The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1953-01-10

feSSion." Paul is
not saying for a minute that Jesus
admitted that the charges against
him were true. What ne means is
that Jesus stood up for God and
his duty. he did not let down his
flag. he stood out for the truth.
The expression is often used, re-
terring to Peters saying to Christ.
You are the Christ" and it has
come to be known as Peters
confession" This does not mean
that Peter admitted something; on
the contrary he affirmed some
thing. He was declaring his belief,
he was letting it be known where
he stood. The Christian church has
made much use of this word, but
it might be clearer if we used
some other words sometimes. All
churches will tell young people and
new converts how important it is
to confess Christ. We could lust
as well say Standing up for" him;
voting for him and having ones
vote put on record. When Christ
asks: Are you with me? Confessing
means simply saying openly: Yes!
Christ Never Outranked
There is something else tied up
in this idea of 'confessing' Christ
1t includes saying something about
Christ. Peters confession, accord
ing to Matthew, was You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God"
Luke reports that he said, "You
are the Christ of God" Mark re-
ports simply: ''You are the Christ"
All agree that Peter declared Jesus
to be the Christ. To us, Christ
is a name; to Peter it was title,
the highest title he knew. When q
first-century Jew used the word
Christ" he meant there was no
one else in his class. He meant
Gods chosen beginner of q new
age. There was no higher word
that Peter could have chosen than
Christ" So to this day when we
say that a Christian confesses
Christ, we ought to mean that he
puts Christ above all others, that
ne knows no one can outrank
Christ. We mean what the old
hymn says, "All hail the power Of
Jesus name, let angels PROSTATE
fall"
More than Mouth Christians
But there is still another word
the church has always used, be-
cause Jesus used it: Follow. Con-
feSslon alone is not enough. It may
take courage to confess Christ. It
takes sincerity and also stick-to-it-
1veness to follow him. Confession
can be done in burst of enthusi-
asm; following takes the long pull.
| Comessing Christ means saying he
comes first in your life. But does
ne? Who or what is really first?
Inere are great many--too many
church members today who have
been as much of a Christian as
they can possibly be-with their
mouths. They have confessed
Christ as Son of God, as Lord and
Saviour. They have said, in effect,
that they wish to be counted on
his side. But when they coined
the church. or were confirmed"
tnat is about as far as it went. They
hardly even warm q pew nova
days. What is needed is something
more than mouth Christians, voice
Christians, word Christians, shout
ing Christians. What is needed Is
following Christians.
1t is noticeable that almost Inn
mediately after Jesus had praised
Peter for his confession, he called
him Satan, the very devil. For II
was plain that Peter was thinkiag
along lines quite different from
Jesus. Following Christ means
thinking more and more as he
would think.
Based on outlines Copyrighted bz shs
Dtvislon OF Christian Eduostiou Ma
Ional council Of tho Churches Of Christ
IN she U.S.A. Released WHH