack of trust in God
 Christ possessed the spirit of in- finite pity, and 1. too, if am to be Christian, must possess the spirit of pity. He came to save the lost and his great heart went out in yearning pity for all humanity. Even as he sat and looked at Jerusalem, the city which was to cruelty him. he said Q, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft would l have gathered you as a hen gathereth her brood, but you would not" even then overcome with com passion. Without pity Christianity is defective. You may get to heaven. I am not bothering so much about heaven. It is the now am concerned about. God will take care of heaven
 l am a Christian and you are Christian insofar as We possess the spirit of forgiveness. Every man who is worth anything makes some ene- mies We have ample opportunity to display the spirit of forgiveness. Look how injustice came to Jesus. They said he performed his works because it. With the great spirit of forgive ness, and when he had Host out," as the world said, but had succeeded in a greater manner, he offered up the prayer of forgiveness on the cross, saying, Father, forgive them; they know not what they do." His great heart broke with compassion and for giveness. I don't care how much you have been sinned against, you cannot afford to have any other but the spirit of forgiveness.
 If 1 am Christian I possess the spirit of love. The very climax of the acts that make up human life is the touch of affection. Only as love men can I have the power over men. If a man finds that my heart beats atune with him he opens his heart to me. As we possess the spirit of love we are Christians. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels. and have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal" In my humble judgment, much of the talk that comes from pulpits and plat forms fails to inspire the hearers with the determination to live nobler be- cause there is not that current of love.
 A Christian is one who renders the humble service of Christ and possesses the spirit of Jesus. Are there per- feet Christians? No. If there were there would be so many Christs. There are TO perfect Christians. We are all simply partial Christians, and for this reason we ought to be kindly disposed to the shortcomings of others.