The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-12-27

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
good tidings. a message OF JOY; but the
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.
% 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 seminaries their
faith in the Bible as the inspired Word
Of God. and accepted the findings OF
unbeiief-H 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 preaching?''
~ 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 discredit
the Wisdom. Justice, Love and Power
of God 1t acknowledges that man.
kind are under just penalty-death.
but sets before them glorious hope
of 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
|
stripes upon wilful sinners.
The True Gospel includes the Mes
sage that during this Age God is Sc
lecting 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
a Little Flock. to whom 1t is the
Fathers good pleasure to give the King
dom.
Is 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-wise That
man of Jesus ability should go
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 crucified
Him? How would Gods Plan have
been carried out? 1t is well for the
world that Jesus did not follow the
suggestions Of worldly wisdom. Truly.
the Wisdom OF God is foolishness with
the world, even as worldly wisdom Is
foolishness with God.
From the worlds standpoint. 1t seems
foolish fer 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 oppor-
tunity to disobey. II they choose to do
so: and prosecutions. fluctuations and
attacks from the world, the flesh and
the Devil are permitted to test them.
All OF Gods people are ordained to
preach. The begetting influence Of the
Holy Spirit is the only ordination nee
essary, and without 1t no one has Dr.
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 be disappointed that the
worldly-wise consider It foolishness
and that it brings odium. as It did upon
the Lord and His Apostles.
God will ind the .'pecnliar people"
whom he seeks. AS Messiah's assoct-
ates they will declare the decree. AL
mankind shall be brought to q knowl-
edge Of the Truth. the incorrigible o.
stroyed, and every knee bow and evcry
tongue confess, to Gods glory.