Signs of the Times

[Rev. James Reid, D. D., in the British Weekly, London, England]

Today the church is often despised. The winds of criticism are blowing around it with withering effect. This criticism is not all evil. ... It is a method by which the church may be purified. It is, in part, the work of the Spirit cleansing the church from within; for it is by the standards which she has maintained that the church is being judged. When the judgment of the world is accepted as the means of her own self-judgment, revival will begin.

But this criticism may tempt some Christians to stand aloof, as if loyalty to the church and service within it were not worth our while. No community could stand lower in the eyes of men than the Hebrews in Moses' time. But for him they were the people of God. He was making of them His mighty instrument in spite of their weakness. Moses realized this and could find no better direction for his powers than to stand in with this feeble, oppressed community. Is not this God's call to us? There are some things which we should remember when we think of the church today.

It is through this community, with all its defects, that the Christian faith is proclaimed.... It is through the Christian faith that all that is best in our life has come into being.

It is the Christian community which alone maintains a worldwide fellowship. Race and nationality are both exclusive. "Patriotism is not enough," as Edith Cavell said. It is not enough to save the world from its present conflicts. The human heart craves for a fellowship in which "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free." The church alone has the secret of it. It is here in germ. But it is here, and it is growing, and it holds the only promise of making the world a family.

The way of the church will not be easy. There will be "many a labour, many a conflict." It will ...be despised by some, and often persecuted. We must be ready to suffer affliction of many kinds if we stand in with the people of God. But in her life and through her service, God works to bring in His kingdom.

[Rev. Tom Franks, in the Beacon, Wichita, Kansas]

Christianity has little appeal for the man who is seeking only luxury and ease. It appeals only to those who are willing to risk everything, dare anything, and win for themselves and for society the best life has to offer in the realm of character and conduct.

Christianity is following Christ. ... Cross-bearing is discipline, and it involves self-denial, sacrifice, courage, endurance.

We believe that there is no greater test of the reality and earnestness of a man's religion than the willingness to deny self for the cause of Christ.

[From the Williams port (Indiana) Pioneer]

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus extolled his disciples in these words: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."

If there is one thing that is needed in the world today it is light—not material illumination but a deeper and more careful understanding of spiritual selfhood and a fuller expression of that understanding. And this deficiency is not a lack of ability, but an absence of willingness to accept the enlightenment which must ultimately be imbibed before the seeming chaos of today can be driven from the face of the earth, not with force of arms but with a love that "worketh no ill."

Selfish motives prompted by greed and the desire for personal prestige and power have led to troublesome times which inevitably follow unguarded moments. Failing to heed the warning of our spiritual sense we plunge headlong into the chasm of despair, hopelessness, and disorder, only to awaken to the fact that we must ...lift ourselves above this slough of ignorance into the realm of understanding, where love for our fellow men gives us light and strength. And the only requisite for this ascending voyage from a belief in the so-called pleasures of the senses to the "city that is set on an hill" is the desire for enlightenment.

Example is not a scholarly expression, not something that need be waited for; it can begin now, and although it may at first be manifest in a small degree, each day will bring added understanding and growth in character until "the whole" is "leavened" and we emerge from our false concepts with a joy that will always remain.

By example we exemplify what we are—the scope of our goodness—and we are helpful to mankind and glorify our Father only in the degree that this example shows forth perfection and purity.

[From the Journal-Herald, Dayton, Ohio]

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." In these words spoke Isaiah. Jesus of Nazareth told the woman of Samaria, arrived at the well to fill her pitcher, of water other than that she sought—water "springing up into everlasting life."

Neither the man of Galilee nor the Hebrew prophet was speaking of tangible waters.... They spoke rather of the knowledge of the "life eternal," of the first-hand knowledge of the presence of God.

Man, while things are going well, while he has enough to eat and sees his children seemingly assured of a future, may not make search for spiritual satisfaction. Today man beholds the things of the world shaken. He is not sure that his life is to remain satisfactory or that his children are to live in a land of plenty.

In this desert of circumstance he frequently makes search for alleviating waters and finds them in the fountain of the spirit. Having once slaked his thirst at this source of true living, no other water will satisfy man evermore.

[From the Christian Advocate, Cincinnati, Ohio]

Nothing is of greater help in curing weariness of soul than a time of quietness during which we reckon up the goodnesses of God. There was that business man who gave orders to his secretary that he was to have fifteen minutes at each noon, when he was not to be interrupted for any reason. By accident his pastor called one day, just five minutes before noon, and was invited to share that quiet time. The door was locked. The telephone was disconnected. All was quiet inside the office, and the business man handed his pastor a New Testament, saying, "Let's read for fifteen minutes." And for the next quarter of an hour neither one spoke to the other. There was no audible prayer, no formal devotions. But at the end of the period both men arose and went out to lunch with a light step and a lighter heart.

[Rev. W. J. Wiley, in the Mail, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia]

"Who is my neighbour?" This question was asked by a Jewish lawyer. Jesus answered him with a story. It begins in a theological controversy and ends in a first-aid campaign on the highway. It starts in a question about eternal life and finishes by paying board to an innkeeper.... There is no line drawn between races in his religion.... Religion without compassion is useless.... The priest and the Levite did not regard the tragedy as their concern. They did not see any connection between religion and giving first aid. Religion was worship at a holy shrine. Their God remained in the temple.... Piety must issue in pity and merciful deeds.

"Who is my neighbour?"... True neighborliness does not look for boundaries. It seeks for opportunities, not limits. A good Samaritan can find a neighbor anywhere. As you journey you will come upon your neighbor by chance. Anybody in need is your chance. This neighbor saw only the victim of the robbers.... He was prompt, personal, and practical. His the oil, wine, money, and ass; in his giving he gave himself. The donor is more important than the gift. There is too much giving by proxy. Some things cannot be given by proxy. If we were true neighbors there would be no charity.

[The Rt. Rev. Alfred McRobert, M. A., in the Natal Mercury, Durban, Natal, South Africa]

The world must have the religion of Christ. Nothing less will satisfy our own needs. Nothing less will conquer the racial barriers and all the brooding hates that lead to war. But we are all in danger of turning our religion into a drug. It is so easy in wartime to fall into a false fatalism, and say: "What has to be has to be. It's all God's will.... Why struggle and try to change things? Everything that happens is His will and must be right."

Religion of this kind is a mere drug, and one of the most disastrous things in the world. Christ [Jesus] bids us face up to things, not lie down to them. He bids us fight down the world's evils with his help.... The real religion of Christ [Jesus] is dynamite; it is not a drug. When a country is being opened up, dynamite blasts rocks and mountains that stand in the way of improvements. Great evils have risen up and brought on this tragic war.... It will take dynamite to blast them down, spiritual dynamite.

[From Woman's Day, New York, New York]

"He who travels lightly goes far," says an old Chinese proverb, referring to a traveler and his luggage. If you have ever dragged about suitcases and bundles and boxes, filled with things you thought you needed when you started out on a trip, but soon found you didn't, you will certainly approve the wisdom of the proverb I have just quoted. But "he who travels lightly goes far" can mean so much more than just the physical comfort of journeying. It has a mental and spiritual interpretation as well. Refusing to carry about grudges, past sorrows and frustrations, focusing on the plus marks of life and erasing from our consciousness, as soon as possible, the minus marks, will send us much more quickly and pleasantly along the path to better things. He who travels lightly has a spring in his step—a lilt in his laugh—energy in his advance.

[Rev. W. H. Hedges, as quoted in the Arizona Republic, Phoenix]

Ignorance of God's power and His willingness to help may keep one from the bounties of God.