The Republican., 1963-08-01

dOus importance of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ in the life OF an in
dividual, and consequently of the
importance of the church which
preserves and proclaims this Cos
pei
We who are a part of the church
tend to forget how important the
church is and how important the
task of proc!aiming the Gospel is
until we are reminded of this i'm
portancc by a life that has Just
been transformed by the saving
power Of Jesus Christ.
While on vacation this July NV
family and I visited a church in
Illinois where we had served for
six years while attending Gradu
ate school We had served as
student pastor and the church had
been great help to us during this
period of training. We wanted to
once again express our gratitude
to that church and visit with our
friends
While visiting here we were in
Vited on a Wednesday evening TO
attend a Bible Study class at the
church. While waiting for the class
time | visited with some Of the
folks who lived close to the church,
and during one of these short visits
] encountered the most inspiring
experience of our trip
While visiting with a young man
who lived just across the street
from the church I suddenly real
lied that I was not talking with
the same man that | had known
only a few years before. 1t took less
than five minutes to realize that
here was a new person. remark
able change had come over him.
His attitude, his outlook on life.
his interests were markedly
changed and he was a glowing per
sonality that had never before been
evident. 1t did not take long to find
that this improved change was due
to a Transforming experience that
had taken place in his life during
a recent revival meeting. Some of
the impressive changes in his life
arc evident in the life of every
LIVE Christian.
First, one who used to appear
satisfied with himself, was no long
er satisfied and was seeking to i'm
prove himself for more efficient
service. Not that he lived in fear
OF not being able to make the
grade. but, simply because he had
been forgiven his sins by a loving
Heavenly Father, he, out of a sense
of gratitude, desires to become
more competent in his ability to
serve his God.
Being satisfied with ones condi-
ton is one of the most deadeninp
situations a person can enter into.
1t is SAID of some Christians that
they have not had. nor been cx-
posed to new idea in twenty
years. If this be so it is no wonder
that our world is in such a con
fused situation today Many fee!
that they can solve modern prob
lens with outdated ideas and
methods.
Where would a doctor of medi-
cine be if he had not kept up with
the improvements and changes
that have taken place in the field
OF medicine in the last twenty
years? Is not the work of saving
souls as important as that of heal
ing bodies?
Though it is true that the basic
principles of the Christian Faith
never change, the changing scene
IN life demands that a Christian
keep abreast Of the times in which
he lives, and that he be resource
ful in discovering new ways to ap-
ply these Christian principles to
new, and old, but unchanged con-
ditions.
Who can possibly be satisfied
with himself and his contribution
in the presence of the Eternal God?
A rea! Christian as described by
Jesus wished to and does increase
his talents or abilities to serve in
a still more efficient way by put
ting what abilities he already has
into service
So the young man, after yielding
to the call of Christ, was no more
satisfied with himself and was
seeking, by Gods help, to become
something better
Second, he had now acquired
wholesome outlook on life
The young man | had known be-
fore ccntercd his life around his
job, making money, was tied up
in what he already had and what
he wanted for himself, dealt in
sort of crafGneSs. deceit; was
grasping, cold unapproachable,
tense and thought only of himself