Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-08-31


clysm of world
strife. To the church comes the APP
peal of the burdened, the sorrowing,
the hopeless. What response should
the church make? Should the church
become more social in character, more
philanthropic in it's endeavor to meet
the worlds needs, more institutional
In It's activities, more cultured in its
membership?
The need of the hour Is in the
message the church has for the world,
and the kind of church to meet the
crisis of the present is the church
with message, for the church was
commissioned primarily as messen.
ger. 60 We into all the world and
preach the Gospel to every creature"
As never before in modern times
the world needs today an evangeliz-
Ing church-a missionary church-a
preaching church. "What is the mes
sage for the hour?" Our text is the
all-sufficient reply-"God hath spoken
to us in His Son.
The message of the church for this
hour has not been left to human
speculations, vagaries, or reasoninga
God has given it and the only hope
OF needed help is In its proclama
ton.
A Peculiar Message.
Gods message is peculiar to our
present needs. He hath spoken "in,.
these last days"-a phrase character
izlng the present dispensation, which
grows more perilous, more complex,
more lawless as it develops. God has
provided message adapted to every
contingency, sufficient for every need,
the solution of every problem. Are
we threatened with internal disorders
between capital and labor? Shall we
witness the clash of civilizations be-
tween East and West? Are the great
world religions preparing for an Ar
mageddon? What shall we say to the
struggling forces? Can a disarma-
ment conference sit for months and
find solution? Can the church pub.
lish an edict worldwide? No. they
are helpless. God has given the mes.
sage for these days.
The message is contrasted with the
past God hath spoken before.
Through patriarch prince, poet, priest
and prophet. holy men spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost" Goo
entrusted His message to men-they
were His mouthpiece to proclaim,
Thus saith the Lord" But now
"God has spoken in His Son." He
has given the world perfect message,
1t cannot fail-it is age-long, world.
wide. Being perfect, it is final. He
has none other to give.
The Message Of a Person.
Jesus is Gods message. He is the
solution Of every problem, the panacea
for every i'll, the last word in,
every condition. We need to remem.
Der that however much conditions NAV
differ, there are certain fundamental
needs at the heart of humanity. The
problems of collective society have
multiplied and grown more intricate
with the passing centuries, but these
are only incidental and symptomatic.
Back of all complexities and conflicts
all fevers and eruptions is SIN, which
spoiled Gods work, binders His plan,
and is responsible for every human
need, every social condition, every
world problem. Sin is the dark, hide
ous monster that spoiled the whole
program of Edenic beauty and har
nony. 1t changed mans relation to
God. 1t turned mans hand ooafnct
MS brother. 1t affected the destiny Of
he race.
These questions have always been
he same, in the first century or the
twentieth. They are universal-aliks
n Hottentot or Hindu. The Son
# God answers them. He answers
every question about God. He is God
translated into human language
Message of eternal love, understand.
lble to every tribe and tongue. He
answers every question about man
lis origin, his destiny, and all life be-
ween. Every social need, every race
'roblem, every religious hunger is
olved and satisfied in Jesus. He an.
wers the question Of the future. aIn
ny Fathers house are many mansions.
go to prepare place for you.
will come again and receive you unto
myself that where I am there YOU
nay be Also Ye believe in Cod
BELIEVE also in me-" God has set
lis seal of approval upon His Son
nd admonishes us. "Hear We Him."