best Christians, for He is only to be judged by those who most sincerely accept Him and most closely follow Him. We do not offer as samples of our crops or factories the worst of their products; nor the second best; but the very best. And this is right. Not even the average Christian represents the legitimate product of thè life of Christ in men. Not in His doctrines? Can you find in all secular or religious lit erature any teaching that surpasses the Sermon on the Mount; or the words He has spoken to men touching upon every phase of life and conduct? Is it because His doctrines are too hard? He was only hard upon hypocrites, and liars, and thieves, and adulterers, and those who oppressed the poor; but even to these He held out the hand of help and spoke to them words of hope and mercy. Was He hard on Nicodemus when He told him that he must be born again? Was He hard on the poor woman who was taken in adultery and whom the rulers would have had Him stone, but to whom He said: “In my Father’s name I forgive you; go in peace, and sin no more; for God sent me into the world not to condemn but to save sinners?” In a word, let me ask you: “What is there lacking in Him that leads you to reject Him?” Is it because you have no need "of a Saviour from sin and death? There are two experiences which confront every one of us. One is an ever-present fact: SIN. Do you deny the fact of sin? Have you never experienced it? Has it never troubled you? Have you ever been able either to overcome or expel it from your being? Can you honestly say: “I have no need of a
WHY DO YOU REJECT HIM? It is as fair for us to ask you for a reason for yohr unbelief and rejection of Christ as it is for us to give a reason for our faith. This was what Pilate wanted to know of the rulers who brought Jesus before Him for condem nation. “You must have some reason why you reject Him. What is it? What evil bath He done?” Is it because, after careful study, you have come to a convinced conclusion that Christ has no claims upon your thought or allegiance? Have you satis fied yourself that if He ever lived at all He was either a “deceiver” as the Jews charged Him | with being, or a “sincere but deluded fanatic” who thought Himself to be who He was not? Is this why you reject Him? Is it because He does not stand for all that is highest and noblest in life and conduct? You profess to desire such a life; but you do not find in Him such an example of all this which you desire. Not in His person and char acter? Not in His attitude and actions toward God and man? And yet is it not true that no human being was ever so loyal to God; so true a patriot; so generous and loving a neighbor; so piti ful and sympathetic a friend to all the poor and needy ones who came across His pathway; so tender with sinners and so ready to help wherever help was needed by poor, broken and needy men and women? Not in the influence He has exerted over the lives of those who have accepted Him as Saviour and Lord? Is it that you do not see in the best Christians any good results from attaching themselves to Christ and walking in His footsteps? I say the
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker