South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-16
CITES IMPORTANCE
OF SERVING GOD,
IN SUNDAY SERMON
Rev. A. Z. Monger Delivers
Interesting Address at First
Methodist Church.

Rev Albert Z. Monger in deliver
ing his Sunday morning sermon on
The Ethics OF Exemption" al the
First Methodist church, emphasized
the importance OF serving Almighty
God He stated that the people can
not claim exemption from service 70
God without endansering their own
lives and the lives Of others. In en-
larging on his subject the pastor
cited the following passage from the
Book OF Luke
Come for all things are now
ready. And they all with one accord
began 70 make excuse Luke 14:1T.
His sermon in part was as follows.
The parable OF the great supper
enforces the fundamental truth OF
the Primacy Of the spiritual life.
Here are threehmen who have ac-
cepted II AMI are now called upon
10 give practical expression Then
they began 10 ask for exemptions
from the service which they were
obligated 10 render They had no
particular dislike for their host, but
they did not care enough about their
obligation 20 him for the great sup
per TO be present. II is very plain
that Jesus did not consider their eX-
cuses as coming within the law OF
exemption
The law OF exemptions is very ia
miliar 20 US. we must not forget i'm
these times of peace this truth which
shone so clearly in the times OF war
namely: The ethics Of exemption.
Our country recognized certain legi-
innate reasons such as physical de-
fects, family responsibilities, being
necessary TO certain gTeat productive
industries necessary for winning tho
war Many others sought 20 be oN-
cused for other than legitimate rea-
sons. VIC know the feeling toward
those who tried 10 escape service.
We recognized the fact that the ma
tion had a right TO lay hold OF the
lives OF tho four million young men
and the wealth OF the nation 10 pre-
serve the nation aid her govern
ment. The blessings and privileges
accorded TO her citizens carried with
them the responsibility and the OBJ
legation Of those most able TO bear
this burden TO give 10 and servo the
nation
The kingdom OF God has a still
higher claim upon every man and
woman who CLOSES TO live under the
benefits of Christian religion. Every
privilege or blessing carries with it
a corresponding obligation. God 5
government Of the world carries with
IL certain blessings which no other
religious faith can give TO its people.
We choose 10 accept them and en-
JOY them. VIC choose TO live ia a
land which is the highest expression
OF this faith. That is the reason
why wo prefer to live here rather
than i'm Russia. South America. In
dia or Africa. God has q more right
ful claim upon Us than has any
earthly government obedience to
Him brings only good to mankind.
lie impoveriShes no one.
There are many who like the three
men in this parable are asking for
exemption from service OF Cod
Christ selected for special warning
the man who had bought a piece Of
ground, the man VINO had bought a
yoke OF oxen and tho man who had
married a wife as examples 10 the
world that excuses which the world
would be ready TO accept and even
admire as outside OF tho law OF eX-
emption Of service 10 God which in
reality is service 70 fellow men.
These men were guilty OF making
trivial and secondary things 10 oc.
cupy tho place OF things OF greatest
Importance Their value rested
after all in the kingdom OF God
which they were ignoring These
men were doing no harm but on the
other hand they were doing no real
5000 that could not be done on an.
other day They were treating with
indifference the very life that made
tho land, the yoke Of oxen. and the
home valuab,e Like them VIC set
so busy about things that Ne ignore
the purpose and plan OF COD in what
we arc doing. If VIC continue IN this,
We shall lose even what We now en-
JOY We can insure the pleasure Of
our homes, o. our prosperity. Of OF
| portunities. and OF growing life by
/ obedience 70 the service for God
For our Indifference to Him. VIC can
I have only chaos. loss. deatrl ction,
and selfishness.
Life and time are limited II re
become pre-occUpied with the multi
1 tudinous little things the great things
VIII be lost. There 10 q vast differ
ence between pleasure riding and
I going somewhere TRere is no less
difference between mere business
and working according 10 the great
/ purpose and plan OF God The work
men on our new buildings can mako
\ headway only as they follow the
I rlans and purpose Of tho architect
A young man has 10 choose between
/ education ard the muititudinoua
/ trivial things ~ college life. II he
I chooses the latter. he cannot have
studenship II he chooses student
ship he will lose some Of the latter
/ but he viii have enough for a whole
some life. Ruskin said 10 a young
I man. III YOU read this book. YOU
( cannot read that" What things are
you emphasizing On lifeo We cannot
/ claim exemption from service and
/ duty 10 God without endsngerinE
\ our own life and the lives Of others
/ To disregard these Duties is 70 shut
ourselves cut OF the presence OF
Jesus Christ"
/ COAFFSSES 1fTTRDER