Newark post., 1913-12-31
in MEMORlAM
JOHN T. STEEL

pllhiidh, -. ~, IN the Head OF Chris
tiana church, December 10, 1913.
'And the disciples were called Chris.
tians first in Antioch.' Acts 11:26.
The word in this text translated "were
called' is a most significant word. 1t
means to ''set up business or "to do
business and was so used by Thucydi-
des and Zenophon. Later it came to
mean "to do business under a certain
name' and naturally to be called that
name. To do business as merchant
called merchant. To do business as a
carpenter-to be called carpenter and
to do business as a Christian-called a
Christian. At Antioch, then, the busi-
ness or occupation of Christian was
first recognized as such. Paul and Bar
nabas had come to Antioch, and had set
up in business for their Lord. For a
whole year they had been laboring in the
activities of their profession: teaching
the principles of the religion of Jesus
telling the people how to act. Had Paul
set up an establishment for the manufac-
ture of tents, he would have been called
tentmaker. Had Barnabas set up a
place for the making of shrines he
would have been called silver-smith.
But they came there and set up an es-
tablishment for the production of char
acter and life like that of Christ to
make Christ-like men and women, and
they were called Christians.
But what had the Church been doing
all these years? Why had it not been re-
cognized and named before this? Start
ing out with 5000 souls at Pentecost-
the Church at Jerusalem, in Samaria, at
Joppa, in Cyprus, had been working all
these years, but here at Antioch, system
attic, organized and continuous efforts
were put forth for the Christian belief
and life. They had demonstrated the
work for solid year and as a result the
Christian work was recognized as a
craft-ship. And since that time every
one who engages in this work is called a
Christian.
1t has been suggested that this name
was given to the early disciples in de-
rision, but l see no evidence Of this in
the text. 1t is merely the natural world
ly testimony of this people having es-
tablished themselves in the business of
their calling.
The question now arises: What is the
business of Christian? The answer to
this will revolve about the consideration
of the following questions:
/. How does one become Christian?
2. What does one do when he is
Christian?
3. What becomes of one after he has
lived the Christian life.
l. How one can become a Christian:
Paul and Barnabas with their associates
at work at Antioch represented the same
variety of Christian life and belief that
we have today.
Paul was an eminently strong and in
tellectual man of the best obtainable edu-
cation. He had been taught in the fam
Gus schools of Tarsus, and had been sent
to Jerusalem to attend the farfamed
school of Gamaliel. He was a man of
most upright habits-pure in act and
thought staunch advocate of the high
est plane Of good living. He was an ar
dent Hebrew and determined and prom
inent opponent of the claims of Jesus.
We need not dwell upon the scene of his
conversion. Before the words of Jesus
81 am Jesus whom thou persecutest,' he
falls down in complete submission.
"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"
Take an entirely different type: The
theft on the cross was a low, wicked thief
and robber, and he cried in his extremity,
"Lord, remember me when Thou comest
into Thy kingdom.'' The reply was
quick and assuring, "This day shalt thou
be with Me in Paradise Then and
there the once thief and reviler enlists in
the Church of Christ as a Christian.
The Philipian jailer, impressed with
the marvellous scenes in the prison where
Paul and Silas were singing their Chris
tianity, desiring to become a Christian
asked "What must L do to be saved,'
and quickly the answer came, "Believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt !
be saved.' Then and there the jailer
was enlisted as Christian.
Many other examples could be given
from Holy Writ and from the pages of
the Church S history since, all showing
that to become Christian is to "Be-
lieve in Christi Without regard to
previous conditioning matter how sim
full or what the degree of sinfulness.
Faith in Jesus Christ as the saviour of
the soul is the key to entrance into the
Christian life.
But Jesus has brought his salvation
down so close to all that there is only a