Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-06
MEN WITH MACHINES
AND MISSIONS TO RUN

ual souls has passed, and that the
time has come when she must save
them in the mass by methods or
social service" and the like. Hav-
ing an eXtravagant estimate of Wis
ible expedients and an under-esti-
mate of spiritual life. they wish TO
hold religious effort to the area or
the visible and tangible. But this
is to reverse the teaching of Jesus
and 10 substitute programmes or a
worldly sorr for the divine plan Of
redemption for mankind. 1t can not
end in anything but spiritual failure
and utter disappointment.
The zeal of men, who trust in the
visible and mechanical, may become
a peril to themselves; for once
man comes to believe that others can
be saved by machinery, he will never
have a fear that he himself may be
lost while operating the saving ma
chine. 1t was at this very point the
ancient Pharisees failed. They worked
their party machinery with the ardor
of patriots and the devotion of saints,
but they lost sight of their own spir-
itual needs and became the veriest
hypocrites. And Jesus forewarned
his followers that they too might fall
into the same snare: MANY will say
unto me In that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name,
and in thy name cast out devils, and
in thy name done many wonderful
works? And then 1 will profess un7
TO them, never knew YOU. IN all his
teaching he ranks BEING above DO
ING, and urges men to put their first
care upon their own condition, before
undertaking the rectification of others.
First cast the beam out of thine
own eye; and then shalt thou see
clearly to cast out the mote out of
thy brothers eye" Matthew vii:5).
When men are more careful to cleanse
others than to secure their own puri-
fcation, they manifest an egotistic
self-righteousness which speedily be-
comes intolerant, domineering, and
uncharitable. They are ready to call
down fire from heaven to destroy any
who refuse to submit themselves to
their plan of salvation. So John and
JdAuCS uCSAlGu 10 uO Oi OuC ONGdSAOAs
but Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and said We know not what manner
of spirit we are Of. Luke ix:54 and
So. Such is always the case with
man with a mission who has more
concern to save others than to main
tain right relation between his own
soul and God; he never knows the ma
ture and state of his own spirit.
There is scarcely to be found among
men a more acrid and unadmirable
person than one who comes with
"a mission" and who is perpetually
talking of my Network" The work
he has in hand may be a good one,
but he degrades and defeats it by the
egotism with which he pursues it.
He wants all the pulpits in the coun-
try to empty themselves of every 9TH
er interest until his hobby has been
represented: and if any preacher de-
clines to surrender to his imperious
demands, he proceeds to berate and
belaeour such preacher as a faith
less shepherd. wholly unworthy of
being entrusted with a flock.
Our country is full to over-flowing
with such specialists; and they seek
I'm some instances to blacklist the
pastors whom they can not use at
will. Now, the church OF God has
far more important work to do than
all these schemes of over-heated zeal
OTIS, even II they were combined in
one; and Gods ministers are not APP