The way of Jesus; a frank enquiry into the way of Jesus for human society, based on the records of the New Testament

Preface

These Bible studies were first written for Chinese stu¬ dents following the conference of the World’s Student Christian Federation in Peking. At that gathering a series of findings were brought in by the “ Forum ” on social and industrial problems.* These were based upon the idea that the teachings of Jesus were the prac¬ tical guide for our present social disorders. It was felt that as they were discussed in the colleges of China, it would be a great help to have, at the same time, a body of material that would show in greater detail what these teachings are and how they affect our problems to-day. In the original draft there were many references to Chinese conditions.

The studies have been worked over and in part re¬ written for British students. In some particulars the Chinese flavour may be found still to remain. Yet it is believed that there is nothing in them which does not bear upon problems faced by England at the present time. The line taken is similar to that I have followed in my recent volume The Christian Revolution , the main differences being the form of question and daily study, the perpetual reference of all to the actual words of Christ, and the absence in this volume of the illustrative material published in the second part of The Christian Revolution. I hope that in this form the leading con¬ ceptions on which that volume is based may not so much be transmitted to the student as won by him for himself. The inexhaustible mine which we have in the words and deeds of Jesus Christ is still open for us

* See Appendix, p. 134

VI

PREFACE to dig in for ourselves. As life unfolds its meaning and as one problem follows another, one comes back with ever fresh wonder and satisfaction to the wealth of wisdom and inspiration to be found in these writings. I hope that each student of these pages may be a dis¬ coverer, with something of the zest of the pioneer breaking fresh ground, seeing fresh beauties, enriched with fresh power for his own life as day follows day. Whether he sees just what I have seen is small matter. That his own eyes may be enlightened and his own spirit uplifted is my great hope.

In the matter of recording results, each person and group must take the line which seems best. The sugges¬ tions are simply thrown out for the sake of those who find such a method helpful. The idea of daily readings and a weekly group study has often been found helpful, but there is no reason why this book should not be used either by an individual studying these matters alone or by a group whose members do not follow the method suggested. In that case the group should take each study and not only those arranged for the weekly gathering. Many problems are raised which are not fully answered. I have often indicated the kind of answer I should make with my own knowledge and experience, but the object of the book would not be achieved were students to follow this lead without think¬ ing their own way into each question. For this reason the lead has often been very slight.

Shanghai.

HENRY T. HODGKIN.

Introduction

Everyone is talking of reconstruction to-day. We can agree at once that profound changes are needed in society, and that we need courage and insight if we are to make them. We can agree about many of the things that are wrong; it is much harder to agree upon what we need to put in their place and how we are to proceed in doing this. There are many prophets of a new social order. For some, Karl Marx or Lenin offer the true solution; for others, H. G. Wells or Romain Rolland; for others, Ghandi. Who is to lead us in the task of creating a new social order ? This is a very important problem for all students to-day. If only a number of us could agree on a leader and agree to follow him, what an immense power the forces of goodwill and good sense would have, and how easy it would be to overcome reaction and selfishness and dishonesty in high places.

This book is first and foremost an enquiry into the problem as to whether Jesus Christ gives us the kind of guidance we need. It is offered to the sincere and fairminded student in order that he may reach his own answer to that question. We shall ask ourselves what the ideas of Jesus actually are and what they would mean if they were applied in society. We shall further ask in what way they can actually be worked out. At the end of this study the careful student should be in a position to answer the questions, “ Is Jesus Christ the Leader we need in the world to-day ? ” “If so, in what sense is He to be our Leader ?”

There are some people who will begin at once with certain difficulties. Let me say a word in trying to remove these:

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Vlll

INTRODUCTION

1. “ Christian countries are as bad as any others, if not worse. There is no use in looking to Christianity for a solution.”

I would reply, “ There is no really Christian country. Undoubtedly Christian influences have deeply affected the lives of certain countries and have been instrumental in leading to social betterment, but in some degree we have all missed the way of Jesus Christ. This book is not to compare West and East, 4 Christian ’ and ‘ non- Christian;’ it is to bring us all back to the simple standards of Jesus Christ, and apply these standards fearlessly to West as to East alike. There is no doubt they will mean a tremendous change everywhere, whether we call that change good or bad.”

2. “I do not believe Jesus is what the Church says,

‘ the Son of God.’ Why, then, should I pay any special attention to His will.”

I would reply, “ This book is not based on any such assumption. We simply look at the life and teaching of Jesus as we would look at that of any other creative thinker. Some of us, after so doing, may come to the conclusion that He is indeed the Son of God. If so, we shall have to consider what this involves and be true to our convictions. But we do not start out with any such assumption, instead simply taking the historical materials, and trying to find if they throw any light on our present problems.”

3. “ These historical materials are of no value. The Bible is full of mistakes and is not trustworthy. Why should I accept its authority ?”

I would reply, “ I am not asking you to accept any authority save what you yourself feel to be true. Here are the records: if they have value, as many wise people have thought and still think, any reasonable and fairminded student can see their value after studying them. Let us try this method, without discussing historical or scientific accuracy of particular incidents. That can

INTRODUCTION iz come later. Now we are seeing what they have to say, taken simply as ordinary human documents.”

4. “ But Jesus lived in entirely different economic conditions. How can His life have any meaning or rele¬ vance to our problems ?”

I would reply, “ Principles are eternal: let us see what these are and how they may be applied to new circum¬ stances. At least we can’t afford to lose any light on a problem so difficult.”

5. “ Why study Jesus and not other great men, ancient or modern, who have thought on these things ?”

I would reply, “ By all means let us study them too. If there had been space I should have illustrated my points freely from the other writings which have very much to teach us on these matters. But to study one person’s work at a time may be enough, and there is this interesting fact about Jesus. He is an international figure and has appealed to men of all races and in each generation. What we need to-day is an international solution of our economic and social problems.”

The student who takes pains to follow through the thought of this volume will certainly be rewarded. He is not studying simply the ideas of the writer, which may be good, bad, or indifferent. He will be studying the thought and acts of one whom every serious student of history agrees to have been one of the most suggestive and influential minds the world has ever seen. To do this is a liberal education. It needs humility, for without this no advance in thought or science can ever be made; it needs patience if we are to get to the real heart of the problem—no deep truths can be found by those who only scratch the surface; it needs honesty of purpose, for a man who will not accept in his own life the results of his own discoveries will soon cease to discover fresh things. I do not think anyone ever thought or acted in a more daring way than Jesus. Wherever people come under the spell of His personality they think and act boldly.

X

INTRODUCTION

I feel certain that some of you who study Him in this little volume will find that all the best part of you is stirred to new life and action, that you want to serve your day and generation more than ever before, that you are ready to suffer more gladly, that you see a larger hope for the world and that a new power takes possession of you and makes you ten times as strong.

It is in this hope that I give you my little book, and for this reason I ask you to give your best thought to its study.

Contents

CHAPTER PAG!

PREFACE - - - - - V

INTRODUCTION - - - vii