New-York tribune., 1891-12-20
THE CHURCH IND THEOLOGY.

Certainly theology is an essential element OF
Christianity which cannot be eliminated or ig-
nored. Even the men who leave the Church
because they are opposed to all dogmatic state
ments of belief soon come to have well-defined
theology of their own or if they do not their
movement speedily comes to naught. Any Or
gsnization that is 10 live and grow must have
principles. It must believe certain things and
dsbeieve certain other things 10 must intend
to reach some goal CT accomplish some purpose.
All this implies on the part of its members
feryent belief in certain body of principles,
which in the case of political organization are
conveniently known as the party platform, and
in the case of religious organization are desg-
mated its theological system. The names are not
the same; but names ought to count for little
with men OF sense.
This being So ID seems to us that the thing
for the churches to do to-day is not to dscredt
or discard theology, but to see in what respect, II
any, their theological systems may be improved.
Certain windy Church reformers are going abou0
nowadays declaring that theology must be thrown
overheard, and that dogmas of any kind are
utterly opposed to the Christianity of Christ.
Such talk is both shallow and vicious. The one
thing which Christianity to-day needs supnmely
Is an assured theology and body of dogmas
which its members can and will believe. The
lesson of the present religious revolution is, not
that dogma is to disappear from Christianity, but
that certain dogmas and opinions NO longer be-
leved shall be replaced by others which are be-
leved. That is the whole story in nutshell.
Here for instance, is preacher who tells us
that the whole of Christianity is summed up for
us in our personal apprehension OF certain spec
ulatve opinions about it. Just that and nothing
moro 1t is all so exceedingly simple. You
wait until the Divine Spirit comes to you, for of
course, you can do nothing yourself, and then
suddenly there is miraculous revolution in your
being, and you believe. Henceforth and forever
the whole problem of life and duty and endeavor
is solved for you. But, however true or neces-
sary this introspective view of Christianity may
be, it does not meet the need OF this age, and
hence the general and widespread reputation
Of it by men whose loyalty to Christ cannot be
questioned. Christianity an agency for saving
mons souls? Yes but il is or ought to be
something much more If we interpret the spirit
of it's Founder Alright, it is also an agency for
saving mems bodies, and one OF its objects is
to make this world in which we are now living
better and sweeter and cleaner and happier.
Those who look thus upon Christianity do not
ignore or despise soul salvation in the world to
come. But they believe with the Master, thai
those who lose their lives, if need be- in this
world, in order to make others little happier in
il are most certain to save their souls in the
world to come. 1t IS not enough for the Christian
to try to get to heaven the man who thinks only
of that will never enter heaven, and, indeed, is
not fit to enter there. II is selishneSs pure and
simple, which leads us to take such an unworthy
and un- -Christlike view Of Christ's teachings. We
NAV disguise this selfshness with fine phrases |;
We may even quote texts of Scripture to give it
a Christian standing. But though we may thus
deceive our neighbors and ourselves, we cannot
deceive Omniscience. Until we have emptied our
religion of every vestige of self and made it a
noble service for humanity, we are none OF
Chnst's, we cannot hope to see God.
No; theology ia not going to be overthrown;
but it is going to change its character. 1t will
more and more cease to concern itself with the
speculative opinions of bygone age, and will
build itself out of the vibrant beliefs and aspira-
tons and ideals of its own time. Philanthropy
and sociology, and even the science of physical
health, will find a welcome in it's comprehensive
and truly catholic system And the world will
come to learn that Prophets and Apostles were
not mistaken when they described the Church
Of Christ as the Kingdom of Heaven.