The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-07-30
ASATURDAY
o. NIGHT
SERMONS
By
RExSANunw .puRNnll
WHY 1 AN a CHRISTIAN.


Why are you Christian? Suppose
Mohammedan. a Hindu or Confu-
clan were to ask you that question
What would be your answer: Or sup
pose some day your infideI shopmate
asks you not In bitterness. but in sin
certify. What would you say! "A
Christian" Pshaw! If he would only
ask you why you were.a Baptist,
Methodist or Presbyterian you could
answer him pat-maybe. One ought
to have belief and ought to be able
to state it. A belief holds the same
relation to religion that skeleton
holds to the human body On the per
lection of the skeleton depends the
effectiveness of the whole voluntary
motor system of muscles. while the
most living elements of the blood. the
red corpuscles. owe their origin and
constant renewal to the marrow of
the bone. Only in the most simple
organism is there no skeleton needed
hut u belief isn't ones whole religion
any more than II skeleton is ones
whole self. 1t is not faith in belief
that saves one. but whatsoever be-
iieveth in the Lord Jesus Christ shall
be saved" You are Christian be-
canse Of
Christianitys God.
The proper study of mankind is
God Other questions. revelation. mir
acles, prayer. are secondary God first.
God the God. not kant's Unknown
Cause" or Spencer's "Unknowable."
hut the present. living God Theosophy
says "Ali is Cod" Christian Science
says God is ALL" atheism says There
is no Cod" agnosticism says Il don't
know God;" Christianity says Il be-
'ieve In God. Father almighty. maker
Of heaven and EARTH ''All is God"
makes every stick. stock and stone
God. fear that belittles him God
is air. makes him responsible for all.
every dive and devil fear that de-
grades him In the midst Of gibbering
organism and muttering infidelity hear
him speak-"Be still and know that
am Cod" No words can define God,
Words are finite; God Is infinite.
Neither Bible nor Christ attempts
to prove Gods existence They take
it for granted. He Is the Creator.
See that lighted lamp on your table?
Some one made it. lit 1t and placed 1t
there Take out your watch. see the
works. Wonderful. aren't they: Some
uie designed it. God is i; person: SO
are you. You have been brought into
existence by some one Mt least as per-
feet MS Yourself. A river cannot rise
higher than its source God is Il Fa-
Their: God Is love. can understand
that have a baby, curly haired lit
tie miss. in the crib yonder am also
Christian because Of
christianity's Bible.
A revelation was needed 1t was
possible God had intelligence to trans
nit. man to receive. The medium was
spirit. spirit of God. spirit of man
Now see its fruits Nations are mold
ed by their sacred books-Hindus by
vedas. Chinese by Four Books. Moham-
tnedans by Koran. The answer to
Wuking Is China, the Sinister India.
Koran Turkey, Bible England and
America. 1t is a book of revelation
and morals. not science 1t points out
weakness of good men and bad men.
1t is guidebook. 1t reveals God. ex-
plains man, forecasts eternity and
gives the only remedy for sin. Amid
ancient aud modern unbelief 1t has
won title 1.-The impregnable rock"
Age? When Shakespeare was a child
the book was 5000 years old Before
the father Of English literature began
to write its stery was read in tents
of eastern shepherds Parts of the
book were in existence 700 years be-
fore foundation of Rome. the laws OF
Moses before Greece became CON-
monwealth. The book of Job ante
dates the fall of Troy But why spec
ify? I'm the beginning was the word "
You are Christian because Of
christianisy's Christ.
In statuary hall in capitol who is
your hero: Beginning alphabetically
with Ethan Allen. hero OF Ticonderoga.
down to Daniel Webster. expounder Of
constitution. which is your hero? Is