The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-05-13
THE GOSPEL OF
THE SECOND MILE


Goodrich, preached in Hood River on
Sunday. May 2. and published by re-
quest of the congregation
"Whosoever shall compel thee to go
a mile, go with him twain" This is
one of the many sayings Of Christ
which seems out OF harmony with this
old world. From the first mile post,
the viewpoint of the world, it seems
unreasonable, impractical. From the
second mile post, the viewpoint of
Christ, it appears the gateway to a
larger and fuller life.
The world has long recognized the
gospel of the first mile. Ii is expressed
by such phrases as "Be honest, " "A
square deal, "Play fair" "Do your
duty" etc. 1t is a sound gospel as far
as it goes a gospel that is necessary
TO society to the church and to the
state. Jesus recognized its worth and
frequently used it as a basis for his
messages but he also recognized its
| limitations hence be announced
this-higher law the gospel of the Sec
ond mile.
What! Go farther than you are com
PEELED to 90? DO more than you are
expected to do? Give more than is
customary? Live on a higher plane
than the average? What a strange
gospel How can we make this our
gospel in this commercial age of oursf
1t is strange gospel to be sure, but
| the gospel this old world needs; the
gospel our churches need and must live
If they are'to be the power God would
have them be. There was time when
the followers of Christ regarded it
their privilege to witness for their
King even though it meant persecution
and death thought It their privilege to
live in such close touch with God that
Others thought them peculiar people.
Today the great mass of Christians
seems to have lost all thought of sacri,,
/ fee in their emphasis of individual
rights and privileges.
We have been wondering how Eng
land would hold up her end of the fight
in this present war if her soldiers we're
to emphasize their rights and privileges
as individuals as do the young people
of the church. After enlisting they
lose no time in letting the leaders know
that if there is anything hard to be
done they would like to be excused.
Roll call and drill is at ten o'clock, but
one says, "My tent needs mending, III
not co." another, 81 have a bit of 8
headache, I'll not co." another, "lt
won't be very interesting today guess
I'll go fishing
What kind of a showing would such (
company make when it came to test
Those young men who are in the from
ranks today had their individual rights
and privileges but for their country
sake they gladly laid them aside; fo
their country's sake they were willing
to 20 the second mile. And every tim,
we lay aside our own, whether it b,
time or money or pleasure for the sak'
of another we are living the gospel
the second mile.
Jesus himself was the greatest wit
ness of the worth of this gospel. Afte
he had finished his teaching about Co
and man and sin and redemption h.
might have said according, to the on
mile gospel, 81 have done my duty,
will now claim my rights" He nee'
not have climbed Calvary's hill, aC
cording to such gospel. He coul
] have claimed his rights, but this oil
, world would not have been redeeme
if he had. Paul was probably the mex
greatest witness. John u. PATIO
is another witness; and so is ever
Christian who dares 10 sacrifice for ar
other. Not only is the gospel o
the second mile practical one, but fo
every one who lives it there is a re
ward even now. Jesus put it this way
"There is no man that hath left hous
I or parents for the kingdom o
Il Gods sake, who shall not receive man
Il fold more in this present time.
Il This incident which happened a fey
| weeks ago will show how this trut
4 worked out for business man of Seat
/ tie. He had been attending series o
4 revival meetings. One night tn
H thought of sacrifice was emphasized
II As he walked home that night he aske
H himself, "What have | sacrificed fo
H my Christi" When he could think O
H nothing, second question came
Il "What can | sacrifice?" The though
H of his choice cigars came to him; h
I could see no harm in them, but recalIe
I that it was not question OF right
H wrong, but of sacrifice for the sake O
II another. Before he reached home h
II had decided to make such sacrifice
II A few days later he was at his usua
H club for lunch. Cigars were passe
II around; he took none. A week late
II when the same thing happened frien
II asked, ''What is the matter John, hav
II you joined the 'goody, goody gang?
II "Well," he SAID, ''you may call
that if you choose. 1t is this way
II AS most of you know |, have been
II member of church for IS years.
II have enjoyed my cigars for 20 year:
II 1t never occurred to me that it wa
III wrong to smoke, do not think it
II wrong, but | attended meeting tn
II other night and the thought of sacrifC
II was emphasized. found that ha
II sacrificed nothing for my Christ an
II when the thought came, Why not sal
II rifce your cigars, said, i will.
II have nothing more to say except thi
IL the Joy | have had these two weeks
II the thought of sacrificing something fl
II another has been more to me than an
II pleasure ever had from my cigars. !"
Y We could give similar incidents fro
other than business circles. Have yC
/ ever gone the second mile for yol
| King? If you have, you know that
road which appeared rough and har
seemed tinged with glory as you wake
along.
TX 0ayS for SuitcaSp Theft