Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-03-10

ny his AIOiN 0pAA'
it. In the same letter Paul said the
reason his enemies were not allowed
to put him to death was that his re-
naming in the flesh was more need
ful for the service Christ had for min
to do, and doubtless this is true OF
all Christians.
Now, what is that service? The
text tells us that it is to witness for
Jesus Christ, and with the object Of
delivering, that is, saving souls.
There are many kinds of service
Christians ought to do for their fell
low men, and so far as our observa-
ton goes there is a fairly generous
and intelligent disposition on their
part to do them. The emphasis laid
upon social service" has wrought
wonders in stirring protesting Chris
tians to perform their obligations to
society in spirit of unselfshness, and
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 ex-
hortation we ell need to perform our
duty.
But two thoughts occur to us, and
one is that we may engage in that
kind of service without ever bearing
witness specifically to 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 cognizance OF a life beyond
Men and women of the world witt
kindly hearts may engage in it, who
themselves are quite ignorant of tht
new life in Christ Jesus, and whose
motives are merely humanitarian. In
deed the most selfish principles MAJ
make us diligent in some forms of so
cial service, for as we are betterinE
the conditions of those around US W,
are bettering our own.
Can we not easily see that thil
necessitates no mention of Jesu'
Christ, and especially no mention c
him in that capacity which most trul,
glorifies him, namely, his redemption
! of human kind by his death upon tll
cross? You meet a beggar, let US say
and you give him a nickel or a dim
for a cupful of coffee and a night
lodging, and he thanks you for it. Tha
| is, he thanks you for it, and ther
the transaction ends.
But what is it that stirs you to re
! spond to his appeal, simply the desir
| to be rid of him or feeling of syn
pathy for his need. But it may b
something else. 1t may be the love G
your Savior in you, and for you, tha
prompts the gift, and if SO. should no
the beggar be told of it that he, tn
real giver, may receive the thanks
Carry out this thought in othe
form of social service and discove
where it leads. You will never be sa
isfied to do kind things for men witt
out letting them know in some wa
that it is Christ in you that is d.
ing it.
But suppose we go further. Yo
may be engaged in service more stric
ly Christian, and yet be negligent c
your supreme obligation to win soul
TO Christ. Sunday school teacher
are often lacking in desire and a5ilit
to engage in personal evangelism, an
hence boys and girls, and young me
and young women remain in the
classes year in and year out, withor
being moved to cross the line fror
darkness to light, from death to If'
There are ministers greatly lacking
the same regard and worse than al
Christian parents who never think {
dealing personally with their childre
on the subject of their conversion I
and salvation by Christ. Is not til
awful to contemplate?
Let this message close with a pra
tical suggestion. Is there an everge
istic meeting now in progress nc
very far away? What a splendid o
portunity for you to do personal eva,
gelism, to witness for Jesus Chris
When the evangelist calls for persons
workers volunteer your service an
begin in earnest to work for souls.
And If you are too tinid or too j
norant for the Gospel to do that, hel
is something else you can do Yo
can invite some unsaved friend or q
quaintance to go with you to the NEE
ing, that someone else may labor wit
him there.