The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-03-03

sZ by his Holy Spir-
1t. In the same letter Paul said the
reason his enemies were not allowed
naming in the flesh was more need
full for the service Christ had for him
to do, and doubtless this is true Of
all Christians.
Now, what is that service? The
text tells us that 1t is to witness for
Jesus Christ, and with the object Of
delivering, that is, saving souls.
There are many kinds of service
Christians ought to do for their fell
low men, and so far as our observa-
and intelligent disposition on their
part to do them. The emphasis laid
upon social service" has wrought
wonders in stirring protesting Chris
tians to perform their obligations to
society in a spirit of unselfishness, and
all classes are feeling the benefit. We
are all grateful for this, and trust the
pressure may not be released and
that the pulpit and the religious press
may continue that instruction and ex-
hortation we all need to perform our
duty.
But two thoughts occur to us, and
one is that we may engage in that
kind Of service without ever bearing
witness specifically to Jesus Christ,
and the other, that after we have rem
dered that service to our fellow men
they may still remain ignorant OF the
Gospel and dead in trespasses and
sins"
These things are true because so
cial service of certain kinds Is, even
at its highest level, only for the bet
terment of earthly conditions and
takes no cognizance of life beyond.
Men and women of the world with
kindly hearts may engage in it, who
themselves are quite ignorant OF the
new life in Christ Jesus, and whose
motives are merely humanitarian. In
deed the most selfish principles may
make us diligent in some forms Of So
cial service, for as we are lettering
the conditions of those around us we
are lettering our own.
Can we not easily see that this
necessitates no mention of Jesus
Christ, and especially no mention Of
him in that capacity which most truly
glorifies him, namely, his redemption
of human kind by his death upon the
cross? You meet beggar, let us say,
and you give him a nickel or dime
for cupful of coffee and a nights
lodging, and he thanks you for it. That
is. he thanks you for it, and there
the transaction ends.
But what Is it that stirs you to re-
spond to his appeal, simply the desire
to be rid of him or feeling of SYM
pathy for his need. But 1t may be
something else. 1t may be the love Of
your Savior in you, and for you, that
prompts the gift, and IL so, should not
the beggar be told of 1t that he, the
real giver, may receive the thanks?
Carry out this thought in other
form of social service and discover
where 1t leads. You will never be sat
isfied to do kind things for men with.
out letting them know in some way
that it is Christ in you that Is do
ing It.
But suppose we go further. You
may be engaged in service more strict
ly Christian, and yet be negligent Of
your supreme obligation to win souls
to Christ. Sunday school teachers
are often lacking in desire and ability
to engage in personal evangelism, and
hence boys and girls, and young men
and young women remain In their
classes year in and year out, without
being moved to cross the line from
darkness to light, from death to life.
There are ministers greatly lacking In
the same regard and worse than all.
Christian parents who never think OF
dealing personally with their children
on the subject OF their conversion to
and salvation by Christ. Is not this
awful to contemplate?
Let this message close with a prac-
tical suggestion. Is there an evangel-
istic meeting now in progress not
very far away? What splendid OPP
portunity for you to do personal evan
gelism, to witness for Jesus Christi
When the evangelist calls for personal
workers volunteer your service and
begin In earnest to work for souls.
And II you are too timid or too liz.
norant for the Gospel to do that, here
Is something else you can do. You
can invite some unsaved friend or ac-
quaintance to go with you to the meet
ing, that someone else may labor with
him there.