South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-06
TALK TOO MUCH
TO DEVIL, DAVIS
SAYS IN SERMON
Asks Gods Talk introduced in
Dinner Speeches and
Meetings.

"Only a Voice" was the theme
discussed Sunday morning at the
First Baptist church here rs Dr. L.
:. Davis. the pastor. Or. Davis de-
clared talking is the greatest Of all
arts but that the trouble today il
that men are doing too much talk
ing 10 the devil and not enough TO
God" He suggested that a little OF
Gods talk be included in otter
dinner speeches. afternoon teas,
union labor meetings and other
meetings
The sermon in part follows:
When the Pharisees sent mes
sengers TO John the Baptist to ask
him who ne was. ne answered. j
ann the voice OF one crying in the
wilderness. make straight the way
of the Lord. Jesus said that John
was a Burning and shing light
Swinging because burning. Johns
soul was like a furnace heated seven
times. IL was hot with zeal TOR God.
It was hot with hatred of sin. The
Word Of God was like fre burning
fire Of intense belief. Of q mighty
faith. Of a noblep urpOse. The way
OF mon were crooked John came
To put them straight. When Johns
voice rang out on the banks OF the
Jordan 10 was the break king into
speech Of moral and spiritual energy
which compelled attention. Re spoke
Tor God, and men felt that once
again d prophel had arisen among
them.
Bible says God Talks.
Yet John said i am "a voice.
Gods greatest gift 10 man is the
voice. God put into man the talk
instinct, so that the whole world
talks. And did YOU think that God
Almighty who gave us the faculty
Of speech Will himself be dumb
From the Book Of Cod we learn that
God has a settled habit Of wanting
10 talk 10 men; that God Is talk
atiVe. not tacituTn. that God IS
friendly, not remote. God wants 10
talk with everybody. He wants
90 so into everybody's house AMI
sit down a bit and talk awhile. He
is always trying TO talk TO YOU and
always wanting YOU TO talk 10 him.
Talking Is the greatest Of all
arts. what a calamity IL would have
been for America, if Daniel " ebster
had been dumb. and we had never
had heard his eluquence in defense
uf the constitution. What calamity
Do would have been for human free
dom IL Wendell Phillips had been
dumb and we had never had heard
his voice lifted against slavery. The
voice Of the rctCTmCr has opened
doors OF hope In every age. What
Is NEEDED today is a voice of protest
a q h..
frIvilOus. We need voice strong
and fearless TO condemn the wrOns
and compel acceptance Of tho night.
We need men VINO viii talk for God
and talk Gods talk.
Teaches Human Life.
When the first parents in the
garden talked 10 the devil, Grvlish
things followed. The trouble today
is that men are doing too much talk
ing 20 the devil and not enough
talking TO God. They are not giving
cod a chance 10 talk 20 them. They
never 20 where God talks. The
taboo GCd from all their converse
lions. They talk money. HOUSING
charity. eduction and politics but
never once get down 10 the root of
things and let God talk. They do
not know vet that God has said
more and taught more on every
suDlpCt or human Ire llldu any WIS.,
.-trc II time.
WHY not put a little Of Gods
t1Ik into our after-dinner speeches.
our afternoon teas, our labor union
MEETINGS, our discussions of all the
Problems OF life. ] am persuaded
that IL men Woui only give cod "a
chance things would soon 5c BETTER
In these last days God hath
spoken BY his son. What is Jesus
doing He is letting God have a
chance at MS Through him. That is
why Christ'S words are so majes-
teal What does God want from
youo He wants "a chance TO talk TO
Ou and through you 20 talk 20
other men. He wants YOU to talk
his talk 20 those around you. Let
us begin row and talk for God and
talk Gods talk and see what will
blnpen."