South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-01
SHOWS MODERN
ELDER BROTHER
Rev. 7. ]. Parsons Points Up
tO-Date Lesson or
PrOdigaI Son.

The DeNlIe SnduoW was the SUD
ject OF the sunday evening sermon
by Rev. r. J. Parsons. pastor Of the
Quincy Greet Baptist church. in
Which ne scid that the devils sha-
dow has been on mans pathway
from Eden down to the present time.
This was the last sermon OF a series
OF Sunday evening sermons on the
general subject. The story Of the
Prodigal Son
Nothing is sacred from the devils
damning touch" the pastor said.
HE even put his filthy hand on the
banquet table which love had spread
for the penitent prodigal. Jesus did
not introduce the character Of the
elder brother for the sake of mere
sentiment. but because the scene
would not have been true 10 nature
without him.
JOY Of Saving Souls.
There is no JOY 10 be compared
20 that OF saving souls. & sweeping
revival OF religion will transform "a
city as nothing else viii. Music and
dancing and feasting were the order
or the day when the black sheep Of
the family returned home How true
10 life is this picture. our Lord said
there Is JOY i'm the presence Of the
angels I'm heaven over the home
coming OF sinner. But while an
gels rejoice the elder brother is
angry and will not go in. Yes. you
are crying shame on the unforgiving
brother and saying. IF / had been
there 1 would have gone in Don't
be so sure OF IL; it is easy TO weep
ard forgive and slop over a prodigal
2.e0O years old. but II is another
thing TO forgive an erring brother or
sister living next door TO you.
This story brings into bold con-
trast law and grace. The elder
brother represents the severity and
righteousness of the law. He talks
, OF serve, transgressed, command
ment: IL is Sinai over again, with its
demand OF an eye for an eve. a tooth
: for a tooth, and a dollar for "A dollar.
Some have enormously thought that
God puts a premium on sin in this
story. Il Is nothing OF the kind. The
ItilItHGnAo kIaCc. " 2 are not
saved by law, we are saved by grace
The pr0digal had no rights: he had
forfeited them all. and ne never once
makes any demands when he comes
back home. He cOnfesses his sin
and caste himself upon the mercy of
his loving father. aud the father
simply ADOPTS him into the family
and restores him to sOnship. That
is what God Il doing for every saved
sinner. but We are 50 slow 10 see It.
Modern Elder Brother.
sWho Is ttaa modern elder broth
er7 The seff-righteous pharisee.
who despises tho religion OF Jesus
Christ because He saves the crimi-
nal. the outcast and the bum He
is the demOninatiOnaI bigot. who be-
lieves his church or sect has a mon
opoIy on heaven, and no one will get
there unless he goes in by their lit
tie narrow wicket gate Git would be
better 10 call II wicked gate.) He
is the preacIaer who ~ burning up
with Jealousy because Of another's
success; who would rather see men
and women go to hell than see them
so TO another church than his own.
He is the church member who snubs
n new convert because he IS neither
a blUe-bloOd nor a blue-stocking. but
has past that IS best not investi-
gated. He is the society star. who
goes into mysteries over fake prod
igal before the footlights. but looks
down with scOrD upon a moral
wreck, an e7;-convict. or fallen
woman In real life.
Christ is The true. forgiving Elder
Brother, who says 70 the sinner.
Neither do condemn thee. for the
Son OF Nan is come TO seek and save
that which was lost. and him that
oometh 20 Me. T will IN no wise cast
out Come. for all things are now
ready