The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-03
A SATURDAY SERMON.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone. James II IL.

Even so faith, il 1t hath not WORKS, Is
dead, being alone. James II IL.
This most reasonable doctrine, which
is discussed 30 clearly and for-e fully by
ST. James in his general epistle to the
twelve tribes, is applied by him pri-
marily to the profession of Christianity
and its practice. James argues con-
viucingly that mere faith on the part
OF a man in God is not sufficient 1t
must be backed up by works that
demonstrate it's worth to be acceptable
to the Lord. In other words, to say
that you believe in God is not enough
You must show by right living and by
your works among men in the cause OF
God that your faith is sincere
But there surely can be a broader ap-
plicatfon of this important message. IL
certainly can be construed as meaning
that men must be sincere and upright
in all of their activities, in all of their
dealings one with the other And II
there ever was a period in the world 5
history, and especially in the history or
these United States, when men should
be Judged, not by their faith, but by
tkeir works that time is now.
The big political cauldron in this land
IS seething now as it never did before.
It betokens the great unrest that mas
developed of late years on the part or
all classes of people the world over. 1t
has reached the boiling point in this
country Just now because the quadren-
NAL time is at hand here when men will
settle their differences and endeavor 20
adjust properly, through the ballot, the
grave problems, economic and social,
that are pressing for a solution.
The great mass of the people are be-
ms importuned by men of prominence
in a variety of causes to follow their
leadership. Political panaceas are be-
ing Haunted from many f1agstaffs. AL
Turing promises are being made by this
party and by that one to bring about
nuch-mooted reforms that are declared
to be aII-sufficient to make the greatest
country on the face Of the earth a bet
ter and more equitable one for the har-
boring of all sorts and conditions of
people. 1t is to be presumed that the
rner who are soliciting votes with every
variety of attractive propaganda, much
of which is Numerically opposed to the
rest. have an abiding faith in their
plans and p~otesta tions.
But it behocves the people not to fol-
low blindly where others. who may also
be obsessed by selfish motives, would
lead them. There is scarcely a promin-
ent figure in the public arena today
who is a stranger to public life and to
the people. or those of his immediate
community. Everybody who knows him
personally, or by reputation, knows
what he has done and what he has
failed to do. AS to what he will do can
only be Judged or Appropriated by
what he has done, not by what he
promises to do. How good his promises
for the future will be kept can be de-
termined only by the way he has kept
his promises of the past. A man is 10
be judged by his works and not alone
by his faith. or his expressed beliefs.
And it is up to the people to judge their
political leaders accordingly, if they
would not repent. To quote St James
again:
For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is
dead