Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07
In the Religious World

condiuon-that the ordinary company
Of Christians are strangely ready now
adays 10 rise 20 the largest conceptions
and presentations OF religious oppor-
tunity and duty. No statement OF the
CnurChs present mission can be too
bold or sweeping for the average re-
ligious conEre cation or convention. The
time-spirit OF crisis has moved power
fully upon the popular mind. Chris
tians generally believe that Christ IL
calling His people to unexamplsd serv-
ice. and they really clamor for brave,
big leadership. The Church is impa-
tient OF all attempts to compress the
Gospel of Christ into a mere formula
of petty prescriptions and prescrtp-
tions: she wants to go with Saul into
the difficult places and to attempt the
audacious tasks. One reason why
OF candidates for the ministry is that
perfunctory and professional ecclesi-
asticism does not appeal TO high
souled youth: there is not enough that
IS heroic and sacrificial and great
visioned and Pauline in the present
form OF cali TO the pulpit.
Preacher Hero.
Cosmopolitan. indeed. was the
church at Antioch which bade fare
we'll to the three pioneers upon the
Great Adventure-the greatest adven-
ture, indeed. in all history. Caesar
crossing the Rubicon, Columbus BRAY
ing unknown seas, We're of less sig
nificance than the setting forth OF
Barnabus, Saul and John Mark from
this tender Christian fellowship OF the
home church to attempt the Christian
conquest of the world.
At the outset. Barnabas was the big
man OF TIE trio. II was to his home
land of Cyprus TINT the trio sailed,
He was evidently the large, gracious
figure. OF imposing physical presence
50 that later he was mistaken for
Jupiter by the heather Saul was an
underslzed Jew, OF Insignificant ap-
pearance. But the exigencies OF travel
and danger and work bring the real
leader to the fore; and we soon find
saul the head OF the party. Up to
saul" thereafter II was Paul and
Barnabus." Saul got a new name
tsrll a common practice in the East
at Paphos in Cyprus. Paul Means
little" but the designation was won
because he proved himself big by soul
measurement.
A Jewish sorcerer named Elymas
had the Romsn proconsul. Sergfus
Paulus. in his tolls. There Is whole
library of literature dealing with the
aptitude Of renegade Jews for witch
craft This man Elynas played for
high stakes: ne was daring fellow,
Of tho sort whom most reformers
would prefer 10 deal with In the
safety Of their own pulpits or editorial
sanctums. Paul. however. faced him
in person md looked him in the eye
and told him just the eort OF sinner he
was In language that would not be
permitted today In Some OF our best
pulpits, Paul tagged Elymas with his
family name aE a son OF the devil.
He went further and laid the binding
hand of God upon NOSE evil eyes.
Small wonder tina. the proconsul was
converted, Men always are converted
when they see the fearless Gospel OF
Christ operating with power.
A Journalistic slncker
While Paul played the hero. the third
member of tho party. John Mark. sec
retRry and reporter. played the slack
| er" As n newspaper man ! am proud
of John Marks journalistic ability:
! he wrote the first and best story
/ OF the life and work OF Jesus. But
/ as an humble fellow-crafteman fee
! that he brought discredlt upon an hon
| orabie profession when he hunked the
! perils or Asia Minor. In my own work
as a foreign correspondent have
| known few reporters who proved
| towards In danger. but they we're the
LIES LITTLE JOKES-NU.