The Republican., 1925-07-23

We believe that shall be saved thru the
grace of the Lord Jesus.-Acts 1871.
FORM OR FAITH.
Forms are the means life uses for
economy of effort. In our physical
expression we call them habits and
conserve our energies by following
them. The baby in learning to walk
must give his entire mind to each
step; the boy never thinks of how he
must move his muscles, for their use
has been taken over into automatic
action. Of the man we say, Il know
him by his walk" 1t has become so
babitual as to become mark of rec
ignition. In literature, we call it
style, and the author writes without
mental strain because the mind no
longer has to pause to give attention
to the phrasing in which thought will
express itself. And even if there were
only scrap of print one would never
confuse Tennyson with Browning
the style has grown habitual and has
become an identification. In religion
it is known as ritual and the great
creeds and sacramental forms guide
the spirit of worship along familiar
paths and no one can mistake a Pro-
testant for a Catholic expression of
devotion. Having become fixed,
form by whatever name it may be
known, is terrifcally hard to change,
and when it has been sanctifed by
centuries to propose changing it is a
tremendous wrench, an unscrupulous
desecration sometimes, to the follow
er Of the form. 1t was seen in the
furore over the sharing of the Lords
Supper with missionaries who had no
claim of Apostolic succession in their
ordination. My recollection is that
the English Bishop whodid it inAfrica
was reprimanded for the act. Dayton,
Tenn, is having the same conflict
flung into headlines in the press. For
it is difference that will never end,
for the habitual tends to become the
sacred. Yet form as a tool is the
most useful thing imaginable, but if it
commands life, then life must die.
This was the situation in the Jerusa-
lem church anxious over the surpris-
ing growth of the Gentle movement
and continually prodded by some jea
Gus Jew from Antioch or Iconium
coming up for some feast and report
ing Pauls work and his free offer of
Jehovah's grace to Gentle dogs"
with no requirement other than sim
pie faith. No wonder Jerusalem was
aghast and that Paul and Barnabas
found an active cmpaign for the sane
tity Of forms in full swing in Antioch
on their return to it.
FIGHT OR FELLOWSHIP.
Confusion was rife in the church.
Even Peter and Barnabas were not
fully decided as to whether they had
gone too far in their relationships
with these Christians or not and Paul
found that strenuous life was not con-
fined to Iconium and Lystra. His
great argument was, eve are alive,
aren't we?" as he exhibited the spec
linens of clean, high-minded Chris
tians, filled with the evident fruits of
the Spirit tho they were uncircumsiz-
ed. They might have fought the thing
out and have separated, a most disas-
trous proceeding. War is never the
highest road to a goal. Rouse hate
and you raze the building whether it
is society or civilization. Led of love,
they agreed to a way of settlement
that promoted peace. The spirit of
Christ was never more in evidence
than in Antioch. These Gentiles, un-
recognized by Jews socially or relig
iously, read out of the fellowship by
these itinerant trouble makers, pro-
posed that the whole matter be dis
cussed in Jerusalem instead of Anti
och and settled by the Judaizers
rather than by themselves. Great,
isn't it? No wonder they were called
Christians first at Antioch-they
earned the title, alright. When
groups, national, social, occupational,
face each other that way the millen-
ium will have come and Johns vision
Of heaven dropping into earth will
surely happen. So Paul, Barnabas
and some converts started on their
journey and as they travelled leisurely
along they stopped and gave each
Christian group the story of the
spreading Kingdom so that it was a
march of triumph rather than the
carrying Of question. Love travels
faster than hate and its witnesses al
ways cheer. The old world may be
sadly lacking in virtue. but it is keen
enough in recognizing it and quick
enough in approving it.
FIDELITY AND FREEDOM
In Jerusalem there was an early
discussion of the whole matter by the
whole body of believers and Paul and
Barnabas told Of the events in that
great journey and Of the evidences of
Christ's presence among the churches
in Asia Minor. There was question