Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-21
CALL OF Christ
SUBJECT OF LAST
TALKBY BROOKS
Popular Berkeley Pastor Ends
Series of Sunday Night Ser
mons in Opera House

Delivering the last of a series OF
Sunday night addresses to the people
Of Honolulu, Dr. Raymond C. Brooks.
the popular Berkeley, Cal, pastor,
spoke to a large audience in the Ope.
ra House Sunday evening on The
Call of Christ"
In addition TO the address the even
ing WIS featured ~ d special musical
program. Mrs. A b.. ingalls, violin
solo. Richard Wagners "Albumblatt,
made splendid offertory. DE.
Brooks said, in part:
Il suppose it is clear to all OF US
that cur understanding Of the message
Of Jesus has been somewhat modified
by the conditions under which we
live. hope it is equally clear that
the essential character OF il has in no
way been changed because we have
come TO "A somewhat different view
point from that Of the earlier centu-
ries in its Interpretation. Even at the
risk of repeating some things | have
tried to say let me venture again TO
suggest certain respects in which our
viewpoint has changed.
see that the essential message OF
Christ is more likely to be found with
in cur agreements than in our differ
ences. That is to say. the Presbyter'
ian is perfectly ready to recognize the
Christian character Of the Methodist,
of the Baptist, and so to recognize
that that which is really essential be-
longs to them all.
This is really more significant
than at first sight appears. 1t means,
for example, that the religion OF Je-
sus is not to be identified with any
institution, important and necessary
though the church is. No church
ever has or is ever likely adequately
to represent Christianity and 1t is a
grave mistake of the church to sup
pose that the future of the Gospel
depends upon the future of the church.
"In like manner it means that the
Gospel of Christ is not to be identified
with any system Of doctrine. The
faith which Christ asks of men is not
the acceptance of a system of ideas
systematically. communicated. He
asks rather that we should dare al
ways to live with the open mind, that
we should dare to commit our lives
to the leadership of the spirit of
truth. ........
In three ways at least our ap-
proach to the message Of Jesus has
been helped by the conditions under
which We live. What, then, is His
message? IT.. ....
Christ's Real Message.
He is continually telling men of
God who is the Father Of Mankind,
whose name from everlasting is Love,
who waits to forgive those who have
been in the far country. Gods love
is like the sky over us-broad enough
and deep enough and strong enough
to hold us all with power that will
not let us go. II is not a matter of
theory, but a matter Of experience,
repeated over thousands and thous-
ands of times, that those who hear
and heed His message and begin earn
estly to live as children of God, in
the spirit of the Son of God, find
their own lives renewed and trans
formed .:.....
What is the call of Christ to men?
wi nOlOo IL
Come. Come unto me- Learn of
me-. He said it to all sorts of people.
1t Is the first step in discipleship.
Follow. Follow me- Once more
he said it to all who were willing to
learn the way of life through him
Dare to measure your life in terms of
Christs own spirit. FL.
Abide. Abide in me- Great and
good purposes pass away so readily
under the heat and burden of the day.
He who is worthy of discipIeship must
abide in the face of difficulties. Christ
does not call men to be happy. He
does not invite men to prepare for
Heaven. Those who came to Him
made no mistake about that.
"'Go into all the world Jesus
never said go to those who were not
willing to learn of Him; to those who
hesitated to follow Him; to those who
could not abide in the face of misun-
Outstanding and difficulty.
Never has the world had greater
need of men and women who are will