September 1927
546
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
He has given us an inspired message to tell us that He does care, and that it is His delight to draw nigh to those whose hearts cry out for Him. Furthermore, human experience over all the centuries has demonstrated that the “fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Let unbelievers bring on their arguments, but those who take God at His Word will be able to go on believing, for they have a knowledge distilled out of vital experience. gte ate Love L ifts “Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing" (1 Cor. 13:3). A lavish hand without a loving heart means nothing in God’s sight. Men think it is a great thing to be a large contributor to worthy causes. The impression is abroad that the big givers attract the attention of all heaven. Yet the Scripture declares that one could give his last nickel for humanitarian work and not gain the notice of heaven’s humblest angel. He could ever? go so far as to give himself a martyr, and because he had not God’s love as his heart motive, he would gain nothing so far as eter nity is concerned. This chapter informs us that there is something more important than tongues, than the gift of proclaiming the truth, than a knowledge of deep things, than miracle- working faith, than great beneficence, than even martyr dom for a religious cause. The all-essential thing in mak ing the Gospel grip the hearts of men is divine love that will be manifested in the life in the ways here described. Men may admire our gifts,§ marvel at our timely words—but still our influence will be as the dews that pass away, without the life depicted in this chapter. It is this alone which gives value and enduring quality to any ser vice rendered in the name of Christ. ate ate S a n c tio n in g of F re e Love by t h e C h u rc h T HE people of this country have recently had a real demonstration of the lengths to which religious lead ers will go when their views of the Scriptures become loose. The great congress of the Episcopal Church held at San Francisco had no sooner opened than one of its speakers came out boldly for the sanctioning, by the church, of unmarried unions. It was a young rector from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who threw this thunderbolt of radical thought into the gathering. While the proposal drew forth a blast of in dignation from Bishop Manning, of New York, the young Modernist did not find himself standing alone. The rector of the Bouwerie Church, New York, who some time ago was lifted out of obscurity by staging dances in connection with the church services, ardently supported the first speaker. Bishop Manning stated that “any man who defends or approves unmarried unions is out of place in the ministry o f the Episcopal Church or any other church.” It was well said, but the Bouwerie rector contended that “the institution of marriage as we now have it is not a Chris tian institution. . . . Bishop Manning,” he declared, “is satisfied with legal appearances and forms, while some of us want rather ‘the spirit that quickeneth,’ irrespective of forms, for ‘i t . slayeth not as the latter doth,’ with the poison of hypocrisy.” It was frankly admitted that Judge Ben Lindsey was
meaning but panic-stricken brethren,, when God knows they are mistaken., We know,the injury that has been wrought to soul-winnjng work through such ill-advised attacks, and lest we ourselves have to answer for the loss of souls, we seek not to be hasty in branding as wolves in sheep’s clothing any who claim to have received the full ness of the Holy Spirit and to be seeking the salvation of souls. Time may prove that we erred in making use of any of Dr. Jones’ statements, but God knows our desire is to be fair and Christian, arid we reaffirm our editorial policy as stated at the beginning of the year:— “If at any time personalities become necessary for the good of the causes of right and righteousness, . they shall not be indulged without the most careful investigation and the fullest possible chance for fair explanations.” 1 B- ste ste Is God In te r e s te d ? D OES God take an interest in the welfare of His creatures? Is it likely that He considers the trivial details of human life, or that He has an ear for human prayers ? Many modern thinkers tell us the old Christian con ception is absurd. Even if they allow a personal God, they t.ell us that man is so utterly insignificant in compar ison with his Maker and with other things in the uni verse, that we only delude ourselves when we think that He keeps His eye on an individual. Modern science has shown that our earth is only one among the planets which go around the sun, and the sun itself is. only one among many millions of stars. We humans are not so large in comparison as the siriallest insects on a cabbage, yet some of us dare to think that the God who rules the stars should take an interest in such' tiny beings on such a tiny earth! The superficial thinker is swairiped by such high [Sduriding arguments! But is there any -real' difficulty in all -this? ' “ Everything poirits to the conclusion that God designed and created this small planet and all of the insignificant creatures' that inhabit it. Is it then improbable that He takes an interest in the welfare of what He has made? Let1us bear in mind, also, that man is the highest and noblest of the creatures God created for this earth. Un worthy as we may be of His care, reason tells us that no other being is more worthy of it. It is not at all likely, that God has no interest in any of His works. If He is mindful of any, we may well suppose it would be of the crown of His creation—the only intelligent creatures—the only one capable of fellowship with his Maker. Furthermore, when we observe God’s methods in riature, can we charge Him with anything like neglect of small things ? The smallest insect or plant seems finished with such perfection that one might think it alone existed in the universe. The real wonder of God’s greatness is that He is so infinite in greatness that nothing is too small for Him to care about. True greatness is not revealed in despising that which is small, but in being able to take it all in. God Himself must be inconceivably greater than all He has created. He is able to attend to our little planet and each and every one of its inhabitants. Anyone who admits of a personal God, acknowledges His omniscience. If God knows all about what is going on,-is it too much to believe that He cares? If God knows anything, He knows everything. Then why shouldn’t He care about everything?
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker