The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-16
ABOUT LIARS and LYING.
Ananias and Sapphire Furnish the
Basis for a Sunday Dis
course.
Why the Church of God Is not
O Collection Of
Saints.
A sunday Talk Mt ths Congregational
Church by the Rev. y. ID. Koi-
soy, Sc. d.

- uHun vi ~ bhU SOukE ux 1OuVS1N
Church by The Rev. y. u. Kei-
soy, Sc. u.
The sermon yesterday was on the story OF
the death OF Ananias and Sapphira, who
for the sake of the applause they would re-
ceive, sold their property and pretended to
bring the price of it to the apostles for the
relief Of the poor; but avarioe in their
hearts caused them to retain a portion of
tho price. and enact a lie. They we're sud
denly stricken down by God, and died be-
fore the great congregation. This MARIA
tive teaches US how that the church of God
is not n collection OF saints. 1t includes
such men as Acham, BALKAN, Judas and
Ananias. The experiment has often been
tried OF making the visible church n pure
and holy church. But wherever the expert
ment is tried it is found to fail, as all
things, dealing with human creatures, fail
of perfection. No organization of men
but what have members who misrcpresent
them, who disgrace and dishonor them.
Every band of Christians has in it's ranks
a Judas or an Ananias. This fact works in
two directions. First it teaches the
churches that il ia useless to attempt a very
strict discipline, except in glazing cases
where the law of self-defense demands it,
we need to be very careful how we run the
risks of misjudgment OF q weak brother,
or of a stumbling brother. We never can
succeed in making the visible church free
from unfaithful and unworthy members.
"Let both grow until the harvest" is our
Savior's counsel.
On the other hand, how many are kept
out of our church membership because they
feel they are not good enough. If such
wait until they become good enough, they
will never come. "Who is sufficient for
these ~things?'' The trouble lies Just here
in a wrong conception of the church Of
Christ, as if it were a collection of saints.
The rather are we q company of believers
who, having repented of our sins, accepted
Christ as our redeemer and master, and
turned our faces ~heavenward, have banded
ourselves together at the command of our
Lord for purposes Of worship n the pro-
mitigation of the gospel, and for mutual
%helpfulness.
1t therefore becomes ones privilege as
we'll as duty to unite himself with the
Lords church the moment he feels himself
a true disciple and follower of the Lord,
and thus confess him before men. The
best Christian of us all will acknowledge
that he has not yet reac he'd sainthood, but,
like Paul, he says: "Forg citing the things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto
the things that are before. | press toward
of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord, looking
unto Jesus VIC is the author and the fin
Usher of our faith"
The underly ing rocks that made ship
wreck of Ananins and Sapphire were two
the love of money, and the love of the
recently sold all his property and given the
proceeds to the apostles for the support of
the poor Christians, especially those who
had been thrown out of employment at
their conversion. Great homo