River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-03-14

r. lem. More likely
it was on the way
to Damascus. When God drew aside
the veil which hides the earthly from
the heavenly, and gave him glimpse
Of the risen and glorif1ed Jesus, ne
learned more theology In one moment
than In all the years he had spent at
the feet of Gamaliel. That little reve-
lation of Jesus wrought revolution In
Saul That is what revelations are
for. AS soon as he became acqualnt-
ed with Jesus he felt that every one
else ought to know him. That price
less knowledge was q sacred trust,
and he was a debtor to every one who
knew him not.
Something of the same kind occurs
at every true conversion. We reallZe
that our relation to this world mas
changed almost as much as our rela-
ton to God. This is lost world, and
while we are still in 1t, we are no
longer Of it. We belong to the life
saving service, and it is our business
to help seek and save the lost. And
so as we go through life we no longer
ask, How much can we get out OF
this world?" but rather, How much
can we put into it?" And with Jesus
Christ to draw upon, every one OF us
has more to give to the world than
the world wide world has to give to
us. "Im q child of the king, I'm
child of the king" The obligation TO
serve our day and generation is
threefold one 1t arises from the
commands of the Lord Jesus. NO
one can read the New Testament
without noticing that he expects eV-
cry one Of his followers to become
soul-winner. He taught the world
thirty years by example and three
years by precept. Then, at the close
of his earthly career he uttered one
command, "Go We into all the world,
and preach the Gospel to every crea-
ture." That command remains In
force to this day.
From the nature of the Gospel 1T
self. it is good news" and hence II
must be carried to the Individual by
an Individual. We hear much about
reaching the masses, and regenerat-
ing society, but we must not forget
that society is composed of units. Sin
is an individual matter, and so is sal
walton. The world will not be judged
by nations or by townships, but "Ev-
cry one of us shall give account OF
himself to God" Jesus taught the
crowds, but when he forgave mems
r;nc h. SJfd nn0 nv one
One sinner thinks that he 1s not
very bad, another is afraid that he
cannot hold out, while others have
doctrinal difficulties of various kinds
And what is worse still, most OF them
are not quite ready to do their duty
when they see 1t without more or less
persuasion.
The changed religious conditions
REQUIRE it. Formerly it was custom
airy for people to attend church.
Indeed. one was hardly counted re-
spectacle unless he did. That day
has gone by. The world no longer
comes to the church for the Gospel.
The majority of the people today do
not attend church. One reason for
this is the strenuous life which many
lead. They work so hard through
the week that they consume seven
days strength in six days time.
When Sunday comes they are so ex-
hausted that they think they cannot
attend church. In many churches
also the Gospel is no longer preached,
but only cheap substitute for It,.
s,f0
head" is a common complaint among
poor people. Occasionally, though
not usually, think, church is SO
cold and formal that stranger Is not
likely to enter a second time.
Could Jesus Enter the Average
Church?
It is said that a poor man once ap-
piled for admission to a wealthy
church. The committee soon saw
that he would add notkfng to their
financial strength or social standing,
and recommended that he wait a
while. To their surprise he soon ap-
peared again. At loss what to say,
one of them suggested that he talk
with the Lord about the matter. The
Kan mOChlJ COA5SAbO0 WOhs
away. In a few weeks he appeared
before the committee again. They
were now at their wits end, but, de-
termined to contest every step Of the
way, they inquired, Brother, did you
talk with the Lord about this mat
terri I did" "And what did he
say?" HE told me not to get dis
couraged, but to be az patient as /
could. He said he had been trying to
get into this church himself ever
since 1t was organized. but that he
had not succeeded yet" This story
may seem a little exaggerated, but 1t
Is to be feared that there are not
few churches where such an inter-
view might occur.
For these and other reasons a large
part of every community practically
ignores the church. This being the
case, there Is only one alternative;
the church must carry the Gospel to
the world, for the Gospel they must
have. But who is TO do It? The lay
men and women. They know the
people, they meet them in the shops.
and stores, and on the street. They
know their needs and disposition as
minister cannot This is the New
Testament idaa. ITO every man hia