Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-08-14
CHRISTIAN ENOEAVOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For tire Week
6e1f-rfry Ave- a 1912

Beginning Aug. g. 1912
Topsey-ChrtztIan fact-Joan fv. la Ed
tied By Rev Sherman H Doyle d D.
Tact Is defined By Webster as the
~ready power Of approaching and do
ing what is required By circumstances. =
This definition is well illustrated in
Chrssfx dealing with the Samaritan
woman at Jacobs wen, in which we
have one OF the very best examples Of
Christian tact It would be almost
impossible 10 end an instance that re-
CURED greater skill In saying the right
thing In the right way. The possibsa-
ties OF biHnders, Of misunderstanding
Of giving oEense, were many, and moth
ing better illustrates the deiicacy with
which Christ handled most difficult
situation than the resuits-the e0uver-
SION Of the Samaritan woman and later
Of many Of her neighbors. Tact Is In
dispensable in the Christians life and
WORK and Il not possessed must be
cultivated by every one who would Sue
coed In doing the viii Of Christ and
especially In leading others to Christ
Christian tact requires an accurate
knowledge OF the nature Of those with
whom we have 10 do Christ thor
oughly understood the nature Of the
Samaritan woman Had He not had
a complete knowledge Of her personal
life, her religious preiudices and her
national conceptions He must have
failed in presenting Himself to her as
the water Of life. Many Christian
workers fail through lack Of tact, which
is caused BY ignorance. Many other
wise, talented ministers are failures be
cause they are tactless. They do not
understand human nature. They do
not study the different dispositions and
characteristics Of those with whom
they deal and consequently are con-
stantly rubbing them the wrong way"
and arousing antagonisEn instead OF
winning their active and enthusiastic
cooperation No two human disposi-
lions are exactly alike. Each must be
studied and dealt with alone. Christ
never used exactly the same method
twice In dealing with men He expects
rs to follow His example. We are to
be fishers Of men," and who requires
more tact than ashermanf We are
to "Tin" souls for Christ but how can
we win them IL we do not understand
them7 The tactless blunderer Is more
apt 10 drive them farther away from
Him IL 10 wiser to leave to others
those whom we do not understand and
cannot deal with as they should be ap-
preached and dealt with. Excessive
zeal without tact Is not commendable-
To mean well Is not sufficient We
must do well.
Christian tact requires knowledge
of circumstances How can we appre-
ciate and do what Is required by cir
cumstances unless we thoroughly I'M
derstand the circumstances? Christ's
knowledge Of the personal disposition
of the Samaritan woman would have
awaited little had He not also under
stood every circumstance and detail OF
the conditions under which she lived
But he understood the Samaritan be-
liefs, their method Of worship. their
opinion Of Moses and Of the Messiah
and their instructive hatred Of the
Jews. To succeed In Christian work
and In leading men to Christ we must
know men personally; also the circum-
stances and conditions OF their lives.
How tactless It was for a tract dis
tributor in hospital to give tract
against dancing to patient who had
Just had both his legs amputated! A
word Of inquiry as to conditions would
have made such blunder impossible
and consequent ridicule out Of the
question Yet this is typical Of the
character OF the work of many well
meaning Christians who make no
study Of the conditions of life under
which people live. II you would wisely
serve your fellow men in the name Of
Jesus learn all about them-their man
ner Of living. their beliefs. their hopes
and ambitions. their difficulties and
their discouragements- Then deal with
them as the circumstances demand,
taking into consideration their personal
dispositions. This, In a word. Is Chris
tian tact and cannot but make us sue
cessful in advancing Christ's kingdom
In winning souls for Christ.