THE GOSPEL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 89, 1 May 1937, Page 12

THE GOSPEL

It is not argument, nor exchange of opinion, much less bitter controversy, which will help us to hear and understand the Gospel. We have to learn to listen, to be quiet, to be still. In these days our senses are always being stimulated by new sights and sounds. It 3 s very easy to see without perceiving, to hear without understanding. It is no use switching on the wireless unless we tune it in. To hear and understand means thought, imagination, an effort of mind. To understanding we must add action. The two go together. To act without understanding may do more harm than good. To undeTstand without acting leads to sentimentalism. A casual glance in a mirror and we forget what we look like. We mnst look long in the Heavenly mirror, "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," if we would become what God wants us to be. Look, love, follow, that is the order, and all three are necessary. . Hearing without doing is useless; formal worship without practical kindness is nseless; faith which does not keep us from , snobbishness is, usseless. This may be summed up by saying that faith without work is useless. We may compare the saying of Jesus, "Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, bnt he that doeth the will of my Father whieh is in Heaven." It is hard enough not to go wrong in what we do. It is harder still not to do so in what we say. If anybody haS mastered his tonfrno is wellnigh perfect. just as the bit controls the horse, and the rudder the ship, so the tonguo directs man's life; small in size, titanic in power! Think of the power of speech given to statesmeu, and the newspapers who report •'them, lectures, teachers of all kinds. Sometimes we haVe to pass judgment on other people 's actions. When we do sfo we ought to be (Riire ciear that our motive is reallv the desire for truth, and not just an effort to score a point off somebody else ancl so increase our own self-esteem. The best rule is to ' be very hard on yourself aird vety gentle with other people.