Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1914 — Short Sermons FOR A Sunday Half=Hour [ARTICLE]

Short Sermons FOR A Sunday Half=Hour

THE VALUE OF A MAN. BY THE REV. Dr. GEORGE DUGAN. Matthew xii:l2.: “How much then Is a man of more value than a sheep,* Mi. Chesterton In his collection ot essays called "Heretics” says: “There are some people and I am one of them, who think that the most practical and Important thing about a man is still his view of the Universe. We thlnk fiiaf for a landlady considering a lodger it is important to know his income, but still more important to know his philosophy. We think that for a general about to fight an enemy it- is Important to know the enemy’s numbers, but still more import mt to know the enemy's philosophy. We think the question is hot whether the theory of the cosmos affects matters but whether in the long inn Anything else affects them." That fine bit of wisdom may be adapted to our uses and we may say, the central and most important thing about a man is still his view of man. For it is man himself who is at once the key to the Universe and the nature of its creator . “The moral order of the world," and “God as a rational and moral Being” are empty phrases until man appears and we begin to see that the chief end of God in bringing all this universe into being was that he might erect a kingdom in which man shall realize all his physical, moral and spiritual possibilities. . , No matter, therefore, in what direction you turn, religion, social, political or economic, you will find man’s philosophy of man the most important factor. If man Is simply a digestive tube, an insignificant atom, if he differs J n the sheep only in degree, If they is nothing more for him than to coif ume hie corn and lie down like a dog die, if that is al tb"t man Is the*, it is not to be wondered at that the principles of Jesus are still unreached ideals and that the world’s work is still being done under the inhuman dictum, "Business is business,” “Competition is the life of trade,” “Every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost’’ r " —ls, ,on the other hand man is the raison d’etre of all this world making; If God made him for himself; if, wherever you find him, he stands or is capable of standing in the relationship of a son of God; if he is endowed with a deathless personality that survives, the assault of the last great enemy; if! this is man then there are no limits that you can set to his value. If that is man then one soul outweighs the Universe; If that is true then the materialist philosophy that would make man differ from the sheep only in degree is transparently fallacious. If that is true th4n the view that measures everything by its money value and puts man in the market In the sliding scale of commodities is at once false and immoral. And it is this high view of man to which we hold. We believe that every great movement for human betterment must trait for this high estimate of a man’s value to plough its way into men’s consciences where it shall rule with file dominancy of a sacred passion. We need to accept this teaching of the Son of Man with respect to the reasons. _ For our own sake, we need to value ourselves highly enough to aim at the best within reach. A low estimate of a man’s own work will mean the adoption of a cheap course of life. If he feels that being comfort- . ably good is enough he will be content with minor changes in his character. But if he feels that he bears the marks of a Son of God then he knows that something radical Is necessary. For our Brothers’ sake, we can never lead men to regulate their relations to one another on the basis of brotherhood until we learn the teaching of Jesus that man Is Infinitely of more value than all the Universe beside —that one soul outweighs the Universe. And until we accept Jesus' estimate of the worth of a man we can never actualize ideal Christianity. For the sake of religion, Jesus found religion In his day so zealous for # the glory of God that it accomplished the slavery of man. So the Pharisees could not understand the parable of the man who pulled his sheep out of the pit on the sabbath. The religion of Christie day vfould have allowed a man to rot In a pit on the sabbath rather than Violate « ceremonial requirement Is it any wonder Jesus* mission pro, voted indignation. Think of him treating social outcasts as fellow men. It was Just this enthusiasm of Jesus \ for humanity that got Ifim into \ trouble. Because He identified Himself with outraged human interests they sailed him crazy. Love tor humanity Iras with Jesus a holy passion. By Its attitude toward this sacred passion the church to-day is being tented. If I wnfe asked to say whereto the church of to-day In moot profoundly lacking I should unhesitatingly say, in her lack of enthusiasm-tor hnmanIty. Jesus’ lesson of the worth of a toan is needed for reldglonls sake. Y .. '-TV