The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-14
YOUNG MEMS VIEWS.
Their Stumbling Blocks to
Christian Faith.
DISCUSSED BY REV. NuTTlNc.
4 Newspaper Man and Preachers s.r.
mon-Preparations for Christmas-
Church News Notes.

O.
ceye9 from a number of prominent young men
OF the city. Two OF the letters received, together
with Mr. Suttings questions, are given:
Does the Protestant church represent with a
large degree OF caneor the principles OF Jesus
Christ?
The Protestant church OF today presents In n
great degree the doctrines of Paul. and I'M a Iess
degree tn pure, simple, soul-inspirlng prime.
pies OF Jesus. It stands for the dog aas of N
past age, rather than Tor the best thought of the
present one.
II not, suggest the repelling forces present in
One Of the most repelent of the forces in thu
church today II the creed, containing doctrines
ina, are confessedly disbelieved by many of
those who teach them, but are not discarded
from fear that such action would be sn ac
acknowledgement that the church has been Il,
error Another repelling force is intolerance:
an assumption OF an exclusive right 10 promul
gate the only mode of salvation. The battle
against amusements is another repeilent force
The failure to recognize the truth that all things
are good II rightly used; that anything carried
TO cxcess Is all evil. Another repellent force ia
the failure to recognize the universal truth that
every sin (iniraction of aw) receives its merited
and proportlonate punishment, which cannot
BY any possible means, be escaped. There IL no
shortcut to salvation. The church doctrine OF
remission OF sins through acceptance of their
dognas, is pernicious in its effects on Young
men by promising them complete salvation for
repentance at the eleventh hour.
Suggest the greatest positive needs of the
churches to make them what they ought to be
Let them discard their ereeds or hold them
tentatively, acknowledging that the fuller
knowledge OF coming generations may point out
their flaws. Let them recognize the right of
private Judgment IN religious as well rs seen.
lar affairs. Let them point out the nanliness OF
Jesus as an example OF what they may approx
mate II they follow his pTecepts Let them
point out tue fact that Jesus saves mankind by
showing them how to live. Let them recognizes
the uses as distinct from the abuses of existing
Institutions. Meet the young men halfway in
Their amusements Provide games, cards, chess
billiards, etc, under the auspices OF the church
80 that they are not forced 10 go TO worse places
for their amusements. Indorse the best
dramas, the best books, the best of everything,
aud discountenapee only the bad side of these
things Give them al opportunity to cultivate
intellectual pursuits Very respectfully,
Does the Protestant church represent with a
.arge degree OF candor the principles OF Jesus
Christ?
With 'large degree of candor." I think I
candor," no.
II not, suggest the repelling forces present in
the churches.
Intolerance.
Suggest the greatest positive needs of the
churches, to make them what they ought to be-
fuller degree oil charity Tor the opinions
and feelings of Others. more nearly approaching
the charity, kindness aud benevolence of spirit
which Christ possessed. EDGAR b. PIPER
Mr.. Nutting said that he had been much
pleased with the answers that had come to
him. They made it possible, he said, to under
stand each other, and he fully trusted that the
series Of talks would do good. Continuing, he
said:
have purposely refrained from sending re-
quests To any except men of wellknown integ-
rity. Immoral men naturally have nothing to
say for themselves, and their only course is a
confession OF fault ! select the letters 81 ven,
because they are representative. They show
that we are not so far apart as we seem, and we
are afforded opportunity to confess our
faults, and thus do what we are supposed I'M
willing To do. We do not suppose that the
church represents perfectly the principles of
Jesus, because the church is composed of i'm
charity, aud all other graces Of our Divine Mas.
ter We confess that the church has often been
IN ,r error, IN doctrine and IL practice All the
church has been sometimes intolerant to an
extreme degree, because il forsook or at least
refused the direction OF the sweet spirit OF
Jesus.
