Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-17
EpWorth League Discussion.
Topic: 1.-The Marks of a Chris
tian."-James. 1.27; John, 3.14;
John, 1923: 1914.
By Robert D. Burbank,

President. Washington District Epworth
League.
The marks by which the world rec
ognizes the Christian are negative. for
they consist of the things he does not
do. "Oh, no, he will not do that, it is
against his religious principles; No.
she can't go there-she is a Christian.
you know, poor thing" The Christian.
In the eyes of the workaday world, is
the one who is compelled by his reli-
gious duty to forego certain pleasures.
or abstain from doing or saying certain
things.
The marks by which Christ recognizes
His follower are positive, they consist OF
the things He does do. I'VE are my
friends, II We do the things which I
command you," are His words as re-
ported in the 18th chapter of Johns
gospel All the lfea nd teachings OF
Jesus emphasize the fact that merely
moral code is not enough; that one
must meet the test of actual service,
even at the cost of sacrifice. If need be.
Jesus loved the rich young man who
up, but zone thing thou lackest," said
He, give up your wealth and your life
of luxury and ease for a life of service
follow me-"
message from me-" said John Ruskin-
and for the words your class might
well be substituted your Epworth
League"-"say to them that they will
find it well, throughout life. never to
trouble themselves about what they
ought not to do, but about what they
ought to do. People are perpetually
afraid of doing wrong, but unless they
are doing its reverse energetically. they
are doing it all day long, and the de-
gree does not matter
Before we can intelligently discuss
the marks of Christian it is neces-
sary to clearly understand what is
meant by the term christian, for 1t
is used in very different senses In its
broadcast meaning it includes all people
who are not classed as heathen-au
who live in Christian lands, whether
Jew, Catholic or Protestant, and wheth-
er atheist, agnostic or believing in
God. The term is also used in a some
what narrower sense to mean all who
belong to church, or all who profess to
believe in God These uses of the term
are, of course, very loose and unwar-
ranted, for the only real Christians are
the actual followers of Christ Billy
Sunday has given a good. plain. work
ing definition of the term: a Chris
tian is any man, woman or child who
comes to God as lost sinner. accepts
the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal
Savior. surrenders to Him as his Lord
and Master, confesses Him as such be-
fore the world. and strives to please
Him in everything day by day"
Some of the marks of a Christian are
indicated by the scripture references
cited under the topic. James says in
his letter to the scattered twelve tribes:
But be ye doors of the word and not
hearers only, deceiving your own
selves. Pure religion and undefiled be-
fore God and the Father is this, to
visit the fatherless and widows in their
affiiction and to keep himself unspotted
from the world" 1t is sin which puts
spots on our lives and blemishes on our
characters, which are the marks that
distinguish US from Christians. and 1t
is therefore the spotless and unblem-
ished character and life which is one
of the distinguishing marks of the
Christian. James goes till further. how
ever, and marks out a program of sery-
ice-of social service-as we call 1t to-
day. This is positive. aggressive, eff
cient Christianity, and makes practical
application of the principles of Chris
tianity.
In his first epistle John suggests a test
which the Christian may apply to him
self: I'VE know that we have passed
out of death into life, because We love
the brethren. He that loveth not his
brother abideth in DEATH" If we con-
slider this in connection with the thir-
teenth chapter of Pauls first letter to
the Corinthians We will reach the in
evitable conclusion that he is dead In
deed who knows no love. When we are
conscious that our service Is NOT