05 - Chapter 5
CHAPTER V THE ATTRACTIVE CHRIST
Under the leadership of the president, Mr. Witter, the young people’s society had caught the vision of an evangelistic campaign which included them. All the young people of the entire congregation had been listed. This had required some time and an immense amount of work, and yet it was a surprising discovery to find that there were so many splendid young people in the homes of the members and rooming right around the church. Many of them were strangers, having recently come into the community. Every one of these young people had been put on the prayer list of some one of the Christian young people. A “ Secret Service “ had been organized of those who would form a prayer list and actually do personal work. The young people’s society had arranged a great social evening to which all the newly discovered young people were invited. This had been carefully prepared so that everybody was busy and everybody became acquainted and all had a good time. The young people’s meetings were increasing in attendance and in interest. The devotional services were planned with utmost care, and each leader tried to make his meeting a little better than that of the week before. A great rally of young people was planned for Sunday night. The pastor had been asked to prepare a special message for the young people. There was a large chorus choir. Young men acted as ushers, and all the other young people of the church sat together during the service. Because of the work of the young people and because of the interest of the entire church in their young people, the room was filled. The pastor caught the enthusiastic spirit of his young people and spoke with earnestness and power, as follows:
“ Some weeks ago I was talking with a principal of a well-known high school about the religious life of youth.
He said: ’ Last Sunday as I was teaching my men’s Bible class I asked them this question, “ If Jesus Christ is as attractive as you and I believe him to be, why is he not more attractive to students.in high school and college? “After we had discussed this for some time, I asked them this question, “ Have we been presenting the attractive Christ to our high school and college students? “ ’ This conversation has caused me a great deal of thought. Have we presented the attractive Christ? Is there anything in our Christ attractive to our young people?
What in Christ is attractive to them? I began asking young people, ’ What is there attractive in Jesus Christ to you? ’ I have asked hundreds this question. I have noted carefully their answers. I bring you tonight, not my ideas, but the ideas of young people themselves. I will give you the statements which they have given most frequently and which seem to me most typical of youth.
“I asked an outstanding athlete and a leader among the students. His answer was typical of red-blooded, aggressive young Americans. He said, ’ Jesus is attractive to me because he was a man who did things and who expects his followers to do things worth while’ Jesus was born in a little village in an obscure nation many years ago, and yet he has completely changed the current of the world’s history. He has powerfully influenced civilization. He has given children a place in the life of the world. He has emancipated women and exalted motherhood. He never wrote a word save in the dust of the pavement, and yet he has been the inspiration of many of the great authors since that day. One cannot read and understand English literature without knowing something about this man. He never painted a picture, but he has been the inspiration of many of the greatest artists of the world. He never sang a song that we know of. Angels sang at his birth. His mother sang around the home, and little children sang their hosannas in the temple. Yet he has been the theme and the inspiration of many of the world’s greatest oratorios and songs. He never erected a church building, and yet his followers have built great cathedrals and dotted the land with houses of worship. He healed a few sick people, opened the eyes of the blind, unstopped the ears of the deaf, and made the lame to walk. Ever since that time his followers have healed the sick. Modern medical science, hospitals, asylums, orphanages, homes for the aged, all these are the results largely of the influence of this man of Galilee. Modern civilization with its humane laws, its educational system, its churches, and all its social and philanthropic enterprises, is the result in this world of the life arid teachings of Jesus.
“ I spoke to another, a thoughtful earnest student. He was a seeker after truth, a lover of books and eager to know. His answer was illuminating. ’ Jesus is attractive to me because he is a great teacher/ Yes, the world’s greatest teacher. He knew God and the spiritual life that is from God. He knew of the heavenly home with God and of eternal life. He knew man. He knew the life of man on earth with its limitations, temptations, sins, sorrows, and death. He knew how God feels and acts toward men and how men ought to feel and act toward one another. He knew how to teach. The students of the world sit humbly at his feet, and listen to his voice, and follow his methods. He knew how to adapt his message to the needs of the people to whom he was speaking at any given time. Greatest of all, he was the very embodiment in life of his message, he lived his own teaching. Some one has said: ’ We teach a little by what we say. More by what we do. Most by what we are.’ In word, deed, and life, Jesus is the world’s greatest teacher.
“ A clean-cut lad of high ideals said: ’ Jesus is attractive to me because he was a real man, clean, strong, manly, human. I can follow him in all things/ Jesus was a real boy in the home, a real young man learning a trade and working at it, a real man, tempted yet resisting living in the midst of sin and yet mastering; disappointed and yet never losing his faith; sorrowing, yet never losing his courage. One who would die and did die on the cross rather than lower his ideals or compromise with evil.
One who... marched breast forward.
Never doubted clouds would break; Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph; Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better,
Sleep to wake.
