Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-17

brew, the Greek or the Latin? All
these people hau thelr era Of pre-
dominance, but all had 90 give way
In time TO other leaders OF other
races All in turn held up the torch
Of enlightenment, and Il Is now in our
hands. Is i possible there will be no
change? May not a thousand years
from now find the stronghold Of cul-
ture, Of religion and Of power i'm
lands and among people of differ
ent cline and different race? We
are no more entitled TO monopoly
OF Gods favor than were the Jews,
who had Abraham TO their father
UnguIded Zeal
We are apt very often to give too
much credit 70 an unreasoning zeal.
II Is well that We should have a con
secrstlon TO righteousness and 2
burning desire to go forth and con
quer In Gods name. How often,
though, this zeal is q damage, rather
than a help, because It IL not temp
cred with judgment-to be explicit,
what we ordinarily call common
sense. II is very easy for jealous
Christian to drive human souls away
from Christ, when he thinks ne is
drawing them to him one reason is
that he may be uncharltable and Sc
understand or sympathlze with their
aspirations. or TO comprehend their
battles with temptations; seeking to
drive them into the church with
club instead of persuading them in
brotherly love Others there are who
patronize the sinner, as though Il was
great favor for a superior being TO
invite him to come up on a higher
plane. Others mistake their own in
divldual notions for Gods commands
and try TO make humanity conform
TO homemade specifications in fact,
this is an error frequently committed
by preachers in the pulpit, who em-
phasiZe their own dictates as though
II We're q matter Of thus saith the
Lord" All OF these are Jealous, but
they need TO learn from Gideon. to
carefully and prayerfully assure
themselves OF Gods authority and
support, and then fearlessly to go for
word without regard to the wrath
and power OF man. We do not want
any less zeal, but we do want that
zeal to be guided and controlled by
wisdom from on high; for unwise
zeal crucified Christ, stoned Stephen,
and burned numerous martyrs at the
stake. Undirected pious zeal is one
of the devils best weapons TO hinder
a
Gideon, backed by the Lord is with
thee Is more powerful than an army
with banners.
Humility and Timidity.
Humility is a great virtue and is
indispensable TO the man who would
be a true and a profitable child OF
God. Many men. like Moses and
Gideon, have had a heavenly call to
undertake things they felt really in
competent to carry out; yet such
man, II he is honest with himself and
with his God, will bravely 30 for
ward In the consciousness OF divine
support. Both OF these men Just
mentioned felt themselves untitled to
be Gods instrument In a great work,
not because they were unwilling to
obey, but because they thought there
were other men more capable. HUI
mility Is not tlmidity, although one
is often mistaken for the other. 1t
Is humility TO In honor prefer an
other man above yourself, but it Is
timldity to refuse to accept the duty
thrust upon you because you believe
others could do 1t better. Humility,
when backed by the Lord is with
thee" is more powerful than armies
and navies; but timidity is cowardice
and a sinful lack of faith in God s
power. Many man is chosen to
undertake some, good work who
weakly lodges responsibility by in
sisting that somebody else Is more
capable. Yet It is the men who are
most keenly conscious Of their un-
worthlness to whom God comes with
his biggest commissions, Napoleons
may shine in military conquests, but
God never calls on the proud and the
"a N
The man who eXerts himself to keep
in the limellght is not a safe guide
to follow, for the chances are his ef-
forts are more devoted to personal
glory than to the glory of God or
the well-being OF the race. Many
good men are led into public notice
and honor by the great works they
have done in Gods service but there
are others who resort to widespread
publication Of their sermons aud
photographs and TO free motion pic
lures TO keep the public from for
getting their importance. 1t is no
sin for a man to achieve greatness
In conscientiously doing his duty; but
hell is full of men who have used
the livery Of the church to accomp-
lish the glorification of themselves.
Gideon became famous because he
obeyed, but the naughty Nebuchad-
nezzar was humiliated to the level of
the beasts OF the field.
Defying Public Sentiment.
The question is often raised about
how far a Christian should go In de-
fiance of public sentiment. Gideon
destroyed the altar of Baal, although
ne knew the act would bring down
upon him the vindlctive anger of the
people, but he hesitated not to do
what the Lord commanded. The safe
rule is to consult the thus saith the
Lord" and II obedience means dis
aster, financial loss, ostracism or per-
secution, remember how much the
faithful in all ages have suffered for
their faith and remember the greater
degree of glory that awaits the mar
tyr in the life to come. Paups ad-
vice TO In Rome "do as the Romans
do" is also good rule, but 1t has
been much misconstrued. We can do
much more good for the Lord when
we do not constantly antagonize the
customs and manners Of our neigh
xtot pouvharn "a Justified In