The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-10-29

49,:
REySAMUELW pURVlS,D.D |
WAS CHRIST A cHRIsTlAN7
Text, For which cause he is not asham-
ed to call them brethren. Heb, H. Ii
1.-The disciples were called Christians nrsf
at Antioch. Acts, xi. a6
listened shortly ago to ii brilliant
skeptic | like those clever Philistines
They sometimes put burr under the
saddle of our religious self comFia
cency How did prance mentally uE
der the stings. He asked: Was your
Christ a Christian: Well. il he was
all Christianity died with its founder
If lie came to this town he wouldn't
find his ualne OH the church doors. He
would 500 Methodist. Baptist. Presby-
would hear endless discussion on rit-
ual, creed. church authority. apostolic
succession, mode of baptism. Scrip
turil Interpretation In this nation
alone he would find 300 denominations
fervidly talking Christianity. but with
Il sectaran knife in their belt. How
those Christians love each other" he
added, lis evident from the way they
build without necessity rival churches
on opposite corners and try to starve
each other out. Christian nations have
biggest super Dreadnoughts, heaviest
guns and most skilled weaponry for
killing weaker folk 1t is the Christian
peoples who are most feverishiy anx-
ious what they shall eat drink and
wherewithal they shall he clothed. for
getting that after these things do the
gentiies seek 1t is the Christian folks
who are frantic to gain wealth. when
their master said. How hardly shall
they who have riches enter into the
Kingdom Their Lord told them not to
labor for houses and lands and the
things that perish. but they aid and
abet strikes. lockouts. wealth. overty.
depression. imitation. Stand in the
market places of tue Christian and no
tice his air of brotherly unseltishness
and his trustful leisure" Whew: Now
| understanu the Office of Diabolos.
The Term Of Reproach.
/ will be loaded for that peace de
stroying skeptic Iext time The dis
cipieS were first called Christians at
Antioch. that beautiful but vile Greek
city, where was practiced as religion
things We blush to read about Hither
to they had been called "Gall!eaHs
and "Nazarenes" in derision Now they
are dubbed "Christians" after the
celebrated crucifed criminal that term
would shame the disciples into silence
sulely Those early Christians never
seemed to apply the name to themselves
or to their church; indeed there We're no
church buildings as such. mentioned
in the acts of the Apostles The name
Christian was IL crime. Il reproach. to
bear it Il punishment. for the first cen
fury and half Finally they must
have recognized the tituess of the term
They must have said. "iuu call us
Christ men; that We are, and that we
! hope to be forever" Now kings. nj
lions. sects. institutions. delight to cali
themselves Christian Yesterday the
name of Christianity suggested the
name and memory Of Christ only,
today it suggests philosophy. philan
| thropy. Christendom; the best OF
| everything the world contains Of art
| literature music. craftsmanship. To
call Il man real Christian is to honor
him. The reproaeh of my intidel friend
| was that we fall so far short OF our
| leader
| What Is a Christian!
That's all easy one. Just turn to the
| dictiorary-"a disciple Of Jesus Christ
one whose profession and life conform
t. the teaching and example Of Christ
a member of Christian church" Ru,
we are men subject to all the !in,ita
| tions Of humanity We blunder along
| seeing through glass darby tightins
| sin without and within. II con!inua
struggle IF we say we have 10 sii
we deceive ourselves and the truth |:
not IN us" We are church nlem.sprs
followers of various creeds. apparentl,
| at variance with each other. We ur,
at best an association OF peniient sin
ners. although some of us won't ron
| fess that. Occasionally one will I'D
nit. The good I would | do not. ant
| the evil would not that do" Niue!
Of our Worship is mu1n,nery and dnml
! show. lots Of it for exhibition purpose
ministers preaching themselves instead
Of Christ. laymen living rs If ihrr,
were no God. great mutitudes crowd
ing out Christ with creed. Nntic,
christ's rule for admission to his king
dom-a child The characteristic o
childhood is openmindedness and trust
| fuiness Follow me- said he to tn,
fishermen. land | will make yo,, fish
ars of men" Five words are used II,
which New Testament Christians ar
designated = disciple. schuif: he
lever. faithful one. follower or sol
aier. brethren, member Of the house
hold: saint. or Il holy one. Ger til,
terms-one seeking to learn. a faithful
one; one enlisted in Christ's service,
hi other to all; holy one given up t,
the ambition to he Christlike
Was Christ a Christian?
What shall we say. then-was Chris
u Christian? Could he have fellowship
with such feeble and imperfect folks
Would he fraternize with twentieth
century followers? Yes: Christ was
Christian. AS we are? No; ten thou
sand times ten thousand no. No, q
ideal of the worlds millions-yes /
the finger of scorn. the glance of con
tempt. the reproaeh of the scoffer. tn