“ I asked a shy, bashful, sensitive girl, one who shrinks from taking any position of leadership, who lives in a dream world of her own, who is often misunderstood and often very lonely. She said, ’/ like Jesus because he understands me.’ A heart which longed to be understood found comfort in Jesus who did understand. Yes, he understands youth with its idealism, its day-dreams, its emotional upsets, its longings, and its misunderstandings.
He can help as no other one can.
“ I asked a sixteen-year-old girl. She was attractive and beautiful, full of life and fun, the center of the social life of her group. She said, if I like Jesus because he is a good lover.’ What more typical answer could she give? At the springtime of her own life, when her own heart went out in love to others and when she wanted to be loved. Jesus a good lover! He is just that. He does not come to force his way into our lives. He is the lover who comes to win by love. He comes, not to make unhappy, but to bring joy; not to take away, but to give; not to destroy, but to fulfil and enrich.
O Love that wilt not let me go!
“ At the close of a happy party of young people in a church, I asked my question of one of the young ladies.
She said, as her eyes still sparkled with the fun which she had been enjoying: ’ Jesus was once a young man himself.
He has the point of view of youth. He is no joy-killer.’ And she was right. Jesus was only thirty-three when he finished his work on earth. He gathered around him young men about his own age as his disciples. He began his life’s work in the festivities of a wedding. The home where he loved most of all to go was in Bethany, where {46} there were three young people, Mary, and Martha, and Lazarus. He lived a joyous life and said to his disciples as he was about to leave them, ’ These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might be in you and your joy might be made complete.’
“Another young man who was noted for his loyalty to his college, said, ’ Jesus is a trwe friend and always loyal.’ A true friend and always loyal! Everybody wants a friend. Everybody wants to feel that there is some one whom they can trust and who is always dependable. Jesus as our friend loves us, understands us, and is always near us to help. He was loyal to his Father, to his Father’s will, to his disciples, and loyal to his own, even unto death.
What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer.
“ A young man who had been thoughtless and wicked, who had sown his wild oats and brought grief to his parents and to himself, but who was now living a consecrated Christian life, said: ’ / love Jesus because he is my Saviour. When I needed some one to help me, when I was powerless to break the bad habits which fettered me, I looked to Jesus, God’s Son, who died on the cross for me.
I took him as my Saviour, and the life I now live is due entirely to him.’
“Jesus, the mighty Saviour from sin. Who of us does not need him? We have all sinned and come short of our possibilities. We do need a Saviour. He comes to seek us when we are lost. He offers himself, God’s love gift, as our Saviour from sin. We accept him and his sacrifice on the cross in our behalf. Wonderful Saviour, the gift of Gods love. My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine; For thee all the follies of sin I resign.
“A young man who had just started in business for himself, said: ’ Jesus appeals to me because his religion is practical; it helps me in my home, in my business, and in my dealings with men!
“ A practical religion that makes better men and women and boys and girls, that makes better and happier homes, that gives ideals and principles for business life, that shows people how to live and work together happily and helpfully, that puts spiritual things above material things and makes people fit for an eternal habitation with God yes, the religion of Jesus is practical. It will stand the test of every-day living.
“A group of young missionaries were facing Eastward. They were the best products of our Christian homes, our churches, and our Christian schools and colleges. They were giving their reasons for going to the foreign mission field. One young man said: ’ Jesus has a program for the salvation of this whole world. As far as I can find he has the only real program. I am glad to serve with him and under his leadership in helping the people of China to know him, to love him, and to live according to his wonderful way of living’ “ Yes, there is something for each of us to do. I do not know where nor how God will call us to serve, but this I do know: Jesus is leading his people onward to ultimate and complete victory. He is to be King of kings and Lord of lords. The kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. His kingdom is coming, and his will is to be done on earth as it is done in heaven. To this task he is committed, and to each of us is given our part. What a wonderful Saviour! What an opportunity is ours of working with him in his task of world redemption! He depends upon us. Will we disappoint him?
“ Jesus is attractive to thousands of our young people.
He ought to be attractive to all of them. The early apostles exhausted language in describing the beauties and glories of Christ. Have we presented the attractive Christ? Have we made the Christian religion attractive to our young people? Are we living a beautiful, attractive Christian life ourselves? “
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION What are some of the things in religion which appeal to young people?
What are some things that older people love in religion which do not appeal to youth?
Some one has said, “ Every time there is a church fuss, she loses a generation of young people.” Is this true?
Why? Have young people higher or lower ideals of the Christian life than adults? Is the religious life of our high schools and colleges better or worse than fifty years ago?
What kind of people would you pick as leaders of young people? The Attractive Christ
REFERENCES “ The Youth and the Nation,” Moore.
“ You Are the Hope of the World,” Hagedorn.
“ The Manhood of the Master,” Fosdick.
“ Youth and the Church,” Maus.
“Handbook for Workers with Young People,” Thompson.