Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-07
A GOOD SOLDIER IS
TOPIC Of SERMON
At BAPTIST Church
REV. CHESSMAN SAYS CHURCH
is IN NEED OF STEADFAST
FIGHTERS AS IN DAYS OF PAUL
SERVICES AT THE PRESBY.
TERRAIN CHURCH.

Il large congregation was in attend
ance. DR.. Steelman, a former pastor,
was present and Miss Alice Stanard,
a missionary to the Philippines Mrs.
Claire Kirby sang most acceptably.
The pastor. Rev G. w. Chessman,
spoke on "A Good Soldier" Text, 2
Tim. 2:3. Thou therefore, endure
hardship as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ. He said.
This is the counsel of SCARED
veteran of the Cross to young re-
cruit by the name OF Timothy on the
llrng line for God Christian disci-
pleship was no molly-coddling bust
ness, no milk.and.water matter, no
pink tea pastime. 1t was soldier
life. a firing line experience, mans
job. II called for the heroic, the sacri-
| fetal Paul knew. he had been thu
the mill; he bore in his body the
marks of the Lord Jesus. He had
been mobbed, stoned, beaten, ship
wrecked, plotted against, arrested and
imprisoned for the Gospels sake.
Paul had fondness for the mill
ta;y metaphor. He used it writing TO
| the Thessalonians. Put on the
breastplate of love and faith. and for
a helmet the hope of salvation TO
Timothy ho said, War a good war
fare fight the good fight Of faith
endure hardship as good soldier OF
Jesus Christ
1T was a day demanding the hero
ic. 1t was an militaristic age
Rome was the Germany OF century
one in military efficiency, her legiOns
were all over the known world, Paul
knew Roman soldier life because he
was right in the midst Of it long
time as a prisoner at Rome. He
knew 1t to he no life of luxury. no
soft bed existence, no banaueting
frolic. Rather, he knew it as a rigid
discipline, rendering of implicit obe-
dence, an enduring of great priva-
tions and hardships.
And Paul said this was the re-
quirement of Christian soldiers If in
trenched pagansm was to be stormed
and overcome Gods men must be
never would know themselves licked.
/ Men of steel will, of iron resolve, OF
adamant purpose Those early preach
ers were made of tie right stuff. We
today who grow discouraged despond-
ent in Christian work may turn back
to the thrilling romance or Acts ana
get new inspiration, new iron in our
blood, punch in our soldering for
Christ
"pagaism is still with us. 1t is still
/ mighty force; ii still occupies high
places. There is need of real Chris
tian soldiers to successfully cope with
it. Men will have to respond to
Chiists appeal as patriots responded
to Garabaldi's appeal or as the con
tinentils responded to George Wash
ingtors summons, The prime-essen-
tial is real soldier spirit Jesus
says, IF any man would be my disci-
pie let him deny himself and take up
his cross and follow me-.
"Let me ask some pointed cues
tions. Are they Christian soldiers in
the light of Paul's definition, who are
nominal church members seldom dark
ening the doors of their church? In
the United States army they would be
called 'deserters.'
Are they Christian soldiers akin 10
the Pauline tyne WHO enlist IN G0d
army and support that army only
, enough to appear respectable? On,
we have men of means in our church
es who have not yet learned to be
real soldiers with their pocketboOks.
, They have not learned to give at
sacrifice. till it hurts. The people OF
England and France are going down
In their pockets and giving billions
Tor king and country. They are sol
dicrs with their money--for country
tEey sacrifice God is asking some
thing akin to that Of Christian sol
: diers to put the Christian teaching IN
J nations of earth to put the Christian
! spirit In human life at home.
Are they Christian soldiers who
c are church leaders and who never sit
in councils of war for the cause OF
the kingdom of God? Who do not put
time, brain and Drawn power into
church programs for human uplift
I education, evangelizaton?
"We need something like that first
n century heroism today. We need q
new church morale, a passion. We
need to be ON fire for God and right
:. ctusness and willing as real soldiers
to fight for truth to sacrifice time
money, powers that Gods will be
= done In heaven.
"Thc Church In Action"
"The Church in Action" IL the MAR
subject to be considered In the cam
palgn of education now in progress
thruout the sixty-iive Methodist