The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-11


business world. going at pace that he
never dreamed possible so years ago,
equipped in a way that would make
him stare with open-eyed wonder. But
imagine he would have no trouble
recognizing the church. He would see
1t droning away with the same old
methods in the same old way, whether
they were meeting the needs of times
or not. If he should demonstrate with
the people about their lack of enter
prise they would tell him that they
were following in the old paths. Sem
timent and not business sense controls
our churches in their work today. 1t
was so In the days of the Master. and
that was why he said The children or
this world are In their generation wiser
than the children of light Anything
novel Is viewed with suspicion The
men and religion movement failed to
| interest the people of Birmin CHAM. 1t
was against precedent, that was all. and
| they were suspicious. | hace thought
| that John Wesley would have indorsed
| 1T. He tried to bring the church and
| the times together, and some or his
methods are considered novel even till
| this day We haven't caught up with
Wesley yet
Religion Is Business
| At this point Dr. Johnson told of how
| decision, daring and system are neces-
| sary business qualifications and Illus
trated the Importance Of each and OF the
part that they played In the business
same. Continuing, he said: And now
| for the third division, l have been a
| long time coming to 1t, and have but
little time left. Our religion should be
| our business. The Presbyterian cate
chism says The chief end of man Is
to giorify God and enjoy him forever.
That was the ideal of Jesus. From the
| beginning TO end of his life His religion
was His Business. At the age of IL
| when His parents lost Him and return
| ing found Him in the temple. and rem
| onstrated with Him. He said: Know W
| not that l must be about My Fathers
| business His Fathers business was His
| And later He said: I must work the
| works of Him that sent Me while IL II
day And at Jacobs well. after the con.
versation with the Samaritan woman, He
said: My meat is to do the will of Hin
that sent Me- His religion was His bust
ness And SO with st. Paul: This one
| thing ] do Everything else was made
subservlent TO this one thing. And Il
we are to truly follow Jesus it should
| be so in our lives. Whatever we are en-.
gagged in. we should look through it and
beyond 1t to the glory of God. I dom
! believe all men should be minister fal
| fro nit. | sometimes think that has
| been better If some who are In 1t hat
| taken up something else. Some men coult
| preach better through the money the,
| could make for the kingdom than they are
now preaching from the sacred desk Blu
tho great thing in both minister ant
llavman Is to put the kingdom of God firs
and seek 1t first In all things. 1 remem
| Der meeting a man at Oxanna severa
years ago. ] was struck with the spiri
of the man. his zeal and his tact in win
| ming souls for the Master. I asked {
neighbor what his business was: what ds
you suppose he told me? He said: He Il
a builder, but his real business is hi
| religion. He drives nails to pay ex
penses' A finer tribute could be paid M
\ child of God.,