The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-10-24
Do our Churches Work Z?

1--WE propose in our church. a gentle
man recently remarked to one of our best
known and most useful evangelists. so to
organize our religious work that the Cos.
pei shall not merely be put within the
reach of everybody, but shall actually be
carried to everybody within our parish
| limits. IF you do that" was the reply,
you will do what no one church in five
thousand does"
Can that be true? If it be true, then
practically no church does it. Do none
of our churches take the word of life in
their hands and 90 to everybody in their
town or village and invite them person
ally to a fellowship with Christ and his
disciples If so, then our churches fall
very, very far short of their duty. Then
it is not strange that we hear of old
country towns in which the churches are
dying out and retain but two or three
male members | is not strange that those
who stand apart from our churches de-
clare that they have lost their power and
no longer take hold on the people; that
they may yet be social force, but are
not a religious force to make men fear
and love God and keep his command
ments.
But do not our churches work? Do
they not keep up their regular meetings?
Do they not invite in everybody Do
they not have their sociables and picnics?
Do they not raise money to pay off their
debts? Do they not make great efforts
to raise their pastors salaries Are not
their Sabbath schools made attractive by
pictures and fountains and feasts? All
true, sometimes; and all good very good;
but all this is not what the Church was
made for. This is not obeying the COM
oF Re g
whole nor the first part of what the
Church was organized for. The COM
maud is not, Draw; but, "GoP The
record is: "They went everywhere
preaching the Word" The story of the
great apostle is that he visited not merely
from city to CITY. but from house to
house. And thus the church grew and
was gloriied.
Tell us: Has your church so organized
its work that every person within the
limits of its local influence has the Gospel
Carried to him? We would like to know
how many such churches there are. We
should like to know the story of a church
in which the roll is kept lot merely of
its members and families, but of its non
memb bers. We should like to hear how
they receive the faithful message as
brought to them. We should be glad to
tell the story how such a church visits
the outskirts, the hamlets and homes
that know no Sabbath; how it reports
their Individual condition and history,
and sends not the pastor alone to visit
and advise with them. but to each one
the brother or sister in the church who
can best reach their hearts. Have we
many such churches? Is there more
than one in five thousand If not, why
do our churches complain of their cold
ness and death Again, what says the
Record of the Church in the days of its
first lover They went everywhere
preaching the Word" And, once more,
how was it that St. Paul could take the
elders of the Church in Ephesus to record
that he was pure from the blood of all
men?' 1t was because be could testify
unto them that he had taught them both
publicly and from house to house"