Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 179, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1915 — Highway Gathering [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Highway Gathering

B y REV. JAMES M. CRAY. D. D.

Dcaa of Moody B&io Wuuta of Qiicaao

TEXT—So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together ail as many as they found, both bad and good.—Matthew 22:10. These words are. in the parable of the marriage of the king’s son intend-

ed by our Lord to announce the forfeiture of the Messianic kingdom, temporarily, at least, by the Jewish people, and the proclamation of the gospel of grace to the Gentiles. One wishes there were opportunity to go into the details of the parable and apply its precious teachings, but there is time only to emphasize one point,

and that Is the duty and privilege of “highway gathering.” By this is meant the preaching of the gospel, not merely by the ordained ministry, but by laymen as well, who know by experience the redemption which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. These beautiful summer days and evenings afford unusual opportunity for this in the utilizing of our parks, and vacant lots, and church steps and street corners for reaching multitudes with the bread of life. The prophets of the Old Testament were open-air preachers. Jesus Christ and his apostles were open-air preachers. Some of the greatest evangelists in all the days were open-air preachers. How could Whitefield and the Wesleys have reached the masses when church doors were closed against them, unless they had taken to the open air? What qn open-air preacher was Gen. William Booth! Today many of the ablest Christian laymen of Great Britain, as well as the clergy, are found standing on improvised platforms at the street corners telling out the gospel of salvation, and urging their fellow men to accept the offer of atonement through Jesus Christ. 1. This is enjoined upon you, Christian brethren, as a duty to God and to your neighbor. Remember the words, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature;” “Ye shall be witnesses unto me.” These commands are not to ecclesiastics merely but to all the disciples of Christ. And then what shall we say of the command, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself?” Have we ever felt, or shown, that until we have actively interested ourselves in the salvation of our neighbor? To feed him when he is hungry, or clothe him when he is naked, or visit him in sickness, or comfort him in his affliction is not enough, except as we try to save him for eternity. 2. It is enjoined upon you as a personal advantage in the sense of development and in sense of reward. If we want to grow in the spiritual life we want to exercise ourselves in its ministry. If we would know more of the love and the power of God towards ourselves, we must experiment with what we now have in dealing with others. In this, as in that which is more material, the principle holds good, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” And then what about our reward in the future as well as in the present? At the final reckoning of redeemed souls the same rank and glory will not be given to the indolent and unfruitful as to the earnest and selfdenying. The same Scripture which says in one place, “Look unto me and be ye saved,” says in another, “Look unto yourselves that ye receive a full reward!” “They who turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever and ever.” 3. It is enjoined upon you as a political necessity. This may be regarded as the weakest and most selfish of the arguments, and for that reason should have come first rather thaa last, but there are special reasons for stating it at the last. What political and social problems are pressing upon the attention of thoughtful citizens, and especially Christian citizens, at fbia time! In all our great cities the needy classes are multiplying every year, and with them those who represent the ignorance, immorality and crime of all great populations. The conflict between capital and labor, and employers and employees, is losing none of its intensity, "now rumbling ominously like some far-off earthquake, and now breaking out into the volcanic eruption of the disastrous strike.” At the other extremity look at the luxury and extravagance, the heartless worldliness and the ,grasping selfishness of many of the “upper classes.” These things threaten the life of our nation, the peace and prosperity of our homes, and are a startling challenge to tlie Christian church. We must go forth on a new crusade. We must go out into the highways and gather together all, as many as we find both bad and good. We must give ourselves enthusiastically to the work by prayer, by money, by personal endeavor. ■.. i: ■ i