The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-12-21
CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTIANITY.

The Dirtn OF CnFlSG CndThcu tue passing |
of that gloomy period in the history OF
mankind when men expected nothing |
after this life save oblivion or sad
wandering in dark regions during an
eternity of loneliness. The early relig-
ion of the Jews held out little or no hope |
of another life and their kinsmen OF
Chaldea expected no other Immortality
than a wandering of shadows in twi-
light underworld. In later Jewish times,
prior to the birth of Christ, the idea OF
the Immortality Of the soul had taken
form among the religious leaders, but
there were yet many Jews who held to
the contrary. All believed in the CON-
ing of Messiah, but the Messiah was to
be an earthly ruler of men to restore the
Jewish kingdom to prosperity and
splendor.
No wonder, then, that Christ, who
told the Jews that he had come as the
long promised leader, was coldly re-
ceiyed by people who looked for the
restoration Of the empire of David and
Solomon. He was poor carpenter, clad
in the garments of laborer and con-
sorted with fishermen. He said nothing
about throne of ivory and gold, nor
did he offer to drive the cruel Romans
from Jerusalem. The wealthy class
turned away at. first, and later when He
began to gain influence among the poor,
they turned jealousy to prosecuting
Him; for the poor then, as now, were
the constituency. Some few rich men,
who had heard of the promise of eternal
life, asked the conditions of such saliva
ton, but when they had heard them
they turned sorrowfully away.
Nineteen hundred and seventeenyears
ago the world paid taxes and furnished
slaves for the most ruthless race OF
soldier-masters the earth has sever known.
Rebellion after rebellion had resulted in
more slaves for the conquerors and
greater misery for the conquered. Gen.
orally among the subjected nations there
were left few of the native property
owning class. The remaining people
were slaves or those who lived as free
workers only to the end that they might
pay taxes to the Romans. 1t was a
bitter life that the Jews were living, but
their native princes and priests dreamed
of turning the complainings Of the people
into rebellion, and few years later they
did rebel and were swept away ano
ceased to be a nation.
Il was under the social conditions as
outlined that Christ was born in man.
ger at the poor hamlet of Bethlehem, in
Judea, where his parents had come tt
pay taxes to the Romans. Poor he was
born, though descendant of Kin
David; in poverty He lived, and for dis
ciples lowly men were chosen. Tit
greatest of the apostles was Paul thu
journeyman tent-maker of Tarsus.
Christ-seems to have had some of TIT
members of the upper classes among Hi
audiences but not one is mentioned as
devoted follower. His preachings ap
pealed to the poor because there wa
then no hope of betterment for them il
this world and they gladly accepted tn
promise of a brighter world to come
And it was several centuries befor
Christianity became very prevalent i
the influential classes. 1t began as
poor mans religion and continued 6
until SO many of the commoners wer
Christians that the governing elias
adopted it as the state religion.
Christianity promises no m ateri a
rewards. It's founder showed no fond
ness for wealth nor preference for tn
wealthy. He seems to have discourage
the pursuit Of wealth among His follow
ers and discredited it in those who pos
sessed it. He never built a place {
worship, nor does He seem to have sug
gested the building of temples. He le
much for posterity to settle as the occa
sion demanded.
A reformer of morals and of societ
in the modern sense He certainly We
not. He pitied more than He condemne
and forgave before saying "Sin n
more.' Hypocrisy was His create
aversion and the harshest languag
addressed to men was spoken to tt
Pharisees, who strictly observed tt
letter of the law hut lacked the spirit {
we'll doing.
The Lords Prayer and the Institute
of the Last Supper were the only form
ulas of religious worship that He left ,
but mutual help and service was recon
menaed by example and prescribed
words. Charity, in its modern accepts
tion and practice, was not stressed. Lo'
was to make the giving of aims to Il
unfortunate a matter of course, ar
never condescension. Even the wicke
were not to be denied division of goos
and if one forcibly took the coat from
disciples back the cloak was to be free
given also. Nonresistance to oppressie
was taught and hatred of the oppress
was forbidden. The wicked were tt
most unfortunate of men and were to
redeemed from their wickedness by low
To this end good was to be retur ed Fl
evil and pity rather than condemnatie
was the attitude of Christ toward wickt
men.
To the beclouded mind of the wise
of mortals all this was so unusual al