The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-12-27

(lYaSl2k kOS2elll tween FOOLS h
preaching and 1.-THE
foolishness OF preaching" In the
Church. the Gospel has the right of
way. If 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 it. Gospel signifies
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-
BILE presentation Of the creeds. Man
kind have trials enough in the present
life. and need encouragement to hope
for better things hereafter.
q, Responding to the growth of in
telligence. ministers have ceased to
preach eternal misery for all but the
very elect" Nearly all ministers lost
in the theological seminnries their
faith in the Bible as the inspired Word
Of God. and accepted the findings Of
unbelief-Higher Criticism. so they
preach those things which they ought
not to preach. and leave unpreached
those things which they ought to
preach. How can such ministers avoid
foolish preachingy"
81 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 will convert from sin and
unbelief to faith in God is deceived.
The Gospel Of Christ is glad tidings.
Jesus died to bring mankind into har-
mony with God. Nothing Is said about
an eternity Of torture at the hands Of
fire-proOf demonstrating to discredt
the Wisdom. Justice. Love and Power
of God. 1t acknowledges that man.
kind are under a just penalty-death.
but sets before them a glorious hope
of a coming time when the curse of
death will be removed. According to
the Scriptures. New Day is dawn
ing a glorious prospect for all desiring
to come into harmony with God. but
stripes upon wilful sinners.
The True Gospel includes the Mes
sage that during this Age God Ia Sc
lecting a Church. to be joint-heirs with
our Lord In the honorable work Of
blessing all the families Of the earth.
The number who attain this position Is
Little Flock. to whom It Is the
Fathers good pleasure. to give the King
dom.
10 Gospel Preaching Logical?
Pastor Russell said that st. Paul re-
fers to preaching the Gospel as fool
ishness." not In his own estimation.
but In that OF the worldly-wlse. That
a man of Jesus ability should 60
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. Pharisees
and Doctors Of the Law. whose influence
with the people would have counted?
In reply. he asked. II our Lord had
done thus, who would have crucitied
Him? How would Gods Plan have
been carried Outy 1t is well for the
world that Jesus did not follow the
suggestions of worldly wisdom. Truly.
the Wisdom Of God Ia foOlishness with
the world. even as worldly wisdom IL
fo0lishness with God.
From the worlds standpoint. It seems
foolish for God to invite any to serve
Him-for an all-powerful God to en-
treat where He could compel obedi-
ence. 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 be given opp0r-
tunlty to disobey. II they choose to do
SO; and prosecutions. tribulations and
attacks from the world. the flesh and
the Devil are permitted to test them.
All Of Gods people are ordained 10
preach. The begetting influence 81 the
Holy Spirit Is the only ordination nec-
essary. and without 1t no one has d.
vine authority to preach. Gods Book
makes no division of His people into
clergy and laity. Let us declare Gods
message In Its purity and simplicity.
Let us not b. disappointed that the
worldly-wise coihider II foolishness.
and that It brings odium. ~ It did upon
the Lord and His'Apostles.
God will 6nd the peculiar people"
whom be seeks. Al Messiah's assoc,-
ates they will declare the decree" All
mankind shall be brought to knowi-
edge Of the Truth. the incorrigibis de-
stroyed. and every knee bow and every
tongue confess. to Coos glory.