Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-06
CHURCH MUST
MAKE GOOD TO
ROUT UNBELIEF


a rousing welcome by the kikanians. lie
gave them a business talk.
"STOP PLAYING, LIVE
YOUR RELIGION"
Calling on the citizens Of Indianapolis
and of the State to "stop playing with re-
ligion but live it," Gypsy Smith, the Eng
ish Evangelist, last night preached ser
mon devoted to serious thought and an
earnest invitation for conservation for
Jesus which will shake the entire State"
that paves the way for his master ser
mons which will be preached on Thurs
day and Friday nights at the tabernacle.
The Gypsy on Thursday night will take
as his subject, Three and a Half Years
with the Boys in Flanders" and on Fri
day night he win deliver what is said to
be his greatest sermon, From a Gypsy
Tent to the Pulpit"
In one city where I had delivered the
story of my life, two women were talking
loudly concerning whether l was a gypsy
or not" said the evangelist "One said,
OF course not, he is not a gypsy. He is
gentleman Let me tell you my peo-
pie are gentlemen No more now, just
come and hear me tell you about 1t Fri
day night"
The evangelist last night took as his
text some of the verses from the epistle
of Peter. He divided his sermon into
three parts: Partakers of the divine ma
ture, partakers of the divine suffering
and partakers of the divine glory.
At times the noted evangelist seemed to
forget that he was preaching from a
pulpit, but acted as if he were talking
face to face with every man and woman
in the big audience which crowded the
tabernacle as it has never been taxed
before. Hundreds OF people remained on
the outside. Some climbed up to the
windows and looked in during tie long
est sermon which the evangelist has de-
llvered so far in this city. His earnest
ness seemed to grip his audience, and
before he lifted his hands in final bene-
diction. hundreds of men and women had
publicly proclaimed Christ.
After reading his text and dividing
his sermon into three parts. the Gypsy
said: There is music in this text. 1
know how preachers feel when they get
n fat text. 1t makes their mouths water.
This epistle is very concise and it can
be read after you 20 home tonight Oh,
the wonderful power Of meaning which
Peter has placed in this epistle.
NEW TESTAMENT
RELIGION BIG.
Hear be. Hear me, Indianapolis. If
you read the epistle of Peter you will
come TO realize that the New Testament
religion is very big thing, far bigger
than any Of you have ever dreamed.
Il was converted under the old act,
under the old method when people left
something on the outside Of the church
when they went In and at a time when
they left something inside when they left
the church
II could not read when 1 was con
verified. Ny mind was Ike the virgin soil
and Il took many impressions. The
preachers in those days preached, studied
and prayed and lived their lives for only
one thing-the conviction and conversion.
The leaders of the churches in those
days were supporting and cooperating
with their preachers. II no one was con
verted on a Sunday night the leaders and
the ministers were disappointed. All
were on the lookout for conversions.
We had conversions in those days be-
cause the preachers preached that sin
was alienation from Christ. We talked Of
the conviction of sin. We talked Of wit
Messing the spirit.
Now ask If we ever question whether
be got through Has he been savedr
STANDARD
LOWERED.
1
the evangelist In a defiant manner into
the face of his audience.
The preachers" yelled some one IN
the audience.
Glpsy ran to the front Of the pulpit,
leaned over and shook a finger at the
man placing the blame on the preachers
and cried; mo, l take issue with you.
Because you have lowered, demanded a
lower standard. That's the trouble"
Il am one OF them. I am a preacher"
said the voice In the audience.
"Then don't you dare lower the stand
ard" cried the evangelist. Il have said
before from this very platform that l
would rather lose my soul than to lower
the standard to satisfy my own short
comings
in those days we made it difficult to
get into the church. 1t was conflict to
get In. 1t meant coming out Of the world.
It meant giving up the old things and
taking on the new. 4
in those days 1t meant no compromise
with the devil or the flesh. As long as
the New Testament is Gods word l am
going to preach It. 1t is no longer
conflict to get into the church. 1t is |
social a picnic. an entertainment You
come up and shake hands and write your
name on the church roll.
MEETS NEW WAY
WITH PROTEST.
Il say that that and that only is
prostitution of my Lords plan OF re
demption. I protest against that sort
OF thing. I could make you a mem
Der Of a religious community. I could
lift up my two hands-hands that have
worked on five continents in the name Of
the Lord could place those two hands
on your head and call it confirmation.
tell you that it takes the Holy Ghost
to make you a child Of Cod cried Gypsy
Smith. as he paused for breath.
you must be a partaker OF the divine
nature" he said softly. Until you have
done that you are a hypocrite If you
call yourself a Christian A carnation
is beautiful but 1t isn't rose. A rose
is glorious but it isn't a lily. A mountain
is glorious but 1t isn't a continent You
may be a very moral man or woman but
you must be born again to be a Chris
tian.
Il tell you it is a mighty big thing
to be a Christian.
Christ died for ne. am crucified
with Christ Christ lived In me. That
is what Paul said. That Is religion
Have you got that far?
You Will never be a Christian until
you get a new heart. Those who live In
the flesh can not please God. That's the
teaching of the New Testament. 1t is the
heart work that counts.