The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-30
Try Writing Your
Own Obituary
Thoughts from q
Sunday Sermon

Speaking on tire theme. The
Chrst-Chila Divides the World.
the Rev. v. A. schreesler address,
81 the congregation " Grace
Lutheran church. South s4th and
Lawrence 80. Sunday morning
Referring % the general parti-
eipstion IN the recent Christmas
celebration. he pointed out that
the words % Simeon in Luke
nevertheless remain trse. that the
Chrisf-Child il "A sign which
shall h spoken against and that
thus he Is set for the fail and
rising sgain Of many" While
the Savior. according % the Scrip
lures. Is the sign Of Gods love
and - not come to Judge the
world. but % save the world
nevertheless when men reject Ills
gospel they find that the Christ
Child Is set for their fan. he said.
This rejection oftentimes shows
itself In actual hatred Of the cause
Of Christ, said the speaker. That
explains why many who arc re-
garded as wise oppo>e the gospel
as feoiishness. why many Of the
mighty OF this earth. plot the
elimination Of Christianity. why.
as sometimes happens also herr
in Tacoma. the Christian expert.
ences hostile discrimination. = SO
cial disadvantage. often even tenn
poral loss.
II all goes hack IN this fact
Christ is set for the fan Of many
Many simply cannot hear the kind
Of Savior that Christ actually In.
nor the person who accepts Christ
and endeavors to live a consistent
Christian life"
"Church-members. too" should
make sure they are not among
those who fan and with doubt
ing hearts reject the love Of God
Real Christians are those who
rise. who realize their need 10
rise. and turn to the Christ Child
for fun salvation through the ran
som of His blood"
Into these two classes the
christ-C Child divides the world
There is no state of neutrality or
Of non-belligereney possible with
reference 10 Christ. Many people
who are not even outwsrdly asso-
ciated with Christ through the
church. when asked about Christ
and church reply: I have nothing
against either But | tell you
that Just as surely as they have
nothing for Christ. they are none
Of His"
The speaker suggested that the
Christmas observance ought in
clude on the part Of everyone "a
reaffirmation Of personal loyalty
10 the Christ Child. and a register
ing anew for volunteer service to
the Christ" He added, Too many
in the churches today are church
members simply because they
have not dropped their member
ship. and regard themselves al
Christians, simply because they
have not made up their mind TO
reject Christ. But. by the very
lack of evidence of Christian vir-
tues, they demonstrate that they.
too. have fallen Truly. we might
well say: Christ divides not merely
the world. but also the church"
Several times year" the
speaker said. Il 60 over our
church-membership list. and con-
slider each person as the subject
Of a funeral address. and wonder
just what | would say. in particu-
lar to what might point in His
life or attitude as evidence Of his
having risen.
Try writing your own funeral
address some time" he suggested.
1T might cause you IN think seri-
ously Of how Christ has classified
you"
But do II soon" he warned In
conclusion. do II before that final
dividing which will take place
when this same Christ shall sit
On the throne ~ Judgment and
the thoughts Of all shall b re-
vealed, and each one classified.
either 10 fal Into the bottomless
pit Of doom. or 10 rise To reign