Personal sermons were much in vogue in Colonial days. It was customary for the preacher to single out some special sinner and then publicly berate him for two or three hours, for the benefit of the whole congregation. In the old Scottish churches, there was sometimes a “stool of repentance” placed upon the platform, upon which a sinner could sit throughout the service and repent in public, in order to regain the graces of the church.
Today, that practice has been entirely abandoned. We have gone to the other extreme, and often the sermons that are preached are too impersonal. They concern matters theological, doctrinal, historical and anthropological, without any practical application to their hearers. So today I hope to deal with current problems which are definitely personal in their application, but not in their implication. They are the problems we are all facing.
We live in a world gone mad. Europe, Asia, and Africa are embroiled in war. The rest of the world, including our own country, is affected in one way or another. Chiefly, the effect is to call forth the baser instincts of men everywhere. With war comes a cheapening of human life and a belittling of ideals, which we cannot escape.
It is not my purpose to preach on war, though that presents the basis of our problem. Rather let me speak upon the problems facing us today.
Here and elsewhere there has been a notable growth in church attendance during the past year. In the confusion of the world, men are seeking some source of righteousness, justice and security. They are in need of spiritual nourishment and are turning to the churches to find it. I hope they are succeeding. Too many churches have within the past generation thrown overboard their old standards and beliefs. In this day they are preaching an anemic, wavering, spineless Christianity. What possible help is such an invertebrate faith? If the preacher himself wavers and gropes in doubt, how can he help his hearers? We need a firm, rugged, fundamental faith for today. Only from such a faith can we draw strength to meet today's problems.
There is a legend in the old Greek Odyssey about the sailors of Odysseus who were lured astray by the siren Circe and were turned into swine. Among them all, only one stood unmoved, seeing the bristling snouts and hearing the disgusting grunts of his former shipmates. Isn't that like the world today? When men everywhere are throwing overboard ideals and turning into swine, when nations are plunging headlong into the sin of war, we need the supreme secret of strength to withstand, and having stood all, to stand. We need firmness of faith and of determination “That those things which cannot be shaken may remain.”
Let us examine a few of the questions that are troubling men today.
“How can I believe in a personal God in a world like this? How can there be a God where there is so much blood shed, suffering, poverty and starvation? Does God really care?”
Many men are asking that. They are wondering if there is a God sufficiently interested in the puny affairs of men to aid in regulating them. Not only do world problems occasion such a query, but the more intimate problems of marriage and the family. There has been a mild epidemic of family trouble lately, not only in Hollywood , where we are accustomed to it, but throughout the land. I think there are two obvious reasons for this. The one is the lowering of moral standards that inevitably accompanies war and the war spirit; and the other reason is the increased prosperity of many and the freedom that goes along with it. But these events have produced in the minds of many the doubting question about God. Is God actually only a force powerful in its own way but utterly disinterested in the affairs of men on earth?
Another question of today is, “What's the use of being a Christian?” Plainly, the rain falls, the sun shines, and bombs drop on Christians and non-Christians alike. Why then trouble about faith? This question is really a modern continuation of the age-old plaint of Job. Evil men often appear to be happy, secure and successful. Christians' souls often suffer and incur trouble. Why do the righteous suffer?
This question was brought home to me recently by a young man whose lovely baby daughter had just been called home by death. As we were gathered at the home after the funeral service, he paced up and down the room and finally asked, with an oath, “Well, what is it all about, anyway?”
We all wonder at it, sometimes. On the lonely Cross even Jesus called out, “My God, why?”
A third question is often asked by those who are trying to live Christian lives to the best of their ability, but who are faced at every turn by the devil, the world and the shortcomings of their own flesh. “How can I ever be a ‘perfect' Christian,” they ask. “I can do a little, but perfection is so terribly far off.”
The Christian ideal seems utterly unattainable to many sincere and earnest seekers. They can do a little, but perfection is so remote that it seems useless even to try for it. Why should they wear themselves out striving for something that nobody has ever fully attained. “Let's just do what we can,” they say in effect, “and let's not wear ourselves out trying for true Christianity.”
Doubtless there are many other questions, for the problems of living today are many in number and wide in scope. But these three general questions seem to summarize the misgivings of many honest seekers. What answers can we give?
The world's answers are good enough, if we honestly look for them. Despite the prevalent evil, there is much good and common sense still in the world. Even in the present-day man-made catastrophies , the world itself knows a better way.
