South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-15
TELLS STORY OF
GOOD SAMARITAN
Rev. J. L. Gardiner Utilities
Biblical Tale to illustrate
Good Will Spirit

Or. James l.. Gardiner. pastor Of
ST. Pauls Methodist church, spoke on
the subject, The Good Samaritan"
Sunday morning. In speaking on the
way in which the people Of the city
should feel towards the charity cam
paign he used me story as follows:
The story OF the Good Samaritan
is one which for depth and intensity
OF feeling has never been surpassed
save by the matchless story OF the
Prodigal Son
"A lawyer came 10 Jesus asking
question. That is not an uncommon
thing for lawyers TO do The lawyer
however. in this case was not a lawyer
OF civil courts; he was "A lawyer in
the sense that he was an expert in
ecclesiastical law lie was what We
call today divinity student He was
q doctor OF sacred theology.
The lawyer prOpOunded this ques-
ton TO Jesus. What shall I do to in
herit eternal life?' Jesus Christ by
way OF reply summed up religion in
two things-lOve for God and love for
man, Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart and thy neigh
Dor as myself This do said the
Ghrist, and thou shall inherit eternal
life
Lawyer Not Satisfied.
But the lawyer was not satisfied
IL is not always easy TO satisfy law
yers Of civil or ecclesiastical courts
The narrative says. But he-the law
yer-willing 10 Justify himself, asked
Who is my neighbour" VIII you
kindly notice the expression. willing
10 Justify himself How many people
nowadays spend much time and
strength in this exercise-trying TO
justify themselves. No matter what
kind OF life some men live they seek
when brought face TO face with the
facts 20 justify themselves.
Now here was a lawyer who no
doubt had the form OF religion, but
who lacked the true spirit OF Chris
tianity. OutwardIy he kept the law
but inwardly he lacked the spirit OF
love for God and neighbor. 1t was in
reply to this mans question. Who is
my neighbor,' that Jesus told his
touching story OF the Good Samaritan
And what is the teaching OF this
parable with which you are all fam
iliar and which we read this morn
ing in your hearing. 1t is this: Any
religion, no matter how formal. no
matter how orthodox. which lacks the
true milk OF human kindness is not
worthy of the name Of Christian.
Let us learn from this story the
utter hOllOwness of formal religion.
Let us learn tnat no matter how faith
ful we may be to the outward form
of religion il we have not the spirit
of Christ within-the spirit of love for
or fellOwman and especially for the
man in need, we ara none Of Christ's
Let us learn that religion consists in
two things-being and dOing-in char
acter and service. This parable lays
emphasis on the necessity of service
OF manifesting our Christianity by our
deeds.
Are We Samaritans?
This. dear friends is Good viii
week in South Bend. Do we belong
TO the Church of Good Samaritans?
Then we will thank God that we have
the opportunity OF givink toward the
IL philanthrOpic causes which are rep
resented in our city by the Federation
OF Social Service
us your religion Of the Good Samar-
itan type? Then ii will express itself
in a practical way. You will. welcome
the privilege Of giving in the name
of Christ toward these institutions
which have for their object the les
SEEMING OF pain and the binding up of
the wounds Of our fellowmen, many Of
whom have not much of this
worlds goods as We have.
do we belong TO the Church Of
Good Samaritan Then greet the So
licitOr who knocks at your door this
week with n smile and say You are
welcome. and / gladly give toward
these splendid charitable institutions
OF our city. May we all demonstrate
as We have opportunity that our re-
ligion is religion of service as well
as of character"