South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-14

sees were guilty OF this sin, for Jesus
accused them Of making clean the
outside of the platter while lnWaTuly
they were full OF WiCkedness. 1 nave
met many living irreligiously VINO.
because thew had once been converted
and were stiI members OF the churctf
think they will be saved. others L
have met who simply because they
are officials in the church, THINK thal
that gives them some preference over
others in their standing with COO, Out
Jesus said 10 such, Woe unto you,
Pharisees; for ye love the uppermost
seats in the SynagOgues, and greetings
IN the markets To depend upon
profession of religion. or official posi-
ton in the house of God for salvation
is to depend upon a broken reed, or TO
build a house upon the sand; all sucn
persons are shams, and not real
Christians; because of them many
right thinking men are kept out OF the
church. To such l would say, BE
not deceived; God is not Knocked. II
seems almost incredible that in this
enlightened day there are persons of
the character 1 am describing, but 1t
is a sad fact that all who are observ-
ant cannot fail TO see.
3. Depending Upon Works of Be-
nevOlence Is MOckery. Proper forms
and ceremonies are well in their
place. conversion Is eESenlldis tnulNH
membership is laudable, and il is an
honor TO be an official in the church
of Christ. while every Christian IS
necessarily benevolent but to give
any Of these things, or all Of them
combined, saving virtue is as contrary
to common sense as it is to the teach
ing Of Jesus. Jesus said. But woe
unto you, Pharisees, for We 1.-THE mint
and rue and all manner of herbs. and
God; these ought We to. have done and
not to leave the other undOne." OF
course it is right 10 pay ten per cent
of our income TO God, no matter
whether il comes from small things
or big enterprises, but To think that
there is any virtue in this, when we
are not living in harmony with God,
is to deceive ourselves and TO be guilty
of leading a sham life. | fear there
are many rich men who depend upon
their large gifts to benevolent lnsu-
tutiOns to recommend them TO God,
or give them a right to heaven. 1t is
certainly laudable for wealthy men TO
give of their wealth to benevolence,
but it is great folly to suppose that
these gifts will in any way recommend
them to God. except as sinners they
have come TO him for salvation.
4. Depending Upon Any DOctrinal
Test OF Righteousness Is MockeGy.
With rare exceptions the saying u
true. that the heretics of one genera
ton are the saints Of the next. Jesus
and his apostles. and all the martyrs,
n all the centuries since their time
were put to death because of their
advocacy of doctrines contrary to the
belief of then church. when, their
enemies being judges. they lived
sanity lives. 1t was criminal in those
days to think and teach contrary to
the accepted standards. Jesus said,
Woe unto YOU also, We lawyers, for
We lade men with burdens grievOus to
be borne. and We yourselves touch not
the burden with one of your fin5ers.
I have known ministers to vote for
lh5 expulsion of goGiy man from
the church because he taught doc
trine contrary TO the standards, while
those thus voting privately expressed
similar views. but dared not advo-
cate them publicly. These, 1 think.
are men like the lawyers whom Jesus
1enounces The test of character,
and fitness for membership in the
Christian church, is righteousness.
Copyright. 1915, by E. s. Davidson.)