The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-03-03

< <4T&H$&E as soon as they
~ NV Nm were regenerated
by his Holy Spir-
| II. In the same letter Paul said the
reason his enemies were not allowed
10 put him To death was that his re-
naming in the flesh was more need
/ ful for the service Christ had for him
to do. and doubtless this Is true OF
all Christians.
/ Now. what is that serviceY The
text tells us that Il is TO witness for
/ Jesus Christ. and with the object OF
delivering that is. saving souls.
There are many kinds OF service
Christians ought 10 do for their fell
low men, and so far as our observa-
tion goes there is fairly generous
and intelligent disposition on their
I part TO do them The emphasis laid
upon social service" has wrought
wonders in stirring processing Chris
! tians TO perform their obligations to
society I'm spirit of unsellishnoss. and
I all classes are feeling the benefit We
are all grateful for this. and trust the
pressure may not be released and
that the pulpit and the religious press
may continue that instruction and OK
! bortation we all need 10 perform our
duty.
But two thoughts occur to us. and
one is that we may engage I'm that
kind or service without ever bearing
witness specifically 10 Jesus Christ.
and the other. that after we have rem
dered that service TO our fellow men
they may still remain ignorant OF the
Gospel and dead in trespasses and
sins
These things are true because so
cial service OF certain kinds is. even
at it's highest level only for the bet
terment OF earthly conditions and
takes no cognlzance OF a life beyond.
kindly hearts may engage In II. who
themselves are quite ignorant OF the
new life I'm Christ Jesus. and whose
motives are merely humanitarian. In
decd the most selfish principles may
make us diligent I'm some forms OF 40
/
the conditions OF those around us we
are bettering our own.
Can we not easily see that this
necessltates no mention OF Jesus
Christ, and especially no mention or
him in that capacity which most truly
glorines him. namely, his redemption
OF human kind by his death upon the
cross? You meet a beggar let us say,
and you give him a nickel or a dime
for cupful OF coffee and a nights
lodging, and he thanks you for IL. That
Is. he thanks you for II, and there
the transaction ends.
But what is II that stirs you 20 re-
spond 20 his appeal. simply the desire
10 be rid OF him or feeling OF sym
pathy for his need. But IL may be
something else. II may be the love OF
your Savior in you. and for you. that
prompts the gift, and II so. should not
the beggar be told OF II that he. the
real giyer. may receive the thanks?
Carry out this thought in other
form OF social service and discover
where II leads. You will never be sat
isfied 10 do kind things for men with.
out letting them know I'm some way
that II Is Christ In you that is do
ing Il.
But suppose we 20 further You
may be engaged In service more strict
ly Christian. and yet be negligent OF
your supreme obligation 10 win souls
TO Christ. Sunday school teachers
are often lacking I'm desire and ability
10 engage in personal evangelism, and
hence boys and girls. and young men
and young women remain In their
classes year In and year out. without
being moved TO cross the line from
| darkness TO light. from death TO life.
There are ministers greatly lacking I'm
the same regard and worse than all.
Christian parents who never think OF
dealing personally with their children
| on the subject OF their conversion to
and salvation by Christ. II not this
I awful 10 contemplated
Let this message close with a prac-
tlcal suggestion. II there an evangel-
istic meeting now in progress not
very far away? What a splendid OPP
| portunity for you TO do personal evan.
gellsm. 20 witness for Jesus Christi
when the evangelist calls for personal
workers volunteer your service and
begin In earnest TO work for souls.
And n you are too timid or too ig-
norant for the Gospel TO do that, here
is something else you can do. You
can invite come unsaved friend or ac-
guaIntance 10 90. with you 10 the meet
ing. that someone else may labor with
tiru there.