The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-08-26

II living in a period
lA4 of the dominance
N. w - Of the very spirit
Of democracy and the rule of the
masses, as well as time when there
Is little respect for authority. When
you come 10 the realm of religion, II
Is said that we must approach its con
slderation with open minds; 20 have
settled convictions would make Us
blgots and pharisees.
Was that the theory that actuated
the prophets of the Old Testament,
that sctuated Jesus Christ as he
taught among men. or that actuated
the apostles? The positive teaching of
Jeremiah brought ON him the enmity
Of Israel. resulting In his most cruel
persecution. The uncOmpromising
words OF Jesus Christ sent him to the
Cross. aud when Paul faced the Cross
and thought Of the many things he
might glory In. with intensest convic-
tlon he said, God forbid that | should
glory. save In the Cross Of our Lord
Jesus Christ" Here was no qualifi-
cation. no suggestion Of doubt, no
peradventure. Precisely So has II al
ways been with great leaders, and II
Is one Of the saddest aspects Of pres
ent religious teaching that they give
the impression that II is not neces-
sary 10 hold fixed purposes or views
on doctrinal subjects.
2 Let us note that Paurs fixed pur-
pose was with reference 10 only one
thing. everything else TO be shut out.
Would such a fixed purpose be wise
for the Christian worker OF todayf
Our Christian fathers and mothers
were people OF few theories: indeed
they were practically people Of one
thought. They permitted some great
idea to obsess them. and everything
else had to submit 10 that. They saw
different aspects OF the thought, but
the thought was unique and alone.
Man must have his pole star and not
several stars.
But we must have good reasons for
entertaining a fixed purpose. Paul
evidently had good reasons for his
purpose. for he had seen the Lord by
the gate of Damascus; he had spent
three years In Arabia, doubtless max
ing himself intelligent in the things Of
Christ; he had seen how the simple
story OF Christ criclied had moved
hundreds. and probably thousands,
under his own teaching To accept
Christ: he had seen the religion Of the
dying Jesus spreading over Asia Minor
and taking strong hold in Europe, AMI
had experienced In his own life that
old things had passed away. and that
all things had become new-and he
knew that all this came from Jesus
Christ.
3. Paurs fixed purpose waste
know nothing among the Corinthians
but Jesus Christ and him cruciied.
Christ crucified. everything must cen.
ter at the Cross. everything In Christs
life and experience previous TO his
death must have the Cross In view,
and everything In Christ's after infiu-
ence among men must go back 30 the
Cross; IL Is on the Cross that the
atonement for the sins of the world
Is found. As distinguished com-
mentater has said, THE atonement Is
the diamond pivot on which the Chris
tlan religion turns" There is moth
ing. unless we except Christs glorious
return for his people and as the Judge
Of all men. that ~ stlrs the enemies
OF truth as the doctrine of the atone
ment. i
Jesus Christ and him crucltied-
that is the power of God unto saliva
ton. The weakness of the preaching
OF so many ministers today can be
explained by the fact that their ser
mons do not contain the dynamite of
the Cross. Wherever that message Is
delivered. the slain of the Lord are
many. That explained the conquest of
Asia Minor and a large part Of Eu'
rope i'm the FIRST three centuries OF
the Christian era; that explained the
phenomenal success Of George White
field, Jonathan Edwards. Charles III
Sturgeon and every man of God the
world through, who has been sue
cessful winner of souls. Oh, that our
young men who have the ministry In
view would catch the visionl Then
Il would not take from thirty TO fifty
members OF the Christian church 20
lead single soul 10 Christ In the