Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-23
BROOKLYN, \. Y.


| 1t seems to me that all the orthodox
| Christian religions as now practlced
| are very different from the simplicity
| directness and forcefulness of the life
and teachings of Christ.
| personally can see little or no rela-
ton between the present conditions
and the simple gospel taught by HIM
Will you please tell me what Is the
| Justification, II any, for the growth
of these modern systems? There ap-
pears to be no authority from them In
Christ's teachings.
Answer.-As you say. the christian
ity of Christ is singularly simple anu
direct. But il Is also germinai. rms
fundamental quality accounts in large
measure for the Emergencies you note.
They exist not only In ritual and sym.
Dol, but also in the marked variations
of creeds current in the church dur
ing her prolonged existence. Every
where in doctrine and practice the
law Of development Is patiently at
work.
Professionalism appeals to the direct
usage and sanction Of the New Tesla
ment But 1t does not escape this law
of development. Some beliefs anu
customs have been adopted In the re
formed churches which have little
prominence in the sacred writings.
Nor Is the process illegitimate. The
| more vital ideas are, the more mani
| fold their aspects will be. Our Lords
| teachings We're often too prolific o.
| spiritual Interpretation to be imme
diately apprehended. You recall, ]
am sure, how frequently He had t.
explain His parallels to the disciples
whose after-reffections slowly absorbed
the deeper meanings Of His message.
Notifications of New Testament
ideas were introduced and their appli-
cations made under the pressure o.
circumstances. Some were good and
others evil. but nearly all expressed
the purpose to protect the unity and
consistency of church doctrine.
Moreover, christianity is universal
religion, intended for all times and all
peoples, capable of infinite expansion
and of a large variety of forms. Since
our Lord ordained it so, it must be
judged in the light of it's history
Where the additions you resent have
been helpful they may be admissible.
Where they have been harmful they
should be eliminated from the body of
accepted verities. But we cannot
experience which has been, as we
of the spirit of God
Nevertheless, 1t is salutary to re
member that Christ is our pattern ir
the mount, after whom we must build
If the structure Is to stand. 1t is well
to heed your protest. and even better
to keep constant gaze on Him who
is the author and the perfector of the
faith.
LEXINGTON, Ky.
j" the twelfth chapter OF Numbers
an. lie tenth verse there is a descrip-
ton of Aaron and Miriam murmuring
becaus. the Lord spoke to Moses face
| to face and not to them. Miriam was
punished by being made a leper, but
there is nothing said about Aaron
| being punished.
This is just one example of the
Bible record of woman being punished
and man going scot free.
Why this injustice?
Answer.-In the chapter you refer
% Miriam alone Is represented as
criticizing Moses for his marriage to
Midianite, as she probably consid-
cred it beneath the dignity of the
family. The fact that she is mentioned
first may also imply that she was
the instigator Of the complaint.
Although the social ideas Of the Old
Testament were prevailingly mascu-
line, some leaders. of Israel, such as
Deborah, Huldah and Miriam, were
women.
That Aaron was not openly pun
ished in this instance does not empha.
size the ancient custom of the SUBJ
lection of woman. Nor are we to
conclude that he escaped punishment