The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-11-11

L - general u DJect
un d er considera-
ton, is most practical and timely
This text suggests religion, the re-
ligion Of him who spoke the words,
and we desire to insist that this re-
ligion should be the supreme thing In
life, its lack being promptly acknoWt
edged.
The apostle James does not give
definition OF religion when he says
pure religion and undeflled before
God and the father is this, to VISIT
the fatherless and widows in their al
| Fiction, and to keep himself unspot-
| ted from the world" Two elements
of religion only here appear, that
which is broadly called charity, which
with many is nothing more than al
truism, and separation from the
world, which has been designated re-
Gently as aloofness. In religion there
is something that is positive, lit must
| go beyond kind deeds to the needy
and retirement from the world.
great theologian defines religion as
| the sum of the relations which man
sustains to God, and comprises the
truths. the experiences, the actions
and institutions which correspond to.
or grow out of those relations.
AS thus defined religion must be
the supreme thing in life. This life
may be of the community, for no COM
munity realizes the acme OF social
happiness unless 1t is in corporate
way respectful to the elements OF re-
ugion Just presented; but we desire
to place the emphasis on the tndi-
yidual life. We would not do this be-
cause we ignore community life. but
because reaching the Individual lives
that make the community we reach
the community in way that Is In
finitely more satisfactory than by
reaching 1t in it's corporate capacity.
We would not confuse any individual
by calling his attention to religion as
supreme in the community, but as su-
preme in himself.
| The first reason for this is that
God commands it as in the text an
nounced, as creator, preserver. daily
benefactor and guarantor of blessings
on man, the value of which cannot be
measured. This right Of God to com
mand is denied by many, and not
even word of thanksgiving for the
daily blessings of life, nor prayer
for their continuance is heard, ex-
cept from very few.
The universal belief in the immor-
tally of the soul of man puts en-
phasis on the value of the perma-
nent. Religion directly affects the
permanent. It emphasizes that which
is beyond this life yet one of the
strange things of human experience
is that multitudes come to the end
Of life as if there was nothing be-
yond. The old prophets prepare to
meet thy Cod is not mere matter
of historical interest, 1t should ring
in the ears of every living man and
woman. After death there is judg
ment appointed of God, and the
Judge has likewise been appointed
But what are the issues of judgment
In short, heaven and hell. Yet how
cynically these great facts are thought
of and spoken about, but religion pro
Vides for the winning Of the one, and
escaping the other. If heaven anf
hell are myths, there must be re
vision not only of the teachings o.
Jesus Christ and his apostles, but o.
the moral philosophy of all the ages
II these great facts of the beyond
were a more permanent element II
the evangel of the day, that evange
would be far more effective.
Another reason why religion SHOULD
be supreme is that the worry of meI
and women over the things of small
Importance would disappear. II
close connection with this text Jesus
spoke of the anxious care for foot
: and clothing. That is what is eatini
L out the life of multitudes today
something entirely unnecessary.
religion is made supreme. food, cloth
2 ing, housing and the like, will be add
. ed by God. God sees to 1t that thos
q who obey his command. and recogniz
q the purpose of their being are pro
2 vided for. for as Father he know
y that men have need of all thes
?. things, and yet supplying them h
! never puts premium on laziness o
u unthrift.
,, The word first as used here may
g taken first as referring to interest Q
e concern. At this point even littl
q thought as to what religion can
for man would increase this cencerr
% But the word may mean first in tim'
It and the text might be paraphrased !
b this way, become religious by takin
o the initial step of believing in Jesu
re Christ, and do It without ms
ment's delay.