The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-17

Then came the question second
time. Simon. son Of Jonas. lowest
thou Me-" A great pressure was felt
by st. Peter. Why did the Master so
particularly question his love? Why
should He put this question more to
him than to the others? Was it be-
cause he had been the first of the
disciples to suggest the resumption of
the fishing business? Was he to blame
for this? But he answered. Lord,
Thou knowest that | affectionately
love Thee" Jesus this time replied,
Tend My sheep" For the third time
Jesus said to st. Peter, "Simon. son OF
Jonas. dOst hOn affectionately love
MeT' Here Jesus used the same word
questioned the affection and depth OF
st. Peters love. All! the third time
must have sent the memory of st. Peter
back to the scene In Caiaphas' Judgment
Hall. whsn he denied his Master the
third time. even with cursing. And
now Jesus for the third time had ask.
ed him respecting his love and wheth.
er it was really love of affection!
st. Peters choking reply was. lord.
Thou knowest all things! Thou knoio-
est that affectionately love Thee!"
The Lords reply was, Feed My
sheep"
In harmony with these words Of the
Master to st. Peter the chief work of
His followers has been to minister to
the needs Of the spiritbegOtten sheep.
1t is in full harmony with this that st.
Paul. addressing the Elders of Ephe-
sus. counseled that they feed the
: flock CT COD. which He had purchased
with the blood of His own Son."
There is point here that perhaps Is
too frequently overlooked. Ii all Of
the Lords followers could realize that
the message to st. Peter is the same
as comes to all of us. perhaps it would
make a change In most of our preach
ing
Our Mistaken Methods.
Have not Christians in general over
looked this important lesson, namely.
that the chief work of the ministers
and under-shepherds of the Lords flock
during this Age is to feed the focky'
Is it not true that comparatively little
feeding is being done? On the contra
ry, the thought usually received by
new converts Is. Now you are saved;
go, evangelize. and bring others to
Christ-especially bring money. for
with plenty Of it we can convert the
world. Work for Jesus by soliciting
funds for church expenses. extension.
etc., etc.
If the inquirer has thoughts or feel
ings Is it not too often the case that his
instructors know not how to answer
them. but merely say. Stop thinking,
and 60 to work." Alas. that this is so
true! The lambs should be fed until
they become sheep" The sheep should
be tended. cared for. guided, Instructed,
and the sheep should also be fed with
the stronger meat than that which the
lambs could appropriate. St Paul
gives this thought when OH one occa-
sion be urges his hearers to desire 1.-The
sincere milk of the Word that they
may grow thereby"
But few seem to copy the great St
Paul i'm respect to their methods. Few
seem to realize and apply to themselves
the Masters words to st. Peter,
Feed My lambs" and My sheep" AS
a consequence. the Church of Christ is
in a languiShing condition. Many. sim
ot ri what how no.
lieve. Many would lind it impossible
to follow st. Peters admonition. Re
ready to give reason for the hope that
is within you. with meekness and rev.
erence."-I Peter iii. II.
Reasons For the Neglect Of the Doc.
-... trines of Christ.
There are two reasons which have
led up to the neglect Of 1.-The doctrines
of Christ"-the teachings OF the Bible
These two reasons fully explain why
SO many are telling new believers,
Never mind the doctrines of Christ.
but go out and convert somebody.
The first Of these reasons is the err
roneous thought which gained ascend
ency during the Dark Ages. namely,
that from Pentecost until the second
coming of Jesus Is the time allotted by
the Heavenly Father for the worlds
conversion. and that this Is the COM
mission which He gives to His peO-
pie. and If the world be not converted
the responsibility for their eternal tor
ture will fall upon His people.
All of this is a mistake. Not word
Of Scripture tells that the Church was
commissioned to convert the world be-
fore the second coming Of the Lord.
Quite to the contrary, the Scriptures
show that at the Lords second COM
ing the world will be unconverted
The Apocalypse particularly tells us
that when the Lord at His second COM
ing shall establish His Kingdom. the
nations will be angry and Divine wrath
will come upon them. thereby intro
ducing the great time Of trouble"
with which this Age is to end. accord
ing to the prophetic Word
These testimonies do not signify that
holiness will perish. nor that all Of the
Lords people will be unfaithful. but
they do signify that the world In gen.
eral will not he the Lords people. they
will still be enemies. Gentiles. uncon-
verted. Nor are we urging that the
Church has nothing whatever to do