The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-08-02
THE REASONABLENESS
OF CHRISTIANITY

Unity and Eternity. IL is a cIedLloH
bigger than our human minds can
understand. In other words in
every night God whispers to man
that he was born for something
more enduring than time. No Won
der Napoleon Bonaparte, when
some infidels argued with him one
night, pointed up to the starry sky
and answered: "Who then made all
that?" And no wonder Lord Bacon
declared that he had rather believe
any fable ever written than believe
that the earth and heavens develop
ed by mere chance OF accident.
Granting then that there is a God
it is not also reasonable that He
should wish to make some revela-
ton of Himself to His creatures?
And if He has so revealed Himself,
what religion offers the noblest and
most ennobling conception of God,
Judaism, or Christianity No one
who has studied them with unbiased
mind, l think, can be in doubt on
this point. Nor do I think of any
thig more reasonable than the COM
ing of Christ to earth. Why should
not a God who loved His creatures
say, "Let Me show men how to live
by Myself living the humble life of
man for three and thirty years.
Let Me show men the glory Of duty
and sacrifice of Myself living hu-
man life of duty and sacrifice"
But perhaps you may say, "Why
then, doesn't the Almighty make ev-
erything so clear that man need
not be worried by doubts or fears?
Why doesn't the Almighty speak so
clearly about the life everlasting
and about the wonders of Heaven
as to satisfy the human being"
No man, of course, can answer
these questions definitely, but I
have always reasoned about the
matter in this fashion: Our physical
body grows and gains strength
through struggle and toll and con-
flict. Are not strugge and toll and
conflict also necessary to the
growth of the soul? And if the AL
mighty showed US beyond all hu-
man doubt the glories of Heaven,
who would wish to live out the dull
Ter life of earth and endure the
slow and ofen painful discipline by
which the soul is made fit for Hea-
ven?
True religion, as l understand it,
is a passion for this divine com,
To love God, to love
eternal things, with all ones heart,
and to love ones neighbors as ones
sclf-that is how Christ summoned
up religion. l seriously doubt whe-
ther the Almighty ever hears
self-centered man who prays, 20
Lord, save my soul. l don't want to
suffer in any torment. I do want to
enjoy the luxury and glory of Hea-
ven." But 1 am sure the Almighty
hears every one who cries, "Oh,
Lord, put Thy spirit within me.
Let me turn from evil and follow in
Thy footsteps. Help me to live an
eternal being, made in Thy image
and destined for Thy courts"
But is it worth while to join
you ask. l certainly be-
l;eve that it is. The church is the
soldiery of the AL
mighty. You can do a great deal
more if you fight with the regular
army instead of beig a mere camp
follower. By joining a church you
also give a public pledge that you
will try to let the immortal part of
you rule the mortal part, and such
a pledge will do much to hold you
in the straight path. oubts will come
to you, of course. You will find
men all around you battling Ger
things Christ did not call essential
and perhaps demanding acceptance
of creeds you cannot wholly ap-
prove. But it will be enough if on
" IN the darkest hours you can
throw yourself upon "the great
Il