History says “Look back.” Let's look back to Job and his times. His comforters said “What's the use, Job? There is no God who cares about you. You might as well give up!”
But Job answered, “I don't believe that God did this to me, but even if He did, I still have faith. Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. I know that my Redeemer liveth .”
Job lived long enough to see that he was right. His faith was vindicated. And so it goes throughout recorded history. The great characters who refused steadfastly to give up their faith, but who trusted in God through thick and thin, always found that their faith was fully vindicated. Even worldly history gives us a hopeful answer.
Science says “Look around.” And when we do look around us in today's world, we see wonderful things as well as terrible things. There has been great progress within our own generation. Public health has been tremendously improved. Longevity has increased notably. You can expect a life many years longer than that of your grandparents. The death rate has gone down considerably. New methods and new resources are being discovered every day. Science is showing us a world improved in many ways.
Philosophy says “Look within.” And when we do look within ourselves we find untold resources to meet every challenge. In ordinary living we call upon only a very small fraction of our powers. When some emergency arises we can call forth unexpected energy, and within our own selves we find strength when it is needed. Even in our own powers there is hope.
As we look abroad on this dark world, we see the power of evil at work, dragging men down, hurting, magnifying hatreds, killing. The devil is at work. And as we look abroad we also see the power of good, giving strength and courage, lifting the fallen, and infusing new hope into damaged lives. God is at work. All these things help to answer our questions. True, there is evil and trouble in the world today as there has always been. But there is the good and the noble present in today's world probably more fully than it was in yesterday's world.
These factors certainly help us to answer today's questions. Yet they are not sufficient. We need some stronger, more certain answer. So we need to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
No serious doubt has ever been cast upon the life and teachings of Christ. A few radicals may claim that He was never on earth. Some weaklings may deny His miraculous power and Godhead. But it is generally accepted by all men, everywhere, that the greatest thing that ever happened to his world was when the Son of God came to show the way to better things.
We all possess some degree of faith in Jesus Christ. Some have much faith; some have little. But we all share in faith in Jesus Christ. And that faith which leads us to accept the teachings of the Gospel and to follow the example of our Lord, provides a full answer to today's questions. As He said, “If thou canst believe, al things are possible.” In one city, Jesus did no miracle because of the prevalent unbelief He found there. That indicates to us how important it is to have faith in Him! If His power is to become real in our lives, it must be through our faith.
Faith furthermore gives an answer to prayer. As many as receive Him, become the Sons of God. “He that believeth on me shall do the works I do.” “Come unto me and I will give you rest.”
Need I mention more of the precious promises of the Gospels? They are promises made real in the lives of many people in all generations. If we accept them for ourselves and if we believe Christ, we do not count the cost of being a Christian and we approach the unattainable perfection which the Gospel calls for. We are armored to meet the very worst that life can offer.
Suppose the captain of a ship found that the radio and compass were out of order. There was no way to guide the course of his vessel. And suppose that he then set his course by birds flying overhead, or by the drift of the seaweed off the bow? He would soon land on the rocks. A seasoned seaman knows better. He takes a sextant and “shoots the sun” to find his position and get his direction. So today we need to avoid setting our course by the changeable, nearby elements in the world. We need rather to look to the Son of God, to get an answer to life's questions and to perfect our faith.
Do some think that I mean that religion is an aspirin to dull headaches or a sedative to quiet our nerves, until somewhere in heaven we get a promised reward? No! Religion is vital for living today and tomorrow. John says “Now are ye the sons of God and it is not yet clear what ye shall become.” Religion is not a life insurance policy that pays off at our death. It is a vital help on the everyday road, in order that we may go out and meet temptations and conquer them this afternoon, or tomorrow at work in the office. Religion is not just comfort. It is a challenge. It is a stimulant to help us win the race. Look up and see Jesus. Seek and find Him. Point Him out to others. Make Him part of life, today, now. Then today's problems will dissolve today.
I have read somewhere of an Indian tribe, which periodically went on a drunken debauch. By lot, they chose one member of the tribe to stay sober, for they said that when they all were out of their heads and lost their reason, making fools of themselves, one sober mind could save the tribe.
I appeal to you today to meet the challenge of Christ. When all around us the world loses its head, throws down its ideals, loses its faith, gives up and leaves the field to darkness and despair, then you be the one to stay sober and to keep your faith and reason clear. Paul explains to us that we are children of the day. Therefore let us watch and be sober, for in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us!