Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-16

We often fail TO realize the trcmcn-
douS changes which have taken place
IN tho world OF religious conventions.
1t is easy for us TO understand the re-
'naEkable changes in material civili-
1ati"n. We realize these because they
are before our very eyes but 1t is
harder for US TO appreciate the transit
mons which have occurred In the realm
OF ideas. 1t is easy to see the differ
tncc between steam and electricity
ana the old-fashipncd ways of trans
portation. II is easy 10 see the differ.
encc between the tallow candle an6
Inc electric light. between the OK drag
and the auto truck. between the run
ming messenger and the wonderful
wireless telegraph These things arc
very evident. But just as remarkable
changes have taken place in the realm
OF IDEAS as are these wonderful ma
ttriai changes which have come to us
through the inventiv" genius of
humanity. In the realm OF religious
ideas, just a. striking changes have
taken place during tho last hundred
years az in the world OF Invention
and material progress. and yet many
people are r"lIiousiy riding in the OK
cart and using tho taliow dip.
HELP TO MEET PROBLEMS
OF DAILY LIFE
But people say what does IL mat
ter what person thinks concerning
This world. and God and lif"2 Is not
the old way good enough W. reDly,
these newer. modern conceptions helm
IN the problems OF daily lifr They
bring us to n NOR. helpful intcrpreta-
ton OF our daily experiences. of our
hardsh!ps and sorrows and victories.
They make God and hu: anty more
reasonable. and enter into life with
newer appreciation of it's deeper and
truer meaning. Tha; is the rca son thcy
arc important. 1t ~ pathetic thing
when We hnd man struggling along
in the old way. /; liz pathetic because
It he would only open his mind and
heart to modern conception Of God life
would spread out before him with a
palmer meaning. ana every experience
would shine with new lustcr aud
bring with il a new inspiration, That
IL the reason We are talking about
modern religion. And The remarkable
thing about the whole matter is that
Jesus Of Nazareth is to-day II modern
II is interesting 10 know that these
motcr? conceptions tho coucep-
tons Of tho great prophet OF Nazareth
that he is great modern Of the re-
lisious world to-day. Notwithstanding
the progress OF the world. Jesus still
remains the Ircht monern teschcr %
lie ana of religion. just you 70
back TO the old Greek remains oi art
and md that they arc still the ideal
80 you 20 back to the simple. natural
teachings OF Jesus. and they ar" still
the great ideals which lead uS on Ia
itfe.
CAN NOW COMPARE
TIT: NEW WITH THE OLD
Now in considering the carlicr,und
later rclig ous conceptions. IL is often
helpful TO compare tn. mex with TN.
old. and so this is going to b. my
method OF Treatment. | going TO
take UP few religious principles
which concern very closely our re-
hsions life. and in II few words | am
fs..t,
with tho new.
WE NATURALLY BEGIN
WITH TIE IDEA or COD
The Old conception declared II God
who needed propitia,ion---a God who
needed To be paid for certain benefits
10 be- doled out 10 humanity He was
Coo who needed TO be bought with
al price and that price was usually
believed 10 consist lin certain Offers OF
sacrifice. The git was brough, TO tho
altar, and IL IL were flowing with
blood. Tor some strange reason il was
supposed TO be more citicacious 4 God
who needs to be pTopiiiatcd. II is en-
t'rtiy secondary matter whether a
bleeding goat necessary or "A
bleeding Christ. Whether goats blood
or Christ's blood: the principle Is the
ssme--thc necessity OF Precipitation, the
necessity of sacrifice. offered for the
bringing about OF the good will OF the
Creator. God. and The washing out OF
sin. That is the old conception Of God.
Here is the new conception. The mod
crn conception of God is a conception
-! 49, rather needing not TO be
hons ~ any sacrficial system. but
F"til mo loves every single child and
dtSi;' the welfare Of every single
chlld. .'nd Is working for the divine
weliar" OF each. Could there be
greater difference between this idea of
Goa. "A God needing Precipitation
through miraculous sacrifices and
God who is inherently full Of love
our God and Father?
MAN DID NOT START
PEnFECT. But IN SAvAGERY
According To the old view this God
created humanity with Adam and Eve
perfect. Adam and Eve. however only
remained perfect for a very short time
and then fell. In that fail. all humanity
~ depraved. Ont OF that fall grows
The curse OF Cod upon humanity That
il Inc old conception, and the new con-
c-ption is just the opposite. Man did
not start perfect. but in savagcry Out
Of the great animal world grew ma
iure. having great things in view
perfected humanity, little by little
rising out OF his humble position into
the iarg"ncSa and strength of manhood
Human nature is not ruined but is
incompletc. ever struggling onward and
upwnrd for "a fuller life.
Again. the old view brought the
necessity Of Il salvation which was to
come about through the blood or an
infinite sacrifice upon Calvary. This
Precipitation must come about through
this eternal Offering Of the blood OF
Christ. for the sins OF mankind, The
new view says again something en-
tircly different. No salvation does not
come, il says, through any miraculous
Offering of the blood OF Christ but TO
every man and every woman through
growing goodness and Righteousness
and the following and accepting, not
he blood of Christ. hut the spirit Of
christ and of all great leaders and
savior5 OF humanity, but best typiGed,
we believe. i'll the great leader of the
race. Jesus Of Nazareth. Thus. you |
hec we have no mystic rious Dropitia-
ton Of God by blood for the sins OF
humanity. but instead, have the
tremendous inspiration OF tho life and |
work OF Jesus as He leads humanity |
into the fuller and truer life OF the
spirit
RIGHTEOUSNESS 4 GRADUAL.
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