Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-05-29
Weekly Sermon
IS CHRISTIANITY FAILING?
BY Rev. J. H. Wilbert, Pastor
Canaan Baptist Church, Texarkana, u. s. A

Text Acts 53S Refrain from these Men, and let them
alone for if this counsel work be of men, it will
, to naught.
So often hear this question asked We are called
upon to whether not Christianity has message
for this age, this people with out definite goal
The verbs of our text were not spoken in defense of
Christianity The speaker not believer fol-
lower Of Jesusyet they words of sanity and wisdom
and they give a standard by which we are willing to
stake the soundness of causeI the Christian Religion
is of God we believe like Gamae that it will succeed;
men W, too believe it will fail Nearly 1900 years ago
these words spoken and they haven't failed yet
though men have failed in the application of the Christian
Religion. a<sxA
The Christian Religion has been sorely tried
1t was tested during the first century. The Romans
and Jews united in trying to defeat its purpose in the
world They made afraid to publicly accept it. It's
destiny left in the hands of unnfluena and unean
ed men TO defend It, they gave their lives in its defense
it lived
Phere the early tragedies that came to them
John the BAPTIST was beheade Jesus Christ the Founder
of 1t was put to death, Stephen of the first deacons
was stoned to DEATH the persecution that imprisoned and
put to death most of those who confessed it.
Internal strife and irregularities within their inner
circle JUDAS one of the disciples betrayed his Lord
Peter denied Christ and became basphemer, Thomas
was full of unbeef and doubt Paul and Barnabas the first
two missionaries could not agree and separated
Aranias and Sapphire, two members of the church
Pecan beame aS ard deeeysrs but in spite Of all these set
during the dark ages Christianity gravtated to the low
level Of Organism and Heathensm The Priest sold men
became
Theory Nothing but name-its purity was crucfed,
Its name became reproach this enough to stamp
Out, but 1T lived on just the same.
1t became very popular during the 3rd and 9TH GEN.
ures 1t was made national religion Men were forced
10 accept II, and its popularity spreaded This was the
sorest test of them all The christian ranks were filled
with goddess men who held high positions in holy cause
can you see how it could survive? But it did
Never before in its history it tried more severely
than it is today Ritualism and Ceremoniaism substitu
ted for worship and Spirituaty-we must under stand
my Trends that real love not be reduced to form it
takes more than mere ceremonies express Worship
linen there is another test Indifference When men love
Christianity enough to die for it, it was safe-But when
men 90 not love it enough suffer for it. is in serious
danger How can the church save the world has been its
problem IN all but the problem now is how can it
save its self
but Through all OF the many trials and set backs and
traitors, Christianity has glorlously triumphed
Inc enemies OF Christianity tell us it has failed and
DIS PROOF they point to the state of Christianity in Pale
sumo the place CT It's BIRTH 1t is true that missionaries
nave neen sent there, but why? rejected in the
oayS OF lhllst They also point to world war No. as
PROOF OF It's failure the of all ages which came
aver neatly TWO thousands years of preaching But my
Iieds tnese conditions exist because men rejected the
oe OF the Son OF God and refused to accept the New
testament as the only rule Of faith and practice These
lhlngS can hinder, but defeat the onward march
of Christianity in the world
am all christians are willing to be tried by Gamies
standard ~ N
The present world conflict will continue until men
humble themselves before All Mighty God and will re-
cogze the Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of
God