Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-02

that this one thing was sufficient 10
restore the people of Jerusalem them
selves to practical and persistent
right living. The outside enemies
were thus excluded but there were
discordant elements within the walls,
and 1t fell to Ezra's part TO quicken
the spiritual life of the Jews. Thel e
are many pious people whlse chief
claim to that character is their milj-
tant fealty TO their particular brand
of religion. In their conception the
greatest proof of fidelity to Jehovah
is to take up the cudgels against soIr q
other denomination and to maintall
a pride In their own choice of creeds
1t Is doubtful If this can be callc !
piety--it is more like a partisan zeal
for the glorification of those who be-
lteve with them on coDtroverted
points.
1t cannot be denied that a person
should believe thoroly in the tenets
of the church to which he belonges
If they cannot whole heartedly en-
dorse the teachings of their leaders
they should call halt and search out
a church where they can endorse
without reservation. If your church
creed is not worth fighting for. you
are in the wrong church. OF all the
virtues the greatest is charity. Others
may be as near right as you, yet yol
may be thorcly convinced that such a
thing IL impossible Paul and James
and John had their individual view
points even as to the things Christ
had taught them first-hand. II they,
so close to the fountain of grace. diff
fered on minor points. why shouli
we hope that at this distance of time.
and I'm controversial age when
everybody wants to "be shown" in re-
ligion as in other things should we
hope to bring all the children Of God
to a dead level of gospel understand
ing. In Ezra's time this obstacle
was not apparent The people were
too eager over understanding the law
az II was read to them to quibble
about fine points of Interpretation
or split theological hairs. The great
thing that bore on their minds was
they had fallen far short of the laws
requirements and they desired to turn
over a new leaf and make peace with
Jehovah. Men, women and children.
scholar and simpleton, alike heard
and and understood" the words that
were read to them and expounded
bv the teachers. More than that the
hearing inspired In them n desire 70
reform without which desire as Us
object all teaching is vain.
Ezra was an undoubted scholar In
regard to Gods law. II is quite prob |
able that he was the beginning OF that
school of extreme legalists which |
from the time OF this lesson began TO |
absorb tho best thot Of the Jewish ma
lion and frame the national religion |
on n basis Of strict law ob5ervance. |
The people were In a mood to take up |
with this line OF thot. They had been |
Tor n generation little acquainted with |
Gods word and their new enlighten- |
nent in this oldtime Sunday school |
which Ezra established, with the per-
'onal condemnation which II reused |
n their own consciences. made them |
'endy to 90 to extremes In law OBJ
'ervance. This stvle OF piety was
What brought the Jewish people down
o that state OF hard. materialistic.
inspirtual theology which consti.
uted in Christ's time his greatest oh
tacle to teaching them the truth For
me thing. tho psalms and the pro lh-
is were doubtless not considered ut
his time. The commapds an1 penal
les OF the law We're emphasized to the
oss of the promises and the consoa-
ions OF scripture. The spiritual con-
option of Jehovah was hidden be-
leath an awe of his power and the
hreat OF his anger. Ezra was not TO
'lame This kind of teaching was
ust what the people needed at that
'articular time Conviction must al
rays come before repentance. and re-
enhance must precede reformation.