# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1910_S10
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

10 Proceedings of the twenty-third convention

into the abyss and drown. Athens was the highest peak that the
world has ever scaled in philosophy, the arts, science, etc. And
in this very Athens an altar had been erected "to the unknown
God." The culture of the whole Old World was covered with darkness.
In the darkness of heathenism we find superstition, lies, and despair
even under the most brilliant outward circumstances.

Into this thick darkness Christians spread light and brightness.
They bring to the world the light of the Gospel of Christ.
They preach Christ, who is made unto us wisdom and knowledge.
They preach Christ, who is our peace and our hope.
What joy and what splendor the festival of Christmas has brought into this world!
What comfort and what hope Easter brings!
Cf. 1 Pet. 1:3–9.

In the light of this Gospel Christians can walk safely through
this life on all the ways of their calling, through joy and
sorrow, through health and sickness, through death and the grave to the many
mansions in our Father's house above in heaven.

Without light there is no life. In the darkness of heathenism
human life has little value. Weak children were
simply exposed; prisoners of war were killed, and old and feeble
people were put out of the way.

Christians are the light of the world. Where Christians are, there care is also taken
for the earthly life of people. Above all, however, Christians bring
spiritual life. They preach Christ, who has redeemed us from death.
And what is more: they show the world by their living that they are
alive from the dead through Christ. They let people see their
good works. St. Peter also writes of this in his first
epistle, chap. 2:11, 12; 3:1.

Christians do this, however, not in a noisy, self-advertising way, like the
Pharisees. The Pharisees did their "good works" before men,
that they might be seen by men, that they might have glory
among men. They had their reward. Christians, as lights of the
world, do not parade their good works in order to catch the applause of the
crowd. Their only concern is that their Father
in heaven be praised.

3. "You blessed of my Father."
(Matt. 25:34.)

Who are the blessed? Christians. But what were
Christians by nature? We see that from the words that Christ will address to
the people on his left: "Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels!" By nature every person is conceived and born
in sin. But he who commits sin is of the devil, 1 John 3:8. Therefore
his lot is with the devil; he is cursed.