Arizona republican., 1917-11-13
PURE RELIGION |S
 TEXT IF REV. YATES

A mere faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ will not save anybody. Neither are we guaranteed a free passport to i the Portals of Glory just because We chance to have our names inscribed on | some church record.
 There is a sadly perverted idea of 1 Christianity stalking thru the world which leads many good people to be- | lieve that all that is necessary to be- come a good Christian is to go to church on Sunday, say your prayers every so often, pay the preacher, and donate ten cents toward prosecuting Christianity among the heather" in seme foreign land.
 l This may constitute a popular idea of 'pure''- religion, but it falls far short of the pure religion" that is spoken of in the first chapter of James, twenty seventh verse.
 l quote: Pure religion and unde- filed before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatheriess and the widows in their affliction. and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Again: Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only" (Jas. 1:22). There must be a doing that requires more than the becoming a member of some religious organization. If mere believing were a saving ordinance in and of itself. then the devils, them selves will be saved, for the devils also believe and tremble.' Gas. 2:19). 1 Of course. if we want to become | citizens of the Kingdom of God here upon earth. then We must comply with the naturalization laws that will make us citizens of that Kingdom. That We ally ourselves with the true church of God is essential, but that is only the beginning
 A good beginning never won a race. The laurels are awarded to him who continues to the end The same is true of religionists. If we are to keep ourselves 'unspotted from the world D It will require constant effort and dil- HSence. Altho my experience of to- day will assist me tomorrow if 1 am consistent in my efforts, the fact that did we'll today will not suffice for the morrow.
 1t makes no difference how loud my professions of religion may be, if l re- fuse to put those professions into practice when l have opportunity, then my professions are vain. 1 may have religion, all right, of some kind. but surely it is not pure religion and un- defiled before God"
 It is not always necessary to have to dig a man out of the debris of g IdIlrOdu Wreck not to buy a widow some groceries in order to show thai we have religion and are therefore willing to lend helping hand Such acts are well enough and proper 3 Tn their place, but we do not need t. depend upon such as they to show oul religion"
 There are an infinite number O. ways in which we may make ourselve serVlceable, if so inclined we feel l may be by prominent word or deed. i may be by giving of our friendship tt a lonely soul it may be by manifest ing acts of kindness in a thousand diff ferent ways; it may be by passing ; cheery good morning instead of { vacant stare.
 In fine: Do not go through life witl a chronic grouch; do not live like tn, tortoise-ready to withdraw into hi own little hut at the slightest provo cation-but rather let your light S. shine before men, that they may se your good works, and glorify YOU Father which is in heaven" Mat 5:16).
 This does not mean that we shoul, make loud and vain prayers just to b heard of men,. It does not mean tha we shall publish the fact every tim we give to help the poor. If we ar constantly and consistently living tn pure religion of the Master then will not be necessary to herald it iron the housetops to get people to knoy . it. It will be found out sooner o later If we have any true worth in us