The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-06-26
THE LAW OF GOD AND THE
INDIVIDUAL"

the Evening Star of the 22nd. 1t de-
serves some comment. 1t begins with
the astonishing declaration that "God
does not love the individual; he loves
only the race" and wanders through
about two columns of supposed illus
trations, which abound in adjectives
and sophistries. The writer needs to
look up his Latin and see that socius
does not mean the race, but compan-
ion, fellow, partner, ally and asso-
cite. But granting that socius does
mean the race, it is a lapse of logic
to affirm that God does not love the
individual but only loves the race, be-
cause the race is composed of ind1-
viduals. 1t would be impossible for
God to love the race without loving
the individuals composing it, just as
it is not possible for a man to love his
family without loving each member
Of his family.
Does not God love individuals? |
Most assuredly he does. Paul says
that Jesus Christ loved him. Jesus
said 81 and my Father are one."
Jesus said the Father loved His dis
ciples. And he said, ''He that loveth |
me shall be loved of my Father" The |
Bible has many references to the love
of God for individuals. Every man
stands before God in his own individ- |
uality. He must love God for himself, |
and do his will, and finally give ac-
count of his deeds to God. God comes
into direct relations with individuals.
The whole plan of salvation is based
upon the acceptance of the terms of
tpardon and salvation by particular
men and women. The individual is not
| lost in the race.
In order to illustrate the seeming
neglect of the individual by God sew
eral pathetic pictures are painted Of a
mother praying for her sick child,
Icitizens praying for their country,
mothers, wives and sweethearts pray
ling for their men-folks called to war,
and not being heard. But this could
only be true upon the basis that God
does not hear any prayer. That
seems to be the idea of the writer,
for he says, "The innocent of all ages
have cried out in the utter darkness
of their agony and distress for the aid
of the Almighty; but they have cried
4 in vain" That is a sweeping state
Iment. 1t is universal in its terms,
and admits of no exception. But it is
a half-truth, a very dangerous form
lof statement. God does answer
prayer. Sometimes He gives that for
which the petitioners ask, and some
times something else than they pray
for, but only because that in His divine
wisdom is best. The Psalmist said,
sTbis poor man cried and the Lord
heard, and saved him out of all his
troubles" 1t is monstrous doctrine
that God does not hear the prayers of
the individual.
To the writer it seems to appear
that the service of ones fellow man is
the main thing in life. The service
of ones fellow man is good, but it is
not put by our Lord as the first and
| greatest commandment. "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God" is put first
: and after that "Thou shalt love they
neighbor as myself" The man who
loves God as he ought will love his
: lfellowman. A man may love his fell
bowman without loving God. A man
{ should serve his fellowman because
thus alone may he show that spirit
lof unselfshness which is at the heart
: OF Christianity.
The writer says, "God dwells not in
heaven high; he dwells in hearts
humble and lowly, great and small
But Isaiah says, rather God speaking
through Isaiah, says, 81 dwell in the
high and holy place, with him ais'
that is of a contrite and humble
spirit" Again the writer says, "Mal
is not made to save himself, but t.
aid in saving the race" A much bet
tier statement would be, "a mans
first duty is to save himself, and thel
to aid in saving others"
One more quotation: "Men ma!
come and men may go, but the race
like the brook, goes on forever
Men may cry out in anguish TO
Z help; God hears only the voice of tn
] race" The race had definite begin
ming on the globe, and will have
definite ending also. The scripture
so declare and science shows that it |
n mot impossible. There have been cat
: lclysms in the past that have destroy
= ed all forms of life on the planet
Why may it not occur again?
"God hears only the voice OF tn
race" But the race is impersonaL
d. cannot and does not pray, hoWeve
i'll much the individuals composing
ou pray. While man is a religious an
NAL and has always shown this dis
a. position wherever found, yet there al
ne multitudes who do not know the tru
10 God. How can they pray unto HIN
if they do not know Him?
:, / do not like the way the writer II
fers to Jesus Christ. He calls him
lone place "an ancient philosopher
and in another "the Sage OF Nazal
eth" as if he were merely man, WI
lived and died centuries ago, lnstea
of the risen and reigning Lord. L