Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-25
Christmas In II
BY PASTOR MASSEY
of TuIsa's Lutheran Church.

Is religion only 4 human instinct
universal indeed, but upon which no
sanction or encouragement has been
vouchsafed from on high? Are men
left to themselves to pray the prayer
Of prayers, humanitys gxeat prayer
in all the ages, that God would aJ-
knowledge the effort? Must~we Grope
on, feeling after God IL haply we
might find him. but only feeling on
century after century in the dim twi-
light of reason And II no voice
breaks the silence OF the spheres, can
We not justly conclude that the deity
is no supreme being" but simply an
almighty intelligence or force, ana
has no heart? II the Father In
heaven is as we have believed him,
really moral person--may we not
then expect that he will not disap-
point us?
We are not disappointed. lie has
rent the heavens and come down,
bidding the skies pour forth right
eousness.
In the worlds life there Is n per-
sonage, OF whose place no educated
man denies the reality or the great
ness. The fact, and much of the his
tory of his life on earth belong TO
secular human knowledge Every
scholarly agnostic q think) aomits
that in point OF social and historical
importance, in the annals of Inah-
kind this persons birth and doinSs
stand alone. So deep and inefface-
able the impression wrought by his
work and his birth. so high and upid
ing the appreciation of his character,
that the question of questions from
high men and from low is-"What
think ye of Christi"
Whatever the faith OF disputfng
scholars, whatever the religious con-
troversy, the standing of Jesus does
lot enter into the argument. Rellg-
irn. some may hold Is merely an alb
stract good; II is only Il superstition.
churches and clerics misrepreseut II.
and the Bible contains errors both of
fNct and morals. Interest in religion,
they say, is at bottom n class instinct.
rrofessed by those I'm power and fos-
tered among the masses, because ot
its virtue 10 ward off revolution and
maintain the established order. rnc
visible church, every embodiment of
religion. and all that asserts its pres
cace and power in the world-some
today may sincerely oppose. But ne
whom Scripture calls "the Mediator,
none opposes.
1t is his birthday or Gods answer 10
mans longing today is kept a ant
niyersary. The bond in person be-
tween God and us. the living bridNe
between earth and heaven, took his
place 1--WE reckop) 1921 years ago.
Man among men he is-or for today's
sake We say, child among children,
We marvel not al his way of birth.
think His mother was a virgin: and
yet each Of us vas bern by "A miracie.
Pass by the wonder of his meekness
earth's and heavens Lord lying IN "a
cattle manger. overlook today the
cross shadow DER his cradle. and the
mystery OF his manly death. For
mystery and marvel transcendaut. In
the face OF times where we are folnd
is the Christ-child's considencc in hu-
manity Of 1917.
II was a miracle that God should
come 20 men at ALL but n miracle BY
man expected. Wonderful that the
king as a li,tle child should take his
throne, and vet our children (who IA t
the wises, among usl understand that.
Hut the wonder Of his loving faith in
his fnOowers-that, having stopped
10 come. ne should be willing 20 go
away and in their hands leave all his
works fulfillmcnt and Kingdoms fu-
t9re-who can fathom this today
Today, when Coos strong son, I'M
~ ortal love. looks down upon q world
AT war, can we not feel as never be-
fore the miracle of his patience ana
hope2 Pathe,icaliy glorious Christ
Bravoly confident. in spite Of false
hood and crime in us ana our nations.