Show SHUN P POLITICS A VI ATLANTA Ga JUly 26 APAn ATAn AT- AT An open letter latter warning B Baptist ministers of oC Georgia to shun politics appeared today in the Christian Index over the sing of John D. D MeU Mell presIdent for 16 years of the Georgia Baptist convention Citing at the outset Three great issues in tile the Presidential campaign cam cam- Dr MeU Mell saw In them enough dynamite to the peace and harmony of any church as our people are already divIded on these questions them above all aU to keep out of oC pOlitics themselves the elderly minister cited two reasons why In hIs opInIon preachers preach preach- ers era should sho do so l First he advised non partisanship nonpartisanship for tor the happiness and usefulness of oC the minIsters themselves and second for fol the sake of our dear deal Lord Whose servant you ou are Bitterness and strife are going to have full sway all over our land Mells Mell's letter predIcted It If you become a partisan you will lose the affection of oC nearly all those you oppose of many of those wh whose se candidate you espouse and you may In some cases loso your pulpits Remember It Is n nOt t your pulpit it is the Lords Lord's and his pulpIt Is not nota a a. political l stump from which to tomake tomake make political speeches Do not be persuaded that tha t the great nl m ral raj ques ques- involved g give you license to tod tode d de thIs thIng discuss politics All political issues have moral questions ThiS Is no exception Your power as a minister is of grace and not of oC the law It men menara arc ara saved from these eVils through your ministry it must be grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ When you throw asIde the Wisdom ot of God and tile the Power of God from your our pulpits and hold holdup holdup up to YOUr people Instead the tise platform platform plat plat- form or candidate ot of any political party and expect by that to save men from the sIn of oC intemperance eran e I or any other ther pin In you will only b become be- be come as soundIng brass and tink- tink Unit hag cymbals Dr Mell asserted assert d that there was onI only one name to be given in a 8 pulpit pulpit pul- pul pit for the salvation ot of men and that Is Ills His name Jesus Christ He Himself when he was In the Loy Lory On earth never ne made any political speeches In His sermons Nor did any of HIs disciples s. And you the servant are nOt greater or wiser than your Lord 4 |