The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-24
THE FACTS
IN
OUR
NEWS
Bx HORACE A. WHITE

feeling very intensely about the
passion of Jesus. This Is as II should
he. Over the wrecks Of time Jesus
still stands untainted and I'M
dimmed. Today. the one central
fact that hits all Of us squarely be-
tween the eyes. is that He Is just
as fresh In the lives OF those who
are acqua inted with Him as lie was
in the lives of those twelve men
who walked very close to Him two
thousand years ago. His PERSONAL
ity gives meaning 10 the individual
life today, with as much sharpness
as II gave meaning to the individual
life Of Peter. Paul and the rest Of
His disciples. This fact Is so cen
trail. and so enthralling. that the
human Imagination IL sometimes
stunned by II. Those OF us who
make Il a practice TO get one new
idea a day, about Jesus while He
walked among men on earth. In
evitably build mp storehouse OF
personal power. Not only power
for the big problems of life but the
power to deal with the little nasty
things OF life. 1t happens to be.
as most of US know, that the little
things of life are the ones that un-
dermine. that degrade the total per-
sonality. A really converted man
or woman. is one who IL not smoth-
cred out Of the great stream Of life.
by the little weeds of selfishness,
hatred. bigOtry and fear. but rather
he towers above these things. with
shining face Of hope.
The real follower Of Jesus to-
day Is not in conflict about the
destiny OF the world He sees war.
poverty and hatred becoming pow
crful in our world But the real
Christian knows that the ascend
eney Of these is only momentary,.
He knows that the Prince OF Peace
calls upon him. more than ever.
to work toward world that is
! peaceful.
Sometimes 10 work for peace and
equity among mon, calls for one
10 be able 10 sacrifice himself. his
/ ideas o. comfort. and sometimes
I his ideas of work. in order that
men may study War No More"
The Christian knows that wars
are produced because OF poverty
/ and man seeking after power over
: his fellows. A Christian then looks
back Of the war. he contempt ,tes
an economic system. political sNS-
/ ten and n social system that pro-
duce state of war among the
people. He sees that il the instru-
ments Of war could be converted
into instruments for n better ply
steal life, men would not have to
send the cream OF their flesh into
bloody struggle against ones neigh
bors.
Therefore. II comes very wildly
home 10 us. that We are put in this
world as Jesus was put In this
world. 70 live for the betterment
OF man. AZ any cost 10 ourselves.
Jesus taught us also. tat 10 live
for the bet,crment 81 man VIC must
never think ourselves better and
TOO different than tho people In
other words Tho Christian today
must live with sort Of humble
dignity in the presence of armed
arrogance which may be carried
on by ones own nation, and the
enemies OF ones nation This hum
bic dignity. must not be lived sep
aratcly from the pains ost1c pco-
pie: IL must bc lived in conjunction
With their pain ard suffering.
Christians must ever be aware
Of the fact that Jesus taught that
righteousness doesn't come to n
world BY self righteousness. hut
rather righteousness comes to a
world when all men are sure that
i'm all men there Is some error. and
some righteousness: and that the
righteousness for the world Is that
point between the struggle Of ideas
where all Of the people NAV have
chance unhampered by poverty
and ignorance Ia pursue the king =
dom OF God for the bctterment
Of himself and neighbOr.
In other words. Jesus death on
tic cross is symbolic of how care
ful we must be TO avoid self right
eousncSs. rs individuals and rs ma
tons. You will remember His
words on the cross: Father forgive
them. they know not what they do. y
These words were not said 10 defy
prosecuting authority, or an ig-
ror5nt people. they were said out
of compassion for a misguided au-
.thoritX- and a longing penplc.-N
can only be Christians in a world
at war. when we adopt something
OF this same spirit that Jesus dis
played on tho cross. in our efforts
TO bring about peace. The peace
that We want. must come BY trial.
and self denial In relationship To
the world In other words. we've
got to be IN the world. WORKING
with problems 81 the world but
our solution as Christians must moi
be the solution Of n fearful. nervous
and confused world
Somehow we've got 10 express
in thought and action. the real
meaning Of the greatest song about
the crucifixion. that the world has
: vet seen. Were You There When
They Crucified My Lord" The
meaning Of this spiritual. In Its sim
pie essence is. that II YOU can 20
back TO that crucifixion md embody
In your life the simplicity. the un'
blaming. and the triumphant spirit
Of Jesus. you will know how u
live I'm world Of conflict and In
fluence that world by your lie
toward peace and good will.
I believe the world is ready now
to re-discover Jesus. and His real