464 RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE: SOCIAL 



A man who is afraid of new truth is not quite sure that his old 

 truths are true. A theologian who believes in a progressive revela- 

 tion of God will be as eager for new light as is a biologist or an 

 astronomer, for he knows that all truths are one and holy, because 

 all are a revelation of the Holy One. 



Consider further what influence the acceptance of the social 

 teachings of Jesus will naturally exert on the pulpit. 



The ministry of to-day lacks enthusiasm, and the reason is because 

 it lacks a message. The scientific method applied to Biblical criti- 

 cism has destroyed many time-honored beliefs. During the present 

 period of transition the pulpit is placed on the defensive. It has 

 lost the power of the affirmative. Many a preacher speaks, not 

 because he has something to say, but because he has to say something. 

 Few of them feel a fire in their bones which compels them to cry 

 out, " Woe is me, if I preach not this gospel! " 



A Connecticut pastor tells me that he was talking some months 

 since with four other pastors of the same state, each of whom said 

 that if he had his life to live over, he would not enter the ministry; 

 nor would he let his son enter it, if he could prevent it. It is not 

 strange that under such circumstances there is much restlessness 

 on the part of both pastors and churches. It is probable that a 

 majority of all the churches and pastors in the United States are at 

 this moment desiring a change. 



If now the preachers should accept the social teaching of Jesus 

 in all its fullness, a large proportion of them would make the startling 

 discovery that they have not been preaching Christ's gospel. They 

 would probably first have a new and deeper religious experience, 

 and then they would find themselves in possession of a new message 

 which they would be eager to give, and the people would be eager 

 to hear, for that message would apply the teachings of Jesus to the 

 actual problems of present-day life, both of the individual and of 

 the community. 



Within the past few weeks there have come to my attention a 

 number of instances of pastors who are preaching this gospel of the 

 kingdom. They all report large audiences, and each one of them 

 significantly adds that a majority of his hearers are men. 



Not all will hear the new, old gospel gladly, by any means, for it 

 will be dead against their selfish lives. A very prominent and very 

 rich church member said to me, " We don't want too much of the 

 Sermon on the Mount." The social teachings of Jesus would make 

 trouble for the pulpit, precisely because they would vitalize the 

 pulpit. In all the ages when the prophet has cried aloud and spared 

 not, it has made trouble until the people have brought forth fruits 

 meet for repentance. 



Enough has been said to show that the acceptance of the Gospel of 



