too, turned toward the ministry early in life, because he had seen what we call our “social problems” with great clearness, and he wanted to "do good." Instead of casting aside his ambition to "do good" when he entered the service of a railroad, he tried hard to make his life tell in real service just where he was. This cool-headed man of business had no illusions about life. He did not expect to make over society in a day. But he entered into the problems of both workingman and capitalist with the profoundest sympathy, and did everything possible to make his enterprises cooperative in the real sense. Once when it was necessary to cut the men's wages ten per cent, he cut his own salary fifteen per cent-incidentally arranging that none of those on the lowest wages should be cut at all. As his biographer sums up the matter: "With much baffling he learned that these differences between employer and employed can be brought to justice only in a rough and fumbling way. But this never became a reason to him why he should not do his best to make those under him feel that the 'square deal' was his honest aim." He was called "The Galahad of the Market-Place." All these lived lives of service in their own daily work in spite of the most serious obstacles. They were not perfect, any of them; they had to use decidedly imperfect tools; but the Kingdom of God is farther along because they lived and fought in the great cause. Who will have the daring to follow in their train? SUGGESTIONS for Thought and DiscuSSION What relation have the various life occupations to the forwarding of the Kingdom of God in the world? How can a person use his business or profession to help the Kingdom? For instance, concretely, what can a lawyer, a physician, a statesman, a person in business, a farmer, or an engineer do? What can the home do to help the Kingdom? Can life occupations be ranked in the order of their importance to the Kingdom? Why has the distinction between "sacred" and "secular" arisen? On what is it based? Is it justified? What relative importance have working hours in the whole Kingdom service of an individual? Why are a person's working hours so important to the Kingdom? How far can a man atone for hindering the Kingdom in his business or profession by working for it in his spare hours? With conditions as they are, how is it possible for the ordinary individual to be true to the Kingdom in his life occupation? When is a life calling sacred? CHAPTER VIII THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH DAILY READINGS Without the definite commitment of individuals to the Cause, Christianity cannot advance in the world; as these individuals represent Jesus Christ in the home, in business, in politics, in society at large, the contagion will pass from man to man. But is not more than individual action necessary? FIRST DAY: Jesus Himself was loyal to the Church of His day. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read.-Luke 4:15, 16. And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?-Matt. 13: 54. And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.-Mark 1:21. Charles Reynolds Brown convincingly says: "It might be well to remind those who laud Christ and deride His Church that this was not His own attitude. The Church of His day does not seem to have been so sincere, so efficient in human activity, nor so well stocked with simple, every-day righteousness, as is the average church of our own time. Yet it was His custom to enter the synagogue on the Sabbath. He observed the appointed feasts of the national Church. He utilized the opportunities it offered for normal effort. And this same Jesus, who taught 'the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man,' at the close of His life sent His apostles 'to disciple all nations, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' The only place where His command is being taken seriously is in the Church of Christ. The same Jesus who told men to love God and to love their neighbors, instituted the Lord's Supper and gave the command, 'This do in remembrance of Me.' The only place where this command is being obeyed, and the sacrament regularly and devoutly observed, is in the Church. There would seem to be a certain confusion in the minds of those who praise Christ and then denounce His Church as a needless incumbrance in the modern world." In what respects is the Church of our day more worthy of our loyalty than was the Church of His day worthy of Jesus' loyalty? SECOND DAY: The early Christians in their meeting together met a fundamental need. First there were just a few followers who met in one place. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey off. And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.-Acts 1: 12-14. Worship, public confession, prayer, the breaking of bread, fellowship, teaching-these all were found in the services. Compare Acts 2:42; Col. 3:16; Eph. 5: 19; I Cor. 11:26; II Thess. I: I-4. Why are these common meetings of so much help in daily life? THIRD DAY: Very soon after Jesus' bodily presence had been withdrawn from the world, we see His disciples organized for active work. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. They then that received his word were baptized and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.-Acts 2:37-47. |