Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-21
WAR SERMONS
A Right Way and Wrong Way to
Handle the Subject.
(To Be Continued.)

''a'uiS hHo SupJSCts
There have been many war SER
mons: too many, according to some.
Yet distinction is drawn by writ
or in the Christian Intclligcncer (Ncw
York;. who warns ministers against
palming OFF a rchash Of the days news,
and mixing il with imprccation. What
the war really does for the minister
is 10 furnish material for cXpounding,
illustrating and enforcing the gospel
of Christ" The message of the pull
pit. says the writer. must thunder
above the din of battle and come from
loftirr regions than even an aero
squadron" TO preach about the war
may mean one thing TO one person
and quite n different thing to another
Thus:
"A sermon about the -YPEmay-ht
merely rcportorial rchash of ncwspa-
per talk. II may he n catalogue Of
horrors and a cry for vengeance. II may
hc. Il mere bid for popularity. There
may be no religion in il. no spirit
ual Interpretation, no lofty insight in
To the deeper issues OF the kingdom of
God involved. 1t may he an easy way
of discharging the preaching func-
tion. Il ready refuge for Incidence and
supcrticiality. To preach about the
war may mean the advocacy of the
pet theories of fanatic speculative pro-
phrts. The war offers plenty OF scope
TO those who do not seem to under
stand the purpose OF their high call
ing.
should ministers preach about the
war? Yes, certainly, if they preach
lik" prophets. if they are spiritual
s"rrs. il they are deep religious think
rrS. il they are true men of God, II
they see eye to eye with Christ. II
they can enforce the teachings OF the
Bible by reference to the war. if they
can show the myriad applications and
Implications OF Christianity in the
light of the great world tragedy. let
them speak. If they can use the
getting God. and tho banc OF ignoring
Christ. and the exceeding sinfuln"SS
uf sin. and the dcstructivcncss of
Srllis',nrSs ami marerialsm. Let their
voices hc unto the sons of men. II
they have new vision OF duty, re-
Sponsihility and privilege, and a pro-
found sense of immediate and unpar
allclrd spiritual opportunity, the
church of the world must hear it. II
they find in the tragic horror OF uni
vcrsal strife commentary on Gods
Word beside which the international
Critical commcntary's conclusions are
like 4 wreath OF mist. oh. in that
case. let the prophet have the floor and
let all the earth keep silent before him.
II his windows are open to Jerusalem
and he knccls three times day for
commerce with tn" sky. let his herald
voice proclaim the message OF the
King of Heaven. But let him eschcw
geography and mathematics and the
nnwSpapcrs and the symbols of recon-
ditr prophecy. and let him speak as
one who has been the guest Of our
great Lord Christ"
PAUL had thorn in the flesh. oh
serves this writer, but he did not
preach the thorn. The world and the
church now has its thorn in the side:
hut. speaking for preachers, tho thorn
is not Our theme:
at is Christ. only Christ. the Christ
alone who can remove the thorn or
who may allow II still to abide until
we drink more deeply of his sustain
ing grace.
The war has its place in present
day preaching. but not the place OF
the first-horn. II furnishes material
for expounding. illustrating. and en-
forcing the gospel Of Christ. II sheds
interpreting light on the facts we are
set TO preach. II supports the claims
of Christ. It Is an instantly available
commentary on the ruth OF Scripture.
n. rs DR.. Burrell has pointed out in
his book on The Sermon sermon Is
n thrust what n thrust every SER
mon ought to be in these days. What
a thrust at sin and what n thrust
for Christ. Keep the pulpit high. Let
II stand in the sunlight and in the free
air of heaven. Digest.