We believe alsot that there ia to be grea. prog
ress in the church toward Its ideal. We look
for every suggestion made In kindness TO i'm
prove the characters o! the members of the
church
Now to consider In detail some of the answers
In saying that the church follows the doctrines
OF Paul rather than those of Christ our corre-
spondent presents dilemma; Either he or
Paul has made an error in Judgment. For Paul
most certainly thought that he was explaining
the truth as IL is in Jesus He calls himself the
bond-seryant of Jesus Christ. He says he de-
termined not to know anything among men,
save Jesus Christ and Him crueifed. He claims
"a be a convert OF Jesus, with special mission
from Him TO interpret His truth to the world
That the power OF devotion, of love, of purity,
OF Inspiration appears in him, our correspond
ent will surely grant. 1t is true that he is not
90 simple M Jesus, but he claims that the essen
uals OF Christianity are simple. and with
In the compass OF every honest soul The deep
portions of Paul's writings have gained for
Christianity the respect OF many profound
minds. who have been moved by seeing that
great intellectual powers, and their use, are
consistent with and glory To Christianity.
Now, IL the church follows the teachings of
Paul. she also follows, as we bsieve. those of
jesus If the teachings of the two differ the
reason is obvious. Pau wrote after the cruel
fxlon and the resurrection. 1t was natural that
these great events should be dwet upon and ex-
planned III the writings of Paul. We find il So
We remember that Jesus. while lie was alive,
often referred 10 the significance OF His death.
But in every case His disciples failed to take
heed or catch His meaning. How could they
before the event interpret its full significance?
But after IL had occurred, Jesus very soon
assembled, after lie had in a few words, outlined
the Pauline theology. Paul therefore became
the expounder OF that great world drama. We
should do Jesus an Injustice to suppose
mat lie let no one capable, Intellectually
End spiritually, OF performing this service.
Paul claims that he was the providential agent
Tor this work. The church, therefore, accepts
al that Christ taught, aud all tina; Paul taught
also seeing nothing inconsistent in the TWO, but
regarding the teachings OF Paul IS "A continual
ton OF those of Jesus That his teachings are
not 50 simple and 30 brief as those OF his Aaster
Is only because he was human, and the great
ness OF his message was almost too great even
LOT his master mind. Nevertheless, the mag
niheeut insp ration and the sublime devotion
q Faul have been an Inspiration 10 the church
throughout all ages. We believe that Jesus said
n brief all that Paul said in full, aud we value
raul a wise and holy commentator. Bat
Jesus is the Head over all things 10 the church,
and we do not knowingly emphasize anything
without His warrant
one correspondent SAYS that the creed is
one Of the repeilent forces in the church. In
measure this objection ought 60 be and is being
removed. The complicated and minute tormS
9, aersed are not proper TO place IN the mouths
=. children an expression OF their latin.
what Is true OF children is true of us all in
great measure. The tendency is to stmpiihea.
ton OF creeds. Almost aii of us believe many
important things not mentioned IN the creed OF
shis church, which is the apostles creed, toI-
lowed by a short statement of confidence ia the
ninie as a revelation of truth aud confession
" sin and need of Christ. | believe that
erseas Will lie still further simpllhed out sup
iNse they arc not Why should the tact that
we church believes ali this creed be repeiient 10
anybody? suppose part OF the attendants OF
snls ehhreh see tit To make this confession o.
.aAth' should that rcpel any who cannot take IL
AEe not Others heartily welcome 10 the services I
.aa they not gain just as much from the wor,
sAip3 am sure that the church would DE glad
~ near them make confession OF whatever pAFt
~ the creed they indorse. Let IL he known that
.Vu are believer IN most, IL not al. oi IL lac
.eSt thst Christ i the confessed leader mere
'1sas 70 De an attract. on.
bdt X IS grave charge 10 say thar many
Naea What they Cont,ssedly disbelteye. man
sue viii DO that ought 20 meet with sudden
punishment That the charge has sometimes
s sSSa true we must believe, But that II ~ Seh-
sxa''F tfGe, how can anybody believer II tIlS
suurch IL general has changed its faith II VIII
70 oettor work, not % say lead a puTer life, by
,,VeaieS>lou OF the fact. We 30 not bsAeye thsI
~ ~ cAhtch IS - l0a 70 confess error. lhefS
So ise'Aihg IN the creed Of this church that
.4NA AZ Tor 8 moment This and other CORE
teuuthtS meutl0u Intolerance aud laeA OF
Parry as faults Of the church. Is charity anu
s.esShte any less becoming IN our CORES pond