The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-08-13

August II. Christian Missions. Acts
49,; Acts IA, $50; Thess. 2, IL, IA.
With all christian churches alive
with the need of greater endeavors for
home or foreign missions, it is need.
less to say that the topic Tor the les.
son is up-to-date. The Catholic church,
which by many is thought to be the
most perfectly organized religious or
ganization in the world. is confessing
that as far as America is concerned 1t
has needs to he UP and doing, to
handle the new problems pressing for
attention, and there has been called a
great council for the American church
es which is soon to meet. That
church is also alive to the determine
ton of the Protestant organizations
to invade Mexico and South America
and preparations are being made to
hold the field SO long occupied by 1t
alone. This information is given as
showing that the desire is on at this
time among, all churches to push for
ward. s1,, (" p
The special bible lesson for the top
ic relates to the experiences of Paul
and Barnabas when on their mission
airy tour in Asia and at Lystra. 1t
was here the great apostle cured
man who had been horn cripple, and
the town folks declared the missionary.
iesswere the gods come down and were
ready to make sacrifices and worship
AS showing the fckleness of the popu.
lace it might be said that i'll few days
the same people stoned Paul for dead
but he arose and departed on further
missionary endeavors. r.l
Twill diyerge for paragraph, to
callaattention to one of the things Paul
told the people when he was trying
to turn them from the purpose OF wor-
ship Of him as. one of the gods. Paul
said I'VE als0sare men of like passions
with you, "sa1 remember that one .of
the Methodist bishops at Minneapolis
took this for a morning text, making
the point that ministers and religious
leaders we're indeed like men as the
masses, and It was wrong to expect
them to be perfect, and that severe.
criticism should not be made il at
times such did show human qualities.
Charity should be used, having in mind
the words of Paul to remember that
you also might be tempted from the
way and will need sympathy and over
looking Of faults. %
This lesson opens UP the great sub
ject Of missions at home and abroad.
at0pic which on its face gives endless
possibilities for writing. The religion
Of Jesus has been carried forward to
what ever success it has attained by
the words, and endeavors of mission
aries, Jesus gave the great commits
sion SO familiar, to 60 forth to preach,
with the promise that His spirit would
be with those working thus, unto the
end. There was the wait at Jerusa-
lem for power, then the work began
and mas been progressing until the /
present time. The great Paul blazed
the trail and his words to the people |
lsWOrd plymouth and by letters stand
to this day, explaining
what practical christianity is, what
true missionary zeal can do. ~
Jesus when speaking of the king |
dom qfi Cod said it was like the yeast
or leayen in the meal which affected |
the whole mass; like the grain of mus.
tard seed which in time showed such
force assR vegetable growth, and
eYeHtS have verified this declaration
to Its workings, Now comes naturally
a ireyiew, Of what the christian religion
has done In the world, and words and
information fail to begin on such a
topic. It can be said, however, that
the results have been simply wonder
full, startling, magnificent. overpower.
ing. The best civilization of the times
OF Jesus was the Roman, and that was
corrupt to the GORE. The rest of the
world was Ia deeper gloom and further
from the aAdards of truth, morals,
justice, love. Human endeavors have
been great blt'above and in all, has
been the divine blessing without which
all Elabprs are III vain.
The spirit Of Emissions has been the
life spring Of THE, christian church It
was the glory yof the early christians
to each becOue q teacher or mission
= - n