HEROES OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 September 1927, Page 6

HEROES OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

DEACON PHILLIP, THE MISSIONER

“Men like ourselves arc still

leading a life which we, who have ‘ escaped from it, now know to be a sad bondage. They are our brothers; can we ref fain from seeking to let them share that freedom which our Lord Jesus died to bring within their reach and ours’ Chris--1 tianity is not Christianity unless it is self-propagating. Hoes the Christian light shine on you. or does it burn in you?”

With this quotation from Professor Hogg, Pastor Jos. J. Franklyn began his address on the above theme in the Chapel of the Church of Christ, Levin, on Wednesday evening. Referring to the work of the preachers and teachers of the first century it was pointed out that the pioneers soon grasped the idea that the Christian faith and Church must be freed from the bondage of Judaism and become a world religion. “The Acts”—the history of the early Churchy—plainly and interestingly unfolded the gracious widening of Christian influences. The eighth chapter, with its story of the revival in the city of Samaria, revealed a distinct stage in the outward movement, opening up a new epoch in the ever-expanding programme. In reviewing this period of evangelistic propaganda it was shown that the storm of persecution scattered the seed. The early preachers were men engaged in various occupations, known nowadays as “laymen,” who talked to individuals and various groups as opportunities presented them, selves in the course of daily life. Every fresh convert was an unpaid missionary. Tradesmen, soldiers, travellers and workmen who had been converted to the Christian faith, wherever they went, whether on business or driven by persecution, told the Story of the Cross, were witnesses of its transforming power in their own lives, and urged the acceptance of the Saviour upon all with whom they came in contact, in this way the Gospel spread to the remotest spots of the then known world, Jews and pagans being converted and united in Christian fellowship in the one body—the Church of the resurrected and ascended Redeemer. Healing with the personal life and ministry of Philip, the missioner, Mr Franklyn stated that God could do without us, but He could do better with us, if we were saved and useable. A study of the three dispensations of the one "religion of the Bible unrnistakeably showed thaf God had depended upon the co-operation of frail men and women to assist Him in making known His love and grace to His creatures. The personal touch had been responsible for the salvation and service of untold multitudes.

“For example, Andrew brings Peter to Christ, then Fillip wins the Ethiopian, Ambrose guides Augustine, Kimball leads Moody, then Moody inspires Studd and Grenfell and thousands more. So the work of evangelisation rolls on. Then, as now, the Gospel helps, or hinders as its influences are present or absent in the lives of its Human propagandists. When the pulpit loses faith in its own message the Church may write ‘lchabod’ over the doors,” The early Church preachers were not bothered about theological dogmas or scientific guesses, but, with simple faith and overflowing , hearts, went out tolling the good tidings of the kingdom of God. They seemed to have gripped the truth that the Gospel of the grace of God was not simply advice to men —how they might work out their own salvation, but rather good news from God. Phillip’s text was “Christ.” This word stood for the whole body of the revealed truth as taught in the Redemption through the Cross. There was no reason to suppose that Phillip doubted the virgin birth of his Lord or made apologies for the Cross and the “alleged” resurrection of Christ. He would not waste his time in trying to reconcile a godless science with the Biblical statements, but, “getting on with the business,” taught and persuaded bis congregations to open their hearts and lives to this inescapable Christ. in closing, the preacher, asking the question, “ What think ye of Christ?” told the story of the merchant who was asked this question—and replied quite frankly: “1 suppose 1 never do think of Christ.” When asked when he was born, he replied “1943.” When asked whether before or after Christ, he was silent, while the enquirer continued: “Have you been dating letters for 20 intelligent years without even reflecting that you were daily commemorating the nativity of Jesus Christ? Have you actually formed no opinion concerning that personage whose advent among men changed the reckoning of time, whose birthday shook the race into a new era, as His crucifixion shook the planet with a new earthquake ? ’ ’