The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-10
FIRST CHRISTIAN
CHURCH Is FILLED
Nearly Two Hundred Boys and Girls
Took Part in Bible Training
Yesterday Afternoon.

Again an audience which overf1owed
! into the Sunday school room gathered
at the First Christian church last
night to engage in the splendid con-
gregationa1 singing and to hear the
message from the word of God.
One hundred and seventy-four boys
and girls were present for the Bible
training yesterday afternoon. Today is
the last afternoon when new pupils
will be admitted for this work. and it
viii be necessary for each boy and girl
to be present each day next week in
order to receive a diploma at the end
of this course.
The subject of the evenings sermon
was 1.-THE Scriptural Name" and the
text which the message was based
was Acts 1925: "The disciples were
called Christians first at Antioch"
The speaker at the beginning of his
address stated that the Christian
church has always insisted on the
word OF God as the only authority in
religious matters. Where the book
speaks, we speak, and where the book
is silent, we are silent" With that
point of view, the matter of a name
resolves itself into the answer to the
question: what name does the Bible
use in referring to the followers of
Christi?
The church is built on the fact of
the divine sonship of Jesus. He is the
head of the church. Everyone who
would enter the kingdom of God in
some other way than through Christ
is a thief and a robber." In the last
prayer of Jesus, He prayed that the
disciples might be kept in the name
which he had so guarded during His
earthly career.
After the scattering of the disciples
which occurred following the martyr
dom of Stephen, some of them went to
Antioch, and when the work there had
been in progress about a year, the
name Christian was applied to them.
The church Is represented as the
bride of Christ. AS no husband would
want his wife to wear some other name
than his own, so it must grieve the
Christ that the church for which He
died should wear some other name.
Denominational names perpetuate
division, and fail to honor the great
head of the church. All followers of
Christ are willing and glad to be
called Christians. Then why add any
thing else7 It adds nothing to the
value or fragrance of an American
Beauty rose to call it a rose plus a
poppy So it adds nothing to the
Christian life or character to be a
Christian plus a UNCONVENTIONAL name.
The child born into a family honors
his family name, and is proud to wear
it. Christian" is the family name of
Christ's followers. Let us wear that
name proudly, and guard it jealously
without adding to it any denomina-
tional name.
Paul also recognized the name
Christian and gladly wore it, as evil
denced by his answer to Agrippa's
Almost thou persuadest me to be
Christian" Paul, in answer said he
would be glad to have Agrippa be as
he himself except these bonds"
Again we find the great apostle say
ing IF any man suffer as a Chris
tian let him not be ashamed but let
him glorify God in that behalf" SO
again scriptural recognition is given to
the name Christian"
The topic for tonight's sermon will
he "The Touch of the Master" Every
body is invited.