Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-17
OLD-TINE RELIGION
BY BISHOP w. A. GAMBLER

tilCt. IhGY 40 nOt WISH TO be g.. eufDeu ny
controversy, and coyet for themselves the
privilege of pouring out for themselves a
sort of theological monOlOgue, while all who
oppose their teaching keep silent before
them. If they had lived in the days of St.
Paul they would have deprecated, and sup
pressed. if possible his great polemical epis-
Ties. In fact, they generally deprecate Paul
and what they call "Paulnism"
OF course, such men cannot be valiant
for the truth" for they do not value it
enough to seek 1t or contend for it.
! 4 strange feature of their case is that
they dote on semnaries, colleges and uniyer-
stiles. This is quite strange; in fact, it is
quite paradoXical with reference to their
position For what is the use Of institu-
lions of learning If definite truth is unat-
tainable is quite inferior to feelings, and
may be even antagOnistic to religious eX-
perence and Christian life? Efforts at any
sort of education are something worse than
vain, if truth be so uncertain, and POSSIBLY
so injurious to Christian life Why teach
ANYTHING if the highest and most indlspensa-
BILE truth--the truth about God-cannot be
known with certainty, or, if known, is near
w. or quite, worthless?
The great schools of which history takes
account, sprang from definite religious con-
victions and were designed 10 aeIehd anu
propagate the principles of their founders.
Such were the schools Of the prophets IN
the DAYS Of Elijah which probably the brave
and uncompromising Tishbite set up ana
supervised Gil. Kings 2:1-5.) They were not
designed to serve the ends of concordat
between the Baalism of the court OF AhaD
| and Jezebel and the religion OF JehoVah
which Israel had received through Abraham'
Isaac and Jacob; but were intended rather
| to prepare men to carry on the conlllct Vi
pure faith with the foul cult or the daughter
of Ethbaal.
Such also were the schools of the fathers
of early Christianity; and such was st. An
drews in Scotland and Oxford university IN
England.
oxford university is a rich collection of
! great colleges, every one OF which rests on
foundations laid to promote the most definite
religious beliefs; and they have served Wen
the high purposes of their founders and pro
| motors. What would Great Britain be today
| if these institutions had not been established
in faith?
The assumption that theological pacltsm
| promotes progress is cOntradicted fatty by
all history. The record of human advance
ment is made up of the epic annals OF the
valiant knighthood of the defenders of the
! faith who lived, and contended, and died tor
| the truth.
Such an one was Paul, without whose
militant devotion to Jesus and the resurrec-
ton" aitruculent Judaism and prosecuting
paganism would have crushed Christianity IN
the first century. Wherever he went he
went to war, and knew that his going meant
conflicts. At Ephesus, where he spent more
than two years, during and by which IONS
ministry "all they that dwelt in Asia heard
the word Of the Lord Jesus both Jews }and
Greeks" (Acts 19:10) He fought with
beast-like opposition. Ct. Corinthians 1852 }
There for the truth as it is in Jesus, ne
was pressed out of measure, above strength
| insomuch that he despaired even of life.
! III Corinthians 1:8.) The churches in Asia
were the trophies of his suffering and con
quering faith-especaly the church a.
| Ephesus. To that church, which he won by
standing in jeopardy every hour, he wrote q
letter in which he called with bugle cal
the Ephesian Christians to heroic warfare
| saying take unto you the whole armor o.
Cod have your feet "shod with the prepare
ton of the gospel Of peace, grid your IONS
"about with truth" and take 1.-THE shield oil
faith" and "the helmet Of salvation" anc
''the sword of the spirit which is in the
word of God"
Gamaliel was a pacifst (Acts 5:15-39)
but such was not Paul, his nobler pupil Ant
| this martial apostle did more for mankind
than all the lazy and languid Gamaiels tina
ever lived on the earth, whether in the frs
or the twentieth century, or any other cen
tury When he came to die he came will
the unterrfed faith of "a good soldier O
Jesus Christ" Oh. Timothy 2:P), triumph
antly eXclaming, 81 have fought gOoC
fight l have finished my course, l have KEEP
| the faith" (IT. Timothy 4:7.) Against sucl
an one no prophet of God could bring the ac
cusation of not being valiant for the truth.
Our befogged times need more Pauls, and
fewer Gamaiels, Ritschls, and Ritschlians
| We need mors soldiers of the cross and few
er sorry sentmentalists.
1.-The Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain;
His Blood-red banner streams affair;
Who follows in His train?
"a glorious band the chosen few
On whom the Spirit came:
Twelve valiant saints they knew
And Knocked the cross and flame
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven
Through peril, toll and pain:
| o God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train