1/31/54

How Shall They Hear?

Scripture: Romans 10: 10-17

Text: Romans 10: 14; -“How shall they hear without a preacher?”

There came to my desk this past week a church bulletin from one of the churches in the eastern part of Wisconsin. While glancing over the calendar of coming events for that congregation, I came upon the announcement that the young people of that congregation were to sponsor an address this afternoon by a visiting speaker. Their speaker, it seems, is to be a student from India, who, it may be, will be heard at our State Conference meeting in La Crosse next May. At any rate, his announced subject for today’s address at the church in West De Pere is: “How Shall They Hear?”

One thinks immediately of the pointed question Paul asked of the Romans. He had just finished assuring them that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And then he goes on the inquire: “How shalt they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And show shall they hear without a preacher?” Exactly! And the theological student from India evidently intends to discuss this afternoon with a church, its young people and its friends, the need of carrying the message, and of messengers being sent! The thought fits well with the theme of Youth Week this year.

We are living in a century when Christians are becoming increasingly concerned about the purpose of the church. A most significant conference on the church of Christ is to be held next summer at Evanston, Illinois, on the faith held by Christians of many denominations all over the world. Some of the most able leaders of the churches everywhere will be there. It is such a conference as is seldom held in our country -- let alone at a location so near to us as in a city of the neighboring state of Illinois!

Well, leaders in youth activity are aware of this need for clear thinking about Christian purpose. 20 years ago, back in 1934, the United Christian Youth Movement was formed in North American as an expression of cooperation among 38 Protestant church bodies, 39 state Christian youth councils or councils of churches, and 11 youth-serving agencies. The United Christian Youth Movement seeks to provide a channel for young people to express their oneness in Christ and to give themselves wholeheartedly in service to his church and the world. The UCYM has grown steadily through the years. It is approved by the National Council of Churches. It sponsors National Youth week each year, which week falls this year on the week that begins today and ends next Sunday.

It is not concerned primarily with recruiting young people to preach or do vocational mission service - though earnest Christian young folk do volunteer for these services. But it is concerned that the great body of young folk in every church and Christian denomination, think of their own dedication to Christian service through the church -- no matter what their vocation may be. For the strength of the church is essentially the strength of spirit and purpose in the membership of the churches. And young folk realize that they are now, and are to be, that membership.

The theme for Youth Week this year is a charge from Jesus Christ, given to his waiting disciples: “So Send I You.” Those apostles were prepared by their months and years of association with Jesus. But they were confused and uncertain, after his crucifixion, until his presence was felt with them after his resurrection. Before he told them to receive the Holy Spirit, which kindled their unshakable purpose, he said to them: “As the Father hath sent me, so send I you.” [John 20: 21]. Christian devotion has been kindled by that charge ever since. For Christ continues to send his own, whose ye are! We are sent into the world to live in truth and righteousness; to promote justice and to show mercy; to think clearly and act fairly with love and with firm Christian character. And these are standards and motives of our living whatever may be the vocation to which we give ourselves.

If those who do not know the message of Christ are to hear it, someone must be sent to tell them about it. And Christian youth are coming to know that they, and all of us professing Christians, are the ones now being sent by Christ. There are no others! The eleven apostles whom he first sent served with devotion and with great effect. But that was in the first century AD. They are dead long since! Others have carried on in each century since. And we must carry on in this 20th century.

63 years ago, on February 2, 1881, an interdominational youth movement was founded, I think on the initiative of a local group in this state, which came to be called “Christian Endeavor.” Within that movement, young people found encouragement to be Christian in their very souls, and to work at their faith. It was a movement of activity -- Christian Endeavor. I’m told that there was a flourishing Christian Endeavor in this church many years ago. Well, the first Christina Youth Week, as we now note it, was planned jointly by the International Society of Christian Endeavor and the United Christina Youth Movement just 10 years ago. So this is the 11th annual observance of Christian Youth Week. It falls on the week of the last Sunday in January, through the first Sunday in February.

