The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-08-19
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Personal Responsibility
To the Editor of The Republican.

can remove it. not even the whimper-
ings Of christian science can do this.
Our friends may soothe our last
moments by prayers and affection, but
we die alone. So we carry alone and
apart from others our burden Of re-
sponsibility, fraility and sorrow. Yet
this sense of responsibility msy be
destroyed by the assumptions of
ecclesiasticism.
Gods word plainly teaches our re-
sponsibility, and to weaken this sense
you injure the man in every way. II
church undertakes to look after the
salvation of the soul. it does what 1t
can to ruin that soul. A statesman
little while ago spoke of 'Decaying
Nations. These are the ones, e aere
this form Of ecciesiasticism prevails.
The reason Is that the assumptions,
whether of church or individual, limit,
injure and destroy the sense Of personal
responsibility. Whenever a church
does your thinking for you, tells you
what to believe, assumes the burden of
your sins and supplies your deficiencies
out Of its treasury, it simply claims to
see you through. We may throw our
responsibility on another but we injure
our sense of responsibility and for it
get false peace. Can you get rid Of
the atmospheric pressure that is upon
you? You can if you will get under an
air pump but breath and life will go too.
Anything that diminishes the pressure
Of responsibility paralyzes civilization.
Destroy the sense Of responsibility
and you break the handspring Of
progress and power.
We must bear our burden. We need
not infer from this individuality of
position that we are to neglect social
relations, nor adopt selfish isolation IN
human relations, but we need to be very
chary of harsh judgments upon others
when we have our own imperfections
and intirmities to answer for. To bear
hard on others does not tighten our own
responsibilities. By bearing the burdens
Of others we fulfil the law Of Christ.
Mutual dependence is the law of nature.
There are many worlds but only one
universe.
We can bear for one another the
burden Of want or poverty.
Some cant help their poverty. Trade
never will be conducted on Christian
business principles, as long as sin and
selfishness are II the heart. Some could
prevent their poverty were they not
so proud and lazy. 10 help The needy
is for our good, We can help also bear
the burden OF afIliction, sickness, be-
reavement and such like.
We may likewise bear the burden of
spiritual need We can't shift this,
neither can we refuse it or lay it down
at pleasure. We are here and we can't
help it, the thing for US to do then is TO
meet our responsibility and carry our
pack.
Our Creator has ordained our coming
and made US responsible creatures. He
requires Of US repentance for sin and
faith in the Saviour. 1t was imposed
by virtue Of Gods sovereignty.
1t is enough to know that GOD wants
US to be saved. Do we object 70 His
way? 1t is not question of preference
but of obedience. Nor is it question
Of time, for it is now.
1t is our peril to delay The Divine will
must rule our disposition Of our time,
talents and property. We must act for
ourselves, we must trust for ourselves.
If we 90 not, 10 mortal on earth can do
it for u.s. We must work out our own
salvation in personal penitence, faith,
service and sacrifice.
No one can pray, give work or read
the Bible in our stead Would you have
strong character, you must have re-
sponiblity for out of that weight comes
the weight of glory
Be true to your conviction Of right.
Some would lead US to ruin. but why
should we ruin ourselves to crafty
others. If we allow men to influence
US more than God, we think more of
them than Of God. Can they relieve US
of the consequence of our acts? We
cannot be forced TO sin against our will.
If 50 then sin is no more sin-victim Of
environment! Not bit of it. Rise above
and be master of them. We may bear
our burden irksomely or lightly. One is
cheerful and light hearted, another is
heavy hearted.
The Saviour took the weight of guilt
out of our burden and by grace we can
movefreely in the groove of His purpose.
Realize your responsibility, it strength
ems your character. Do not. try to
limit or escape it. 1t distinguishes you
from things and brutes. You are of no
account unless you assume respon-
sibilty, respect it, you stand out as if
you were the only one on the planet
Show thy self a man and emphasize
your individuality.
While you can't place your burden on
your brother, you may lean on God
Does He know the ocean? Yes and the
drops as well. He knows not the