The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-03
Sunday Sermon
GOLDEN RULE
WOULD MAKE
RELIGION REAL
Principle Is Foundation of
Living in Harmony
With christianity.
Text: Matt. 7:1-29
BY VIM. E. GILROY, D. D.
Editor of The ConRreRatio naIist

DI w W. L. OILhO1e H. H.
Editor of The COnEregatiOnaIist
Our lesson begins with that great
principle, or admonition, of Jesus
that we call the Golden Rule"
Jesus did not announce it as any
thing new or original. 1t was not
something that he had invented, or
brought to men from outside their
own lives.
Rather, it was a principle in har-
mony with the integrity of the
universe, that already had been
emphasized in the Jewish law and
the prophets, and that constituted
the very essence and substance of
true religion in action.
1t was in harmony with this in
sistence on the Golden Rule" that
Jesus emphasized the religious life
as one of action. Action, of course,
implies character and motive.
Urged Deeds Above Words
But in insisting that men must
be known by the fruit of their
lives, he was lifting religion out of
mere thought, and theory, and
speculation, and bringing it into
that realm of moral activity in
which true character and motives
inevitably must find expression.
The profession of religion, no
matter how high it might be, was
not enough. Even those readiest to
acknowledge divinity of the master
in words might be very poor ex-
amples of discipleShip, if they did
not acknowledge and express that
divinity in their deeds.
1t is amazing that these plain
words of Jesus have not had more
definite effect upon men through
out the ages.
AS in the time Of Jesus himself,
so in every successive period of the
church, and in our own time, the
tendency has been to lay a great
deal more stress upon Christian doc
trine than upon putting Christian
doctrine into actual living.
Men Killed Over Doctrine
Men have been ready even to
fight and kill one another over this
very doctrine of the divinity of
Jesus-a doctrine that, if it had had
any reality for them, ought to have
brought divinity into their lives and
have made them kind and loving,
even toward those whom they might
regard as their enemies.
The ultimate test of a mans life
is its real goodness as displayed
in his action toward his fellow
men. No sanctimoniousness or
profession of piety, no formal al
lance with the church, nor any
other organization, can mark a
mans life as good if his heart be
corrupt and his words and deeds
be loving.
But the man who is putting his
faith and his profession into the
reality of actual living is establish
ing his life upon sure and sound
foundations.
Pr0teSSed Integrity Falls
What commentaries upon such a
lesson as this are in our America
of today! Take, even in matters
of material welfare, what has hap
pened where professedly high stand
ards of integrity in the business and
banking world were a mere pre-
tense and where high integrity was
not displayed in actual deeds.
Need one point to the inStitu-
lions of assumed strength that
have been swept away? On the
other hand, here and there are in
situations which the genuine in
tegrity of an individual, or of a
group, preserved in spite of the
storm.
Is it not true, moreover, that in
situations have stood or fallen in
proportion as they were built upon
sound foundations of honesty in
purpose and in dealing?
In every phase of life, if we
would but realize it, men and in
situations are known by their fruits.