The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-03-14

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the. veil which hides the earthly from
the heavenly, and gave him glimpse
OF the risen and glori1ed Jesus, he
learned more theology in one moment
than in all the years he had spent at
the feet of Gamaliel. That little reve-
lation OF Jesus wrought revolution In
Saul That Is what revelations are
for AS soon as he became acquaint-
ed with Jesus he felt that every one
else ought to know him. That price
less knowledge was sacred trust,
and he was debtor to every one VINO
knew him not.
Something Of the same kind occurs
at every true conversion. We realize
that our relation to this world has
changed almost as much as our reia-
ton to God This Is a lost world, ana
while we are still in it. we are no
longer Of 1t. We belong to the lie
saving service, and 1t is our business
to help seek and save the lost And
SO as we go through life we no longer
ask, How much can we get out on
this world?" but rather. How much
can we put into it?" And with jesus
Christ to draw upon, every one OF US
has more to give to the world than
the world wide world has to give to
US. I'm a child OF the king. I'm
child of the king" The obligation TO
serve our day and generation Is q
threefold one 1t arises from the
commands OF the Lord Jesus. No
one can read the New Testament
without noticing that he expects ev-
cry one of his followers to become a
soul-winner. He taught the world
thirty years by example and three
years by precept. Then. at the close
of his earthly career he uttered one
command, Go We into all the world.
and preach the Gospel to every crea-
ture." That command remains In
force to this day.
From the nature Of the Gospel IT.
self. 1t Is good news" and hence It
must be carried to the individual by
an Individual We hear much about
reaching the masses. and regenerat-
| ing society, but we must not forget
that society is composed OF units. Sin
is an individual matter, and so Is sal
walton. The world will not be judged
by nations or by townships. but 'Ev-
cry one of us shall give account or
himself to Cod, Jesus taught the
crowds, but when he forgave mems
sins, he did 1t one by one.
One sinner thinks that he is not
very bad. another is afraid that he
cannot hold out, while others have
doctrinal difficulties OF various kinds.
And what is worse still, most Of them
are not quite ready to do their duty
when they Re it without more or less
persuasion.
The changed religious conditions
require It, Formerly 1t was custom
airy for people to attend church.
Indeed one was hardly counted re-
spectable unless he did. That day
has gone by The world no longer
comes to the church for the Gospel
The majority of the people today do
not attend church One reason for
this is the strenuous life which many
lead. They work so hard through
the week that they consume seven
days strength In six days time
When Sunday comes they are 80 ex-
hausted that they think they cannot
attend church. In many churches
also the Gospel is no longer preached.
but only a cheap substitute for It.
"The ministers preach over our
head" is a common complaint among
poor people. Occasionally. though
not usually, / think, church is so
cold and formal that stranger Is not
likely to enter a second time.
Could Jesus. Enter the Average
church,
: 1t is said that poor man once APP
! piled for admission to a wealthy
: church. The committee soon saw
that he would add nothing to their
t financial strength or social standing
, and recommended that he wait a
, while. To their surprise he soon ap
!. peared again. At loss what to say,
one of them suggested that he talk
with the Lord about the matter. The
man meekly consented and went
away. In few weeks he appeared
before the committee again. They
: were now at their wits end, but. de
!. termined to contest every step Of the
/ way. they inquired, Brother, did yot
, talk with the Lord about this mat
o teri" I did" "And what did hi
S say?" HE told me not to get dis
d couraged, but to be as patient as
: could He said he had been trying t.
/ get into this church himself eve
|, since it was organized. but that h.
|. had not succeeded yet" This stor,
t may seem little exaggerated. but I
Is to be feared that there are not I
!, few churches where such an inter
). view might occur.
. For these and other reasons a larg,
n part of every community PRACTICAL,
!, ignores the church. This being tn
. case, there is only one alternative
Z the church must carry the Gospel I,
y the world, for the Gospel they mus
= have. But who is to do It! The lay
!. men and women. They know tn
= people, they meet them in the shops
!. and stores. and on the street The
:. know their needs and disposition as
: minister cannot This is the Ne,
= Testament idea. ITO eyerv man hi
work +"