Evening journal., 1913-08-20
Christian Endeav0r

Topic for August "a, by the Rev.
Thomas p Holloway-'How Have
Proved Christianity and Seen it Proved,
John Ss25-S6i "a; "a, 25.
The mere claims of Christianity do
not prove that 1t is wholly of God. All
religions make supernatural claims As
syrian, Babylonians, Persian, Grecian,
Roman, Gothic, Norwegian and Saxon
mythologies made the most ambitious
claims to supernatural origin and power.
Parseeism, Mohammedanism, Brahman-
ism, Buddhism, all claim supernatural
origin and make supernatural promises
TO their devotees. All these faiths are
dead or dying despite their claims. So
great claims do not Of themselves make
a religion great or immortal. To use a
present day expression of worth Chris
tianity must "make good" Otherwise in
spite Of its claims nothing can retain
its hold on the respect, confidence and
devotion of humanity. In this day of
scientific spirit. attitude and method
arbitrary claims cannot command a fol
/ lowing no matter how old they may be,
or how well enshrined in theological
creeds and ecclesiastical systems.
But Christianity's imperishgble glory
is its divine ability TO make good its
divine claims II stands the severest
test John the Baptist, whose mag
nihcent utterances are found in the first
Scriptural selection, John 3, 1886, laid
down propositions which only a divine
Jesus could accept, John was passing
through the crucial test Of his career
with sublime heroism. AS Christ's pop
ularity increased his decreased. Yet he
accepted the inevitable not with bitter
ness and burning jealousy, but increas.
ing faith in the claims and character OF
Christ. He believed Christ to be the
Messiah, because His character was di-
vine He knew that such one would
not promise what He could not fulfill
And what was a thorough conviction
with John the Baptizer has become the
lirrefutable proof of the centuries. The
Christian character of twice horn men
and women, and their unfaltering testi-
mony TO His living presence in their
souls during the severest prosecutions is
the Gibraltar of christian evidences.
John the Apostle. as an old saint, hav.
ing passed through the terrors of the
first persecution that in its successive
James Paul Peter and a multitude of
whom the world was not worthy, could
not be shaken in his personal expert
ences of his Lord. who died but is alive
forevermore. "This is the disciple which
testifeth Of these things and wrote
these things. and we know that his
testimony is true" John q "a. One
of the most Illuminating personal testi
.f
will do to make good its unparalleled
claims is that of the healed blind man
as recorded in the ninth chapter OF
Johns gospel How utterly silencet
were the bitter criticisms of the oppos
ing Pharisees hy those simple but al
persuasive words: Zone thing I know
that whereas / was blind. now 7 see"
Promise: "He came 20 save His people
from their sins" Proof: "Who hats
delivered ms from the power of dark
ness. and translated us into the king
dom of His dear SON
Promise: 10. ! am with You always
even unto the end of the world" Proof
81 know who | have believed and an
persuaded that he is able to keep tha
which have committed unto Hin
against that day" The testimony o
IAWi Ait NE'h
Promise: 81 60 to prepare a place TO
you And if | 60 and prepare a plac
, for You | will come again and receiv
, YOU unto Myself: that where | an
! there We may be also" Proof; "An
saw a new heaven and new earth.
"And !. John, saw the holy city. New
Jerusalem, coming down from God on
of heaven. prepared as a bride adorne
for her husband" "And God shall wip
away all the tears from their eyes; am
there shall be no more death, neithe
sorrow nor crying. neither shall ther
p be any more pain; for the forme
things have passed away" And thes
, GLORIOUS promises Of the blessed Goo
who So marveously fulfilled His word I
, the saints Of the Bible have been ful
(, filled in the lives of all Christian
Through the passing centuries and ar
now being fulfilled in our lives.
Suggestions.
Since this topic calls for an exper
h ence meeting it would be well fc
!, members 20 relate their own persons
= proofs OF the promise scorin- Gcd
addition to the testimony Of former an