Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-03-26

Christianity IL not mere voice In tho
wilderness. but life In the world.
Not an idea In the clouds. but feet on
the ground going Gods way. Not q
mere profession. but shouldering OF
humanity's burdens. and that. too, in
obedience TO the command OF one
who put more emphasis upon tho
spirit OF life than upon narrow legal
ism-JeSus himself.
II was very hard indeed-and
make this assertion without fear of
honest contradiction from any un-
biased student of New Testament his
tpry-to get the Master Interested in
the theological disputations of his
day. He refused absolutely to waste
words in idle discussion with those
who were blind in their own conccits,
because he was so consumediy busy
in trying To reach the hearts of men
rather than their heads. When they
came with their metaphysical and alb
stract questions the Master brushed
away the whole logical bubble, and
showed them that the main thing was
the present opportunity to work tho
work of Cod on the man who needed
help. Showed them that the institu-
tion was not the end. but only the
means through which the great mes
sage of the gospel of the kingdom
was to be realized. And that to be-
come cngrosscd In the institutional TO
the neglect Of the spiritual to the
neglect OF the passionate ycarning to
h"Ip crring men and women to rise
from the depths OF sin to "A life of
righteousness was "A serious msfor-
tune, and would but dim their vision
Tor the truth they needed tC see, and
weaken their arms for the work they
had to do.
Sermons Tcctcring on the Brink OF
UctcrodoNy.
Let us not be deceived in this mat
ter Salvation IL not Il thing to he
handed to one who has repeated a
creed, however faultlcssly, or accept
ed n formula. Religion, fundamentally
speaking, Is not Il creed at al! but. as
has been said by another. "thc life
OF God in the soul of man To me
religion has but one meaning, the re-
tying of the sundercd cord between
the heart of God ana the heart OF
man. Man broke it by striving to
live his own life, in his own way, re-
gardlcss of God. Man re-ties it by
striving To live Gods life in Gods
way. that is to say. by submission to
the divine VIII as revealed in his Son
Jesus Christ. or in other words life
passlonatcly, profoundly and reioic-
ilgiv lived in accordance with his
teaching. And yet strange as it may
seem the prophets of spiritual rclig-
ION have in all ages of the world, ana
today is no exception, been accused
OF preaching sermons teoter.ng on tho
brink of herodoXy because they
would Insist upon the acceptance of
tue Christie teaching for the basis of
their faith rather than crcods; or
spiritual life rather than conventional
morality; and practical goodness rath-
or than rapturous devotion or eccicsl-
astical formula.
Now. dear people. when say that
neither democratic conviction nor in
telloctual attainments, neither accle-
SlaStical cmlnencc nor theological
training. neither moral freedom nor
moral conscicntiousncss; neither re-
llgiuus liberalism nor religious ortho-
doNy Will save a mans soul, or supply
Il security against that terrible con-
Gcmnation which he may bring
AGAINST himself by his disregard of
that which is really essent.ai-th
spirit that serves, | am sure any man,
or woman for that matter, at ali
vcrscd in the New Testament. wi!
recognize and acknowledge the cor
rociness of my Interpretation of
Christie doctrine. The Nazarcne who
came To minister and not to be min
iStcrcd unto had the secret os life
which the Pharisccs and the S1duceee
the liberal and orthodox religionists
OF their day-reiertcd. why? Be
cause in speaking the honest message
of his soul he had dared express the
thought of laying the foundation Of
II kingdom on earth, where the Will
Of the Father should be done even
as in heaven. because he exalted
above all things that simple spirit
which can be expressed in Sc small
II thing as n cup of cold water to the
thirsty, a loaf to the hungry, or "A
coat to the ragged, And for this very
reason these Puritans and aristocrats
OF Judea obliterated the walls of par
ttion and joined themselves together
in mind and voice long enough to
agree ON killing him. They hated his
teaching. his personality his spirit.
and were only too ready to Join the
mob at Pilates hail. and the rabble
SWlrllng on its way TO Golgatha, yell
ing, Away with him Cruelty him,
Cruelty HIM"