South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-06-26
STANDARDS Of
LIVING TOO LOW
Rev. 7. ]. Parsons Warns
Against Trying to Pull
Christ to Our Level.

'sGoral Standards az the Kingdom
Dr. Heaven. was the theme used bE
ev r. J Parsons pastor OF quincy
street BAPTIST church sunday morn
nE. This was the third discourse
n the general subject The sermon
5n the Mount The minister eX-
pounded on the fifth chapter Of
Matthew. saying Ina part.
'It is with a profound sense OF my
)wn Incompetence that ] present this
heme for your consideration. q feel
ng akin to that which is felt in the
presence Of towering mountain.
.he rolling waters ol the ocean, or
ne awe-inspiring cataract Of Mag
IRA. Here we sat az the feet of
Master. and listen 20 such words
A. none other man ever spake. here
ac fath0m the depths. scale the
leights. and measure the length and
breadth Of the moral standards gov
-rning the kingdom of God, as they
smanated from the mind and heart
~ the Divine Father and are re-
.ealed unto us by His son Jesus
hrist. Let us approach the subject
aith prayeTful reverence
The key phrase Of this passaee IS.
q SAY unto You. Nine times Is 10 re-
corded IN these verses and indicates
hat Christ is the supreme author
~ for Christians. and not the state
society. church. nor even Moses.
'hrist Isl frequently boz conflict with
public opinion and custom. civil
statutes have frequently driven
christ into the wilderness on cast
'hristendOm has WOefully msulted
me Lord by srrogating 10 itself pre-
negatives which belong alone 20 the
hrist. Moses was but the embryo
rom which is developed the full
ledged life. Christ alone rs the Way.
the Truth and the Life, the All-Suf-
icieut.
Christ did not abrOgate the deca-
l0guc OF Sinai. for it was given at
the hand OF God and IS fundamental
la human society. but lie came 20
amplify. intensity and fulfill even TO
The smallest detail as expressed in
The jot and title. The Pharisees
were profesSedly the opponents Of
the Mosaic law and the religious
leaders Of the day; but in the TWEEN
ty-third chapter Of Matthew you viii
find seven sUathing denunciations
pronounced upon them by the Lord.
and here in the Sermon on the
Mount. He says. except your right
eOusness shall exceed that Of the
scribes and PhaTisees, ye shall in
no wise enter into the kingdom OF
heaven. Now. before YOU despatch
the PhaTisees TO hell catalogue the
things ne did and you viii find he
prayed frequently. he was on hand
at church. he gave a tenth of his in
come and more 10 religious work and
charity, and was very strict i'm his
observance of the rites of his relig-
ion. How do you compare with the
Pharisee?
In five specific contrasts. Christ
condemns the common practices of
modern society. Anger is murder.
lustful desire is adultery. SO is di-
vorce followed by remarriage Tex
cept for a statutory offeuseJ. the
taking Of oats is profanity, retalia-
ton is sin, and hating an enemy is
unChristian. Christs new command
ment Of love is the universal solvent
for all differences in the kingdom
of heaven. Love your enemies, pray
for your prosecutors, give "a kindly
salutation TO all men.
What on immeasurable distance
between us and Christ Do not say
the standard is too high, it is our
living that is too low; do not try TO
pull Christ down 90 our level but
rather lift our lives 10 His standard.
striving for the grand objective. We
therefore shall be perfect as your
heavenly Father is perfect May
God help rs so To- do"