Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1917 — Attractions of Christian Work [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Attractions of Christian Work

By REV. HOWARD W. POPE

Moody Bible Inititute. Chicago • -

TEXT— Pray ye therefore the Lord ofs Many comphJnt# are Viefiid-' in these days about the . scarcity, of Christian

workers. We are told that the s 1 r , e dwindling just as th*e time when the banks should overfl o w. Doubtless there are many reasons for»this, bllfe' Principal season, I am sure, is the fact that so little is about the attractions of ; Christian 'wrk.||- '• cefai stantty informed that ministers as a MtdaSA are oyer-

worked; and underpaid, asi that they cross the “deadline” at fifty, but seldom do we hear the other side presented. There Is another side, and if those tfclio enjoy their work would occasionally set forth its attractions, surely there would be more young men to say: “Lord, here atq I, send me I” Among the minor attractions the following may be mentioned: 1. It is a life of contact with men and books. It compels one to read, think and study human nature. A Christian worker may Indulge in a wider range of reading than most men. If he has any hobby, such as botany, geology, or electricity, he can pursue it to his heart’s content. No knowledge comes amiss to him. Nature and the supernatural are so related that one illustrates and explains the other. For a lawyer or doctor such studied* would be a digression, but a Christian worker may explore the heavens, the earth, or the bottom of the sea, and come back better fitted for the special work to which God has called him. 2. The variety of the work Is also an attraction. Preaching, prayer meet-’ Ing and visiting the sick are but a small part of it. He is expected to agitate temperance, to be enthusiastic on missions and to aid Christian endeavor. In fact,. every good cause looks to him for support. To be sure, with so many calls Upon him, he has little time for profound study, but out of it all he gains experience mid versatility and becomes a good, all-around man. He learns what his forte is, and if he is wise he devotes himself mainly to that, leaving to others the work for which he is not fitted. Of all cullings ours is the least monotonous. It is a life of constant activity and continual change. 3. One of the chief attractions of Christian work to me is the opportunity which it affords for religious growth. What lam spiritually I owe to my profession. Indeed, knowing my disposition, I am convinced that had I r chosen any ether calling I should by this time have had a good bank account and a soul as small as a mustard seed. A soul-winner must be a good man or fail. His own or others’ necessities drive him constantly to the throne of grace and compel hinf* to live in-closet fellowship with God. 4. It is no more than fair to admit that there are some discouragements as well as attractions. Inadequate compensation is nne of them. The' Christian worker is expected to have the instincts of a millionaire, the generosity of a .prince, tp dress,as well as the best, aqd to do it all on a small income. . And, strange as it may seem, most of them manage to do it. , A lady once said to- a friend of mine J “I would as soon take a ticket to the poorhouse as marry a theological student,” But some of the best and brightest girls do not think so, ’as almost every parsonage can testify, parish breezes will sometimes spring up and threaten to wreck one's usefulness, but If ~ one will keep’his temper and restrain his tongue, the storm will usually blow over and leave hijn stronger . than ‘ever In the affections of his people. 5. The supreme attraction of Christian work r however, is the opportunity which it affords for usefulness, and usefulness of the highest kind. The merchant, the ..manufacturer and tin? farmer are all useful men. They supply the wants of the body; but our business is to transform the body Into a temple of the Holy Ghost. The surgeon sets broken bones ; but we heal broken hearts. The lawyer administers justice, but the Christian worker proclaims mercy. The one examines titles of real estate, while the other secures titles to mansions in the skl<»a, A million a month are dying in Chlnd without acknowledge of Jesus Christ. The entire_rontimmt of Africa is stitt ; clothed in darkness, for we have only touched the hem of her garment with tie days of Gospel Ught. The. agonizing appeals of our hoine-'mlssionary superintendents are enough to thrill ’“a, heart of, stone. Surely the wants and woes of humanity are in themselves an attraction. And if anything more were needed, is it not found in the final words of our blessed Master: “All powerip#vwvm and earth. Go yd therefore vnto all tho .vorld and preach the gospel to every creature."