The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-01-18

All
Almost twenty centuries ago. in an
obscure village In Palestine. an event
occurred which has had more In
fluence upon the history OF the human
race than any other event since time
began A childd was born-not an
unusual event surely. He was ne
child OF distinguished parents, nor Q
prospective ruler Of worlds empire.
He was born in q stable, and Graded
In . manger. And yet around that
lowly crib and humble birth. the life,
from that day to this been conferred.
During these two thousand years
many noble births have been regis
tered. but none so great as this. En-
perors. monarchs. and mighty men
have lived and died. and are forgot.
ten; nations have risen and waned:
but the birth OF tho Christ child 10
moro influential In this day than on
the first birthday Of our age twenty
centuries ago.
The announcement OF Christ's birth
was made by angels. What more fit
ting accompaniment could there be to
such an august event! How inter-
ested angels are in the welfare OF
mankind! How gladly they told the
Christmas story to a handful OF poor
shepherds. How free from pride they
were! They we're not content that
one of their number should tell the
story-they all broke out In that great
Christmas anthem.
Do VIC believe In angels any more?
We used TO. We used to sing there
are angels lowering round" II we
believe the Bible. we still believe In
the ministry of angels.
singing;
Angels sing on. your faithful watches
keeping.
Sing us sweet fragments of the song
above.
The announcement was made to a
small band OF shepherds. No angelic
host went to the Sanhedrin. or to the
palace OF Herod and broke the news
OF the birth of the Christ child. Il
there not a lesson here? Does not
God have special regard for the low
ly and the humble? Hath not Goo
chosen the weak things to confount
the mighty? II angels were willing to
preach to a few farmers. should the
preacher be ashamed OF ministerinf
to a small and humble people, or the
Sunday school teacher to n small
class?
The scholars OF the land were alst
notified OF Christ's birth. The Scrip
ture does not say-"not any wise mel
are called" but mot many" II is ,
mistake to say that religion is goo,
enough for women, and children. bu
not for strong. brainy men. TIT
brainest men OF the ages have beel
Christian men.
That the birth Of Christ was mys
FERROUS and miraculous need not dis
turb us. How Christ's body was pre-
pared. how the divine and humal
could become one-who can tell? W.
do not even understand our own birth
let alone Ills. II ever anything OF
miraculous nature should take place
when shod!d II be II not nov
when the King OF all laws is COMM
into the world! Let us be careful les
In denying the virgin birth. we cha
lenge the purity Of the Virgins life.
The birth OF Christ was the comm
OF God to and In man. not that Go
had never come to man before. for b
had. But he had come only as a Sc
journer. In Christ he came to abide
, His name is "Immanuel.-God wit
u.s." Whatever else the incarnatio
may mean, II certainly means tina
God took our nature and became a
one OF us-he came unto his own
The birth Of Christ brings to u
good tidings of great Joy. II the al
gels sang. should not we? He cam
. 10 save not angels, but men. Tn
4 first note OF this angelic song is not
Of yladnsss. and song has characte
} ICED Christianity.
This birth In bethlehem shows God
attitude TO ward men. God has goo
will toward men. lie Is not the har'
{ severe Judge that men SO often wroni
2 ly picture him to be. Sinner, yo
+ have cursed God, but he has nc
, cursed you back; you have lifted you
r hands against him. but lac has ne
destroyed you. He has thoughts {
kindness and OF love toward you.
you have wrong thoughts OF God, !,
them die away In the music of thu
first Christian anthem, good will q
ward men,"
The Christian story brings TO I
;. also a Savior. Jesus ChriSt was Dor
with reference to sin. He was th
only man that ever was born wit
reference To that great fact. Otht
\ great men were teachers and reform
q ers-he alone could save men froI
' their sins. Hts name shall be Gale
a Jesus and no shall save his peop
J. from their sins. This is good tidinl
OF great Joy 10 a sin-stricken worl
II Christ the Lord cannot save sc
from your sins, no one else cab.
He is a personal Savior unto "
he was born; he Is a mighty sa' Tor
be Is Christ the AnoiDtsd