Evening star., 1921-05-28
by REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

! BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
| Community life tests ones Christian
ity. Many profess intrests in Chris
tian projects in distant sections. where
gifts of money may prove to be help-
full, who neglect the opportunity pre-
sented in their own street and neigh
borhood. The one, who fails to real
| iZe his obligation to be of service for
| Christ and His Church in his own
! parish and community. will never
| count much in making his neighbor-
hood Christian. There is personal
! responsibility that rests upon every
| follower of Jesus Christ to help win
| the community in which he dwells for
the Master. Christianity demands
some definite expression that will
prove to the community that the spirit
of Christ's teachings dominates ones
| life before they will credit our pro-
] fession of faith Until every disciple
Of the Lord Jesus and Church com
! inences to carry out the spirit mus
| trated by the two examples given in
the lesson the communities of the
! world will not be made Christian.
One of the first tasks that must be
faced before any neighborhood is
| made thoroughly Christian is the
will meet the community's human
welfare needs. The gospel of Jesus
is sufficient to save not only the in
! dividual. but the community If the
Master is lifted up, He will draw all
the people of the neighborhood to
bv the power of His gospel. His mes
sages concerning the kingdom of
God deal with the physical, moral,
social. intellectual and spiritual needs
individualist in His efforts to win
the world. yet Jesus never forgot the
mans relations to others. He saved
men one by one as they would help
Him save the world. 1t was this truth
that He illustrated in His dialogue
with the lawyer who sought to defeat
Jesus in a public discussion on the
requirement of the law concerning
eternal life. Christ reduced all law to
one. Thou shalt love. 1t is this that
makes Christianity the religion of
humanity.
A program for community welfare
must be based upon fellowship and
aternity. The needs of each neigh
borhood differ and call for different
programs. Every follower of Christ
will demonstrate his love of the Lord
Jesus by his love for his fellow man.
He will be found backing up every
movement for human welfare that
affects the child. youth and older per-
sons in the community. The illustra-
ton Of the Lord Jesus concerning the
good Samaritan is recognized as the
last word in philanthropic endeavor.
Its principles Of action have not been
improved upon by the advancement
of the centuries. 1t eliminates the
question of race. religion and ma
tional prejudices from consideration
when humanity's suffering or need
calls for help. aid or assistance. AL
though the priest and Levite passed
by. and may have even justified them
selves from a ritualistic standpoint.
if those who claim to he followers OF
Christ pass by such opportunities to
untrue to their profession Of Christ.
The Samaritan, despite the differ
ence in race, religion and nationality
revealed the spirit of neighborliness
by eleven different acts of service and
promised to perform the twelve, when
up his account. His compassion,
charity and care Of the unfortunate
has been the inspiration of probably
more repetitions in community. civic
and church life than any other para
BILE Of Christ. Fraternities have been
the truth that any community need
is demand that 1t be included in
the program that is needed to make
the neighborhood Christian. The
spirit Of love and service has changed
communities in every land for Christ.
There IS no neighborhood but what if
the gospel of Jesus is preached and
practiced in accordance with Christs
teachings of the principles of the
kingdom and the story of the good
Samaritan but what it can be trans
formed and made Christian.
An ideal eY2nn1o nf q chrrch'a
cial welfare work Is seen in the rec
ords of the early days Of the Jerusa-
lem Church. The large number Of
believers who united with the church
the apostles to teach them the doc
trines Of Christ. showing to them the
many references Of the Old Testament
concerning the Messiah which had
been fulfilled in the life Of Christ
Jesus. but more especially the Mas
number Of people from outside Of
Jerusalem who accepted the gospel
Of the Christ and were added to their
rolls 5made it difficult for them to
funds were exhausted. tarried in Jeru-
salem. both to receive more light and
to aid the work Of the church. and called
for a large relief fund. Men out of
love for their brethren. many of whom
were suffering persecution for their
shared one with another. The COM
munity of goods of the early church
was not forced. but grew naturally
out of the teachings Of Christ and
their mutual love. They did not abol-
lsh private property, but under the
trying conditions willingly shared
their property with one another.
They had been filled with the Holy
Spirit after a season of waiting upon
God in prayer. After Pentecost they
continued their daily worship in the