The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-11-16
IN. Y. Tribune.l
Are the Churches Practical?

Are the Churches Practicalg
A recent writer, after glancing at
some of the arguments employed to
make good the proposition that Chris
tianity is a failure, took the ground
that there was no failure in the
churches. In the course of his de-
fence of his assertion he made the
point that "the myriads Of the worlds |
workers listen in vain for some prac-
tical exposition of Christ's teachings
from "the ecclesiastical organizations
which will touch the problems Of
the day." Is the point well taken?
Is it true that the churches do not
bring Christianity to bear upon the
burning questions Of the living pres
ent?
There was once holy man who
bore down upon heinous sin so fore
IDLY that one who listened to him was
moved to fiery indignation and de-
clared that he who had committed the
sin merited the severest punishment.
And thereupon, instead of dropping
the matter and pronouncing the ben
ediction, Nathan said unto David,
Thou art the man. There is per-
habs too little of the drastic plain
spokenness Of Nathan in the churches
Of to-day. It was Macaulay's praise
of Bunyan that in the ''Pilgrim's
Progress" he gave to the abstract the
interest of the concrete. Bunyan
succeeded in performing so exceed
ingly difficult task by force OF his
genius. The pulpit of to-day is con-
stantly attempting the task, but since
the majority Of ministers, like the
majority Of other folks, are not gen.
fuses, the result is not always success
full. One Of the problems now before
the world is intemperance. How often
does a man hear sermon aimed
souarely at the evil? In some church
es enthusiastically, in others never.
In many an ecclesiastical organization
a rumseller can be a regular member
Of the congregation without running
anv danger Of hearing Nathan in the
pulpit say to David in the pew, Thou
art the man." OF course all the
churches steadily inculcate obedience
to the great commandment, "Love
thy neighbor as thyself," so that any
man engaged in disreputable busl-
ness has only to reduce that command
ment to practice in his life to amend
his WAYS. But the fact remains that
fighting at short range is always more
effective than fighting at long range,
and that if hardened sinners are to be
softened it would seem wiser to at
tack them with concretes rather than
| with abstracts. Calling spade a
spade is better than calling it an ag-
ricultural instrument. y
x The Master himself
declared, II came not to send peace
but a sword" But how much Of the
preaching of to-day is suggestive of
the sword? How much Of it recalls
Nathan when he smote David or Paul
when he made Felix tremble? 1t is
frequently said that minister has
done his whole duty when he has
faithfully presented the claims OF the
Gospel on men; that the consequences
are with the Omnipotent One who has
declared that the world is to be saved
by the foolishness of preaching. But
what is it faithfully to present the
claims of the Gospel? There are
many methods Of commencing the
truth, but obviously all Of them are
not equally effective, and the churches
do we'll to inquire, as they are at this
moment inquiring, whether it is not
possible that if they changed or mod
flied their methods the cause which
they have at heart would not be the
gamer. In the retrospect they can
see where they committed grievous
mistake. The American Church can
not take to itself the credit Of over
throwing the dreadful institution of
slavery. It warred against injustice
in the abstract, but it declined to
WELD a sword calculated to cut a
STAKEHOLDER to the quick.
The preaching of the day does not
lack eloquence, does not lack earnest
ness, does not lack scholarship, does
not lack directness, boldness, frank
ness. 1t would be better calculated te
arouse and quicken if it was less gen.
teel.