Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-21
OLD-TIME RELIGION
A. GAMBLER

Again how pathetically does He declare
"The Son of Man is come to seek ana 10
save that which is lost" (MattheW XVlll
II and Luke xix 100.
But while in these and other words He
calls men to come to Him, there is not in
any invitation that He ever uttered one
smallest accent Of sel6shness. He does not
call them that He may obtain something
from them, but that He may do something
great and good for them. Poor as He is
He has nothing to ask of the world but
much to give to it.
1t would be offensive to the verge of
blasphemy to say that His promises are
never the pledges of demagogT to win the
favour and patronage of men. No man ever
thought of Jesus as a demagoGuc. No party
ever claimed Him as its advocate or ex-
ponent, and none ever charged him with
detection from it,, He was the partisan of
no class, whether rich or poor, high or
low, learned or unlearned.
He knew what was in men, but for him
self He asked nothing of men.
Just in proportion His church is
filled with His spirit, does it speak to the
world in the same tender, but authoritative
tone. In its noblest moods 1t neither de-
sires nor asks human patronage. 1t de-
sends upon the world from above, and
speaks to mankind as with a voice from
the skies. Then men heed it most and re-
spond most promptly and submissively to
it's calls.
But when the church becomes worldly
and selfish, when it seeks to save itself
rather than save men, it degrades itself to
the level of seeker of pelf and patronage
1t cannot speak to men with heavenly au-
thority because it feels that it is too de
pendent upon their favour.
It's invitations are uttered with the i'm
plication that no high standard of life is re-
CURED for their acceptance. 1t offers to
allow all sorts of worldly diversions and
sinful indulgences, if men will only accept
membership in it, 1t makes drives for
members, and issues appeals not unlike the
advertisements printed to secure quick sales
for bargain-counter articles.
Once the church begins to extend such
invitations for men to enter it, it COM
mences to play for popularity with the null
titude and to secure the adhesion of the
majority. 1t conceives a lust for members
This fact explains why some preachers
become socialists and some churches take
pride in advertising themselves as peoples
churches" Then they become nothing
more than clubs to which men of certain
class resort to hear harangues which in
j flame them with animosity to all other
classes. At best they amount to no more
than lodge rooms for orders OF
unions"
+ Can any man who is acquainted with the
Gospels which record the earthly life of ou1
Lord by any stretch of imagination con.
ceive Him as adopting such methods?
selfish spi1it of some preachers and
churches manifested more clearly than in
these unworthy and un-Christly efforts to
win earthly popularity Their professed
care for the poor is of piece with the
insincere profession Of Judas when he said
of the devoted wom2n's ointment poured
on the head of the Saviour, why was not
this ointment sold for three hundred pence
and given to the poor" This He said, and
they say, not because they care for. the
poor, but because they desire to have we'll
f1lled the bags which they carry. John
xii SD.
The invitations Of these preachers and
churches have nothing in common with the
tender calls of Jesus, inviting prodigal sons
to come home. At last even the world
discerns the selfshness which inspires them
and turns deaf ears to them. Their speech
betrayeth them, and the world comes to
hold them in well deserved contempt and
well merited disgust.
Let churches and preachers be filled with
the unselfish love of Jesus for sinners, and
their invitations will command attention
and bring wanderers home.
Even stupid sheep know the difference
between a tender shepherds voice who
cares for them and that of selfish shearer
who is concerned only to clip their fleece.