Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-20
CHRISTIANITY is RELIGION OF
REVELATION, SALVATION, Love,
DECLARES REV. Willard A. GUY

teach the boys. They have taught
me. l have no message for the
boys in the trenches" One Won
ders If such a man ever did have
the living message OF the living
Christ. This is what the boys
needed in their struggle, and what
they wanted. Gypsy Smith, who
spent much time in the trenches
says he preached many times every
day, and the boys were always
eager for the gospel message.
What a mistake we make in think
ing that men will not listen TO the
simple gospel of Christ. What a
mistake we make in thinking that
anything else can meet the soul
needs of men in their trying hours.
OF course, the boys were patriotic,
but patriotism cannot take the
place of Christ. A man should
love his country but he should also
love his God, who is above all
countries.
You ask, But what is true
Christianity" One quotes James
1:27, Pure religion and undefiled
before our God and Father Is this,
to visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction, and to keep
ones self unspotted from the
world" But is this intended as q
definition of Christianity? If you
study into the meaning of the
word here translated religion"
you will find that it means reli-
gious service, the outward express
sion of a religious life. And this
religious life will express itself in
two ways--in helping those in
need and in keeping ones own life
pure. 1t speaks only of a two
fold relation--to self and to 9TH
ers, Christianity embraces three
fold relation-namely, to self, to
others and to God, but God first.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, with all
thy soul, and with all thy strength,
and with all thy mind; and thy
neighbor as myself" God first,
your neighbor and yourself after
that. So this statement of James
only speaks of the outward express
sion of Cody life. 1t does not
do away with the fundamental
doctrines of Christianity, which
consist of a faith in Jesus Christ,
a repentance toward Christ, an
obedience to Christ in baptism and
loyal service.
Here, then, is another distinc-
tive principle of Christianity. 1t
is religion of faith, it requires a
living faith in the living Christ.
Some may say, 1T makes no diff
ference what one believes" but
the war has shown how false such
statement is. 1T makes all the
difference in the world what n
man believes. Germany has shown
with cruel plainness that a man
will act as he believes, that his
deeds are the direct expression of
his faith" Germany trusted in
the Good old German God" a
God or might, a God of force,
cruel and revengeful, and her
deeds were the direct expression
OF her faith. So Christianity re-
quires faith. but faith in a loving
Heavenly Father, faith in Jesus
Christ as the Son of God, faith ex-
pressing itself in obedience to his
commands. Therefore in the light
OF the New Testament teaching.
that man only is a Christian who
believes in Christ, is obedient to
Christ and serves in the name of
Christ. So Christianity centers
not in abstract ideas but in a liv-
ing person. A critic, on asking
what new thing Jesus Christ had
given to the world, was answered
thus: He has given Himself"
This is a vital and fundamental
principle in New Testament Chris
tlanity. Any system of religion
that leaves out the living Christ
and his plan of redemption is not
Christian, call them what you will.
Beware of these modern religious
mixtures! Avoid substitutes! They
are not only confusing but they
are misleading and dangerous. In
matters of as vital importance as
this it pays to be right. There is
only one right way, it is Christ's
way. 81 am the way, the truth,
and the life; no man cometh unto
the Father, but by Me" John
1850.