Rev. Gene N. Branson in The Christian Evangelist-Front Rank St. Louis, Missouri

The Christian faith is the answer that must finally unite all human fellowships into one divine fellowship. This Christian victory cannot depend upon power or technique or even doctrine, but upon Christian love for others.

Christ proclaims a standard of love that includes more than "those who love you." Agape is the Greek word for "love" used in the New Testament when referring to God's unselfish, outgoing love for all His children. This unconditional love of God for us is the answer to the deepest need of every individual. It forgives, uplifts, and builds self-respect.

It does not bring a soft sentimentalism that seeks "easy" forgiveness; it breeds a strict self-discipline with the urge to do God's will and serve one's fellow man. Agape is God's love that "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45b) [Rev. Stand. Ver.].

Man's fellowship with man is mature only when this self-giving love is present. ...

Jesus "came not to destroy, but to fulfil" [Am. Stand. Ver.]. The Christian faith wins over all human fellowships, not by attacking them but by its "kind" of love. This spontaneous love accepts—accepts truth wherever it may be found. It draws out the best from every individual and every human fellowship. Thus Christianity transcends all religions, races, and cultures. ...

God's ... love determines our destiny. All human fellowships will be restless and immature until they grow in grace to the point where they can have this concern for their fellow man that is not dependent upon any response. This is the only way that all people can come to believe in and know of God's love.

Rev. James Jones as reported in the Mount Dora Topic Mount Dora, Florida

The story of the son who stayed home—sour, stolid, seemingly sinless—is just as important in its message as that of the prodigal son, Rev. James Jones told the congregation at the Methodist church last Sunday. ...

"The son who stayed at home portrayed those subtler sins of the spirit which are harder to get at and easier to hide and often more disastrous in consequence," the minister continued.

In his parable of the two brothers, Jesus was "hitting hard at the Pharisaic type of religion in the portrait of the elder brother," Rev. Mr. Jones said.

"Actually, there is something of the Pharisee in the modern church, so in a sense, Jesus was hitting at us. For the church has often condemned the sins of passion while overlooking the sins of disposition. We sometimes have condemned profanity, and condoned prejudice. We have denounced drunkenness more than stinginess."

He declared that many who claim conversion to the Christian faith have not been converted from "bitter judgment, lovelessness, bigotry and ugly spirit."

Rev. Kelly O'Neall, D.D. in The Protestant Herald Denver, Colorado

Science is a wonderful, indispensable requirement for the modern day. But the physical sciences are not enough. They may bring about spectacular discoveries of the laws and processes of the material order but they leave off just at the point where humanity needs to make its greatest advancement. That is at the point of our understanding ourselves, the nature of our personalities, and the reason for our existence. ...

I want to reaffirm my faith in the Christian ... principle that life itself is worth living, that God has made us, that no matter who may be first to hit the moon or explore Jupiter, that no matter who may be first in every scientific endeavor, the end of life is in ourselves and in our enjoyment of life from day to day.

Beauty, truth, and goodness, and spiritual fellowship with God and with one another are the real scientific ultimates of human endeavor.

Prof. John V. Leach in the Ashland Daily Press Ashland, Wisconsin

"Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (Rev. Stand. Ver., I Tim. 4:7b–8).

To be spiritually fit is of utmost importance. How well we know this to be true. When we lose out spiritually we are whipped. When our spiritual strength ebbs our physical and mental powers decline. On the other hand, when we experience a spiritual uplift our physical and mental powers increase and we are able for the tasks that confront us. To train one's self in godliness is to practice regularly the devotional habits of prayer and Bible reading—to keep one's self in close communion with God. To be spiritually fit at all times requires holy habits of living and a constant practice of the presence of God. It is our only assurance for this life and on it hangs all hope for the life to come.