The Detroit times., 1916-05-02
In the Religious World
WHEN SAINTS HAD A CITY SENSE

4 One commentator calls this simple
statement of the preaching to the
Greeks nj Antioch. 'the climax OF
the Book OF the Acts" II records In
Few and simple words the beginning
OF new era The truth was es
tablished and sealed by the Spirit
that Christianity was no longer FOL
the Jews alone. but for all the
world
In somewhat OF a panic. the Jeru.
salem leaders sent their star
preacher. Barnsbas, down TO An
tioch TO set the Christians straight,
and TO safeguard their orthodoxy.
But Barnahas was bigger than his
mission. He saw that the hand OF
the Lord was with the Antioch
Christians. and he was glad. No
heresy-hunting for him among men
who showed the Spirit OF Christ.
His religion was so vital that he
recognized the real test Of disciple
ship. Would that the Barnabas
spirit might doninate the great re-
ligious meetings OF this month OF
May. some OF which are perturbed
over heresies and ecclesiastical pro-
cedure. 1t Is the spirit OF Christ
and the works OF Christ that mark
the disciple OF Christ. This Is the
one and only test. II Christ has
sealed a man or a cause, no church
can unseal IL
There Is beautiful portrait OF
Barnabas In this lesson. q miniature
that belongs high in the gallery OF
the heroes OF faith For he was a
good man and was full OF the Holy
Spirit aud OF faith" No wonder
that the Record continues, And the
numb Der az believers in the Lord
greatly increased"
a chu-ehman with City Sense.
II Is par. OF my duty TO watch
the trend OF the times. especially in
rel 'gion: and 10 study the strength
and weakness OF organized Chris
tianity. do not hesitate to say,
une luiyocally. cr this appropriate
occasion. that the need of needs OF
the Christian church In the year
1916. excepting only the need for a
baptism OF the Holy Spirit. Is the
need for more barnabases-leaders
Who are his enough 10 meet the new
conditions with commanding STRAIT.
ogy. The church's case cries aloud
FOR leadership with city sense. and
with a ration sense.
We sgAe- more from the small
ness os the saints than from the
bisness Of the sinners. We are MOI
thinking in large enough terms: FOR
where we should look for great ma
tlonal leaders we find chiefly eccles.
.2stical politicians. stepping softly
about their osn concerns. Place
hclders. place-seekers and partisans
are easier TO hre than selt-efacing
men of vision who know the great
ness OF he hou- and the difficulties
OF the task. Only the Bsrnabas
spirit, which put aside all precon.
ceptions and ~ selt-interest. and
dared 10 DO heroscaIly the thing tina,
the occasion called for. win serve
US in this des,iny-laden day.
A Man Foo a Big City
What Rsrnabag found in Antioch
sent him posting OF to Tarsus for
Saul hc knew his own limitations
ihe great man Is the one who IN
dersrsnds how 10 use other men
Conditions In Antioch called for the
Ti.is peculiar TO Saul. So Barnaba.
rot him. and they had a Sreat re
vival that lasted for a year, auC
that has left IL; impress upon the
Christian church down 10 this very
Incur.
II Antioch lad needed Bills
Sunday. or a Graham Taylor. or a
John Y. Eott. or n Charles Stelzie
2arnabss would have sought him
out Ho had no preconceived no
tons thst made him try 10 thrust
tho new life OF the Antioch church
into tho iron mold OF his own preju
fices. He wanted TO meet the city -
spiritual needs. IL city-wide cottage