The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-01
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
By w. T. ELLIS

a shifting soldier with sword of con-
troversy. For ne was a first-class
fighting man. 1t seemed to him the
more Christian way to give those in
terlopers at Athens a chance to prac-
tice the virtues of resignation and hu-.
initiation. 1t is better to wipe out
plague than to flee from it, Paul was
not the sort of citizen who would flee
to a pleasant suburb and let the city
go to the devil Instead, he would stay
and help clean up the city. In this
spirit he undertook to enlighten the
misled Corinthian Christians, and to
contend with their usurping leaders
While he offers it with diffidence
and apologies, having all of a strong
mans dislike for Boosting. Paul never
theless submits his own character and
achievements as Exhibit A in the
great controversy. Really the whole
case rested on the character OF the
apostles.
| That is why it is such an awesome
| thing to be a preacher or a Christian
| leader. What if Dwight L. Moody had
been a CRATER, and the world MAD
found it out. What if Robert E. Speer
| should be discovered to be an idle,
self-seeking lover of money and of
notoriety? Imagine John r. Mott put
| ting his own comfort and reputation
and bank account above the Christian
| ization of the world! The conse-
| quence would be calamitous for all
| Christendom.
| Whoever dares to accept a place of
| leadership in Christian service there
up to the ideals of Jesus that is moth
| ing less than tremendous. A noble
| Atlanta layman said to me not long
since in discussing the retirement OF
| two laymen from places of Christian
leadership into private employ.
tell you, this sort of thing is having
| a terrible effect upon our laymen. we
| have followed these men for years,
and now they seem to null1fy every
| thing they have ever taught by turning
! aside from the big work and looking
| out for themselves" As in cruSad1ng
days, the knight who takes the cross
! on his arm must surrender private
aims and quests. For the Christian is
| himself a vindication of his message
and ministry.
| In this great Corinthian controversy,
/ Paul could submit his life as evidence.
His case, freely paraphrased, to show
the magnitude of his heroic sufferings
and activities, ran like this:
"I have been as bold as the best.
81 am anybodys equal as a Hebrew
and Israelite.
/ II have been myself a minister OF
Christ,
/ By labors more abundant,
By stripe without number,
/ By frequent Imprisonment,
By danger of death many times,
ITO particularize, here is a part OF
i my record:
Five times the Jews beat me with
thirty-nine stripes;
Three times L have been beaten with
Roman rods;
Once l was stoned;
Thrice I was shipwrecked, being afloat
twenty-four hours in the open sea
I'm my travels L have undergone:
PerilS of waters,
PerilS of robbers,
Perils from my countrymen,
Perils from the heather,
Perils in the city,
Perils in the desert,
| PerilS in the sea-
Perils among false brethren,
In WEAKNESS often,
In travail often,
In watchings often,
In hunger often,
In Hastings often,
In cold often,
In poor clothing often.
Besides all the foregoing adverse.
ties, there is that which cometh upor
me daily, anxiety for all the church.
Really, that closed the case A
mere recital of the incontrovertible
facts showed that Paul was everythins
| for Christ and the brethren, ant
nothing for himself. He had Travelled
the flinty road to Calvary. He hat
been crucified with Christ. The brand
marks of the Lord Jesus were on his
feet, which had travelled for him; or
his hands, which had ministered fo1
him; on his brow, which had thought
for him; and on his heart, which had
I been broken over the needs of the
world. The man was full proof of the
message. The final argument fol
Christianity in every case is the Christ
like Christian.