Youth Week dramatizes the place of young folk in the total program of the church and the community. It strengthens the fellowship between mature adults and eager young folk in the church. Part of its purpose is to bring unchurched youth into the active, full relationship of the church. And it helps to express the basic oneness of all Christian groups in Jesus Christ.

-------------------

Now, having said something about Youth Week and how it fits into the picture of Christian living in the fellowship of the churches for all of us, old and young, let us think a little more about what is Christian living in youth, or in mature adulthood. (1) For one thing, we must understand what Christianity is about. In the early church, those who were attracted to the Christian fellowship were patiently and enthusiastically taught --- not for a few days or weeks, but for months and years, what the faith of Christ is. Then, if they desired baptism as a sign of their desire to be spiritually cleansed and dedicated, they might receive it. Only then could they be received into the full communion of the relatively small company of Christian folk.

The Christian Church of Korea has, for years, had the same kind of ruling. There, one must know his Bible well, must have been taught and must understand the significance of Christianity, must deny himself those forms of activity that Korean Christians consider heathen and must be ready to dedicate his life in willing service to God through Christ.

To be Christian, one must know what Christianity is.

(2) Then one must make a decision. In recent years, young folk who have attended the Congregational youth summer conferences at Green Lake, have been invited to note some of their decisions on a card. And then the pastors of their home churches are notified of the interest they have shown and what decision they have reached while at conference. Each one may choose a different form of expression. But, at some point, they stop being vague, and make a decision.

(3) Not only do we have to make a personal decision and consecration, but we have to take a stand among other folk. A Christian must be realistic enough to know that he can not please everyone.

The modern poet, Edgar A. Guest, has said in his autobiography, “I have been neither a mollycoddle nor a brute. I have preached religion to no one nor have I tried to alter any man’s religious opinions. I have never tried to be a wet blanket on the fire of any man’s pleasure. I have made just a few rules for myself, and not for my neighbor. I have tried to keep my religion, my belief in God and my faith in eternity as a restraint for me alone.” ----- and then he also says, -- “I have not been what is called a regular churchgoer.”

Well, Eddie Guest has written some nice verses on this and that. He may have achieved a satisfying peace of mind for himself. But it takes more concern for the other fellow than that if one is to put much of a dent in this callous old world! There are perils in popularity if it means trying to please everybody. Sometimes we need enough dedication and conviction to take a stand if we are to help folk other than ourselves.

A little bit of verse comes to the point here:

The world is a difficult world indeed

And the people are hard to suit,

And the man who plays on the violin

Is a bore to the man with a flute.

And I myself have often thought,

How very much better ‘twould be

If every one of the folks that I know

Would only agree with me.

But since they will not, the very best way

To make the world look bright,

Is never to mind what others say,

But do what you think is right.

On the other hand, though we know that we shall not always please every other person whom we know, we must, if we are to be Christian, try to please God with all our will, and with all our purpose; with mind and spirit and act. This is to have the mind that was in Christ.

A great old baseball player, Pepper Martin, had something of this mind. After years of experience with other players and with newspaper writers, he was one day with a group of players and sports writers when someone asked Pepper what his ambition was. With dignity, he answered: “To go to heaven.” “Ho, Ho! Want to play the harp, huh?” “That’s not funny, Mister,” snapped Pepper Martin. “O,” said the writer, “I’m sorry -- I didn’t mean to ----”

“I guess I should be used to the fact that folks don’t know how I feel,” Pepper Martin said. “I’ve been in sports for 20 years. I’ve always given my best and managed to pull my weight. All I’ve got to say is: if there’s anything wrong in reading the Bible every day and believing what’s in it, if there’s anything wrong in a man wanting to go back to the soil and live the life of a plain farmer, if there’s anything funny in wanting to go to heaven when you die -- then I’m afraid life isn’t worth living.” Pepper Martin was too well-seasoned a baseball player to have any illusions about pleasing everybody. But he did intend to try to please God and do His will in the vigorous vocation that he followed.

To do that, whoever you are, whatever you do, whomsoever you may be able to please, is to carry the word of God in your living, to those who want to hear. To be sent of Christ is to try to please God in action, in word, in thought, in spirit and in truth.

--------------------------

Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, January 31, 1954 (Youth Week).