The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-12-21

just the same. To make my point still
palmer, it says nowhere in the Scrip
ture that thou shalt believe in the Vir-
gin. or in the Virgin birth to be saved.
1t does say. thou shalt believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ. There is, very de-
cidedly, doctrine OF the person OF our
Lord Jesus Christ in the New Tesla
ment That is a fundamental of faith
Without the personality OF Jesus. there
would be no Jesus TO fulfil the con-
ditiOn that in him dwelt all the full
ness OF the Godheid bodily Unless
Jesus was born in the flesh. grew
up into manhood. became the most
celebrated teacher of his time. suffered
under Pontius PLATE. was crucihed.
dead and buried. and on the third day
rose again from the dead, and ap-
peared bodily to his amazed disciples
and now stitch on the right hand OF
God the Father Almighty. and ever
liveth to make intercession for us.
unless. say. the historical Jesus was
an incontrovertible fact. then all things
else taught about him have no basis
worthy of our exalted faith The per-
sonaliiy OF our Lord. therefore. is
very necessary fundamental His
virgin birth is 4 part of this doctrine
Of the person OF Jesus. but not a
fundamental in and OF itself. II
seems to me. il this were generally
understood. there would be no present
clamor over the issue OF 'fundamen-
talism.' as now being featured by
magazines and newspapers innumer-
able
"Of course" and the Judge smiled
facetiously. "a good scrap is always
good news, particularly church scrap
and one reason why church history
makes exciting reading is because of
the endless warfare among saints
As long as the church allows the
good news salvation to be per
verted into the good news OF scrana-
ton the message OF the Christ child
will be an abortive one We like to
sing. Like a mighty army moves the
church OF Cod and the hymn sounds
well. But the army OF the Lord today
is worse confounded in its counsels
than ever the Allies were before
Marshall Foch was given the supreme
command that finally won the vic
tory. What we need in the church
today is less quarreling about the
virgin birth. and more living in the |
spirit OF the angel-message:
Glory to God in the highest.
and on earth peace among men in
whom he is well-pleased'
And now to conclude. stated |
hat Jesus was not born on the 25th |
II December. and that the so-called
Doctrine OF the Virgin Birth. and
he invention OF Christmas as a
'hurch festival were later develop
nents in church history. The orr
I'm OF Christmas took place in the
bird century after Christ. 1t was
Introduced for a laudabe purpose.
hat OF Transforming a Roman series
II heather festivals. called the Sa-
urnalia. celebrated toward the end
# December. in merry-making that
generally degenerated into rioting and
Our church fathers of
hat century tried 10 change the birth
estival OF the unconquered sun to
he birth festival OF the sun of right
business. the child OF Bethlehem. So
he 18th OF December. the probable
ate OF the 'Feas, of Saturnalia.' was
generated into the Feast OF the Ad-
emit
But old pagan customs die hard.
nd today these customs are still with
5. There have always been two
hristmas. Those today who make I
this holiday of the church Just
me OF fcasting. exchanging presents.
ancing and mere round OF pleasure.
My continue in a modified way the
lgan feast OF Saturnalia. But those
} whom Christ is the Prince OF !
eace.' reserve this day as a time of
virtual JOY and refreshment. We q
e not much concerned with the date v
his physical birth. but we are con- n
rned with the second birth which
vastly more important. Has the q
irist child been born in us7 So we !. !,
ould sing with Phillips Brooks: !,
holy Child OF Bethlehem, :,
Decend to us we pray: Ib
lst out our sin, and enter in.
Be born in us today y,
rs. Laura M. Hoyt Recommends