The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-07-29

of democracy and the rule of the
masses, as we'll as time when there
is little respect for authority. When
you come to the realm of religion, IL
is said that we must approach It's con-
sideration with open minds; TO nave
settled convictions would make us
bigots and pharisees.
Was that the theory that actuated
the prophets of the Old Testament,
that actuated Jesus Christ as ne
taught among men, or that actuateu
the apostles? The positive teaching OF
jeremiah brought on aim, the enmity
of Israel, resulting in his most cruei
persecution. The uncompromising
words of Jesus Christ sent him to the
Cross, and when Paul faced the, Cross
and thought. of the many things he
might glory in, With intensest convic-
ton he said, Sod 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 1t 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 1t is not neces-
sary to hold fixed purposes or views
on doctrinal subjects.
2. Let us note that Paul's fixed pUr-
pose was with reference to 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 to that. They saw
different aspects of the thought, Du,
the thought was unique and alone
Man must have his pole star and mol
several stars.
But we must have good reasons fol
entertaining a fixed purpose. Pau
evidently had good reasons for Nil
purpose, for he had seen the Lord b!
the gate of Damascus; he had spen
three years in Arabia, doubtless max
ing himself intelligent in the things o.
Christ: he had seen how the simple
story of Christ crucified had moved
hundreds, and probably thousands
under his own teaching to accep
Christ: he had seen the religion of thu
diving Jesus spreading over AsiaM Minor
and taking strong hold in Europe, aAt
he'd experienced in his own life tina
old things had passed away, and tina
all things had become new-and n
knew that all this came from Jesus
Christ.
8. Paurs fxed purpose waste
know nothing among the Corinthians
but Jesus Christ and him crucified
Christ crucified, everything must cen
ter at the Cross, everything in Christ'
life and experience previous to hi!
death must hav the Cross in view
and everything in Christ's after infiu
ence among men must go back to thu
Cross: 1t is on the Cross that thu
atonement for the sins OF the worlt
is found. AS distinguished com
mentator has said, "The .atonement Il
the diamond pivot on which the Chris
tian religion tMns." There is moth
ing, unless we except Christ's glorious
return for his people and as the Judg'
of all men, that so stirs the enemies
of truth as the doctrine OF the atone
ment.
Jesus Christ and him crucifed-
that is the power of God unto saliva
ton. The weakness of the preachin,
of so many ministers today can 81
explained by the fact that their ser
mons do not contain the dynamite o
the Cross. Wherever that message Il
delivered, the slain of the Lord arr
many. That explained the conquest O
Asia Minor and large part OF Flu
rope in the first three centuries O.
the Christian era: that explained thu
phenomenal success Of George White
field. Jonathan Edwards, Charles ii
Sturgeon and every man OF God TN
world through, who has been a sue
cessful winner of souls. Oh, that oul
Young men VINO have the ministry II
view would catch the vision! Their
If would not take from thirty to fifty
members of the Christian church tt
lead a single soul to Christ in the