p. 640 | Christ the Only Model by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 20, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 40.

Christ the Only Model

By Editor

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul said: "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor. 1:22-24. And again he said: "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." Chap. 2:2. These words were brought very forcibly to our mind, by contrast, when we read that two ministers in Oakland, who have the largest congregations of any in the city, preached on a recent Sunday evening to young men upon the "Lessons to be drawn from the life of Governor Bartlett." We do not know anything about the private life of Governor Bartlett; but we do know that if he had been the best man that has lived in the United States since it became a nation, he would not have been good enough to warrant a minister of the gospel in holding him up as a model for young men. Jesus Christ is the only being who ever lived on this earth, whose life is worthy to be taken as a model for men, either young or old, and "Jesus Christ, and him crucified," is the only thing that can draw men to a nobler life. But the trouble is, that the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified is not the kind that "takes" with the people, and fills the churches on Sunday nights.