Article March 25, 1916 Issue

From Our Exchanges

with contributions from Clyde Weber Votaw, Rembert G. Smith, J. H. Jowett, William Ralph Inge, Charles P. Anderson

[Clyde Weber Votaw in The Biblical World]

Jesus had his conception of what life ought to be,—a life of lofty spiritual attainment, in right relation with God, marked by the worthiest conduct and character, wrought out in social spirit and service. All that Jesus did and said was to promote this ideal; he lived and died for it; and it represents his contribution to humanity. He gave no scheme of doctrines or set of institutions. Where we find his ideal alive, where we find men trying to fulfil it in themselves, in one another, and in the world, there is Christianity. Religion may take various forms, and accept various ways of thinking and modes of life, but it will be a Christian religion if the ideal of Jesus constitutes the object of its being. From the gospels we can obtain a clear view of the large ideal of man and his life that was characteristic of Jesus, and that he left as a guiding light to all who seek the best.

In the whole-hearted adoption of this ideal lies our only hope of becoming better Christians and of leading on toward a Christian world. The ideal of Jesus is as broad as the whole field of ethics and religion,—that is, as broad as the field of life. Other teachers of religion there have been, both before him and after him, but he stands out preeminent among them all in quality and power.

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