Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-12-27

preaching ana tine
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 tidn0s, q 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-
bic presentation of the creeds. Man
kind have trials enough in the present
life, and need encouragement to hope
for better things hereafter
90 Responding to the growth of in
telligenee, ministers have ceased to
preach eternal misery for all but the
in the theological semnaries their
faith in the Bible as the inspired Word
of God, and accepted the findings of
Observation-Disclosures 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?'
90 Having undermined faith in the
Bible, these ministers mix their higher
critical, evolutionary views with di-
luted morality, and serve this instead
nf tho EnSnnI Ahnaunt thinl-e c1rt
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
fre-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 a glorious hope
of coming time when the curse of
death will be removed. According TO
the Scriptures. New Day is dawn
ing n 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 is Sc
lecting a Church, to be joint-heirs with
our Lord in the honorable worn of
blessing all the families of the earth.
The number who attain this position is
a Little Flock. to whom it 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 a 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. Pharsees
and Doctors of the Law, whose influence
with the people would have counted?
In reply. be asked. If our Lord had
done thus, who would have crueiiied
Him? How would Gods Plan have
been carried out? 1t is well for the
" vi III AilaN JtGuN hlu llOl IbiiON TUE
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. 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 oppor-
tunity to disobey, If they choose to do
so; ana prosecutions. tribuations and
attacks from the world. the flesh and
the Devil are permitted TO test them
All OF Gods people are ordained to-.
preach The begettiug influence of the
Holy Spirit is the only ordination nee
essary. and without it no one has hi
vine authority to preach Gods Book
makes no division of His people into
clergy aud laity. Let US declare Gods
message IN its purity and simplicity
Let US not he 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 peculiar people"
whom be seeks. AS Messiahs assoc
ates they viii declare the decree" Az
mankind shall be Drought to a knowl
edge of the Truth the incoricible de
stroyed and every knee bow and every
tongue confess. 70 Gods glory
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