Article June 16, 1956 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Robert James McCracken, J. B. Holloway, Edwin Clayton

Robert James McCracken in an article in The Christian World London, England

Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Hallowed be thy name," but he first taught them to say, "Our Father." And "Father" for him signified the essential kinship of man with God, and the great truth that God has made us in His image and that it is this indeed which constitutes us men. Since all men are His offspring, His children, fellowship with Him is possible. "Father" for Jesus signified that God is knowable, understandable, lovable. This is the Christian answer to the question asked in every country and in every century—What is God like? . . . It is good news for the whole world, and those of us who believe it and who profess to live by it . . . have no right to keep it to ourselves but must take active measures . . . to share it. . .

When we are asked how we know that what we believe about God is true we point to Christ Jesus, who believed it, taught it, lived it. He is the highest expression of God we have ever seen. In him we believe we have found a moral and spiritual ultimate. We have come to a fixed point in our moral and spiritual universe. We know what life ought to be. We realize that if we are to be seriously religious we must be religious after the mind and spirit of Jesus. In Jesus we have seen what God is like. He revealed the Father not only in his words but in his life. . . . Christianity has made love of Christ the supreme virtue, and it has proved the source and inspiration of all other virtues. Love of Christ always results in a growing likeness to Christ. Moreover, it brings the Christian into vital union with Christ and thereby communicates new life and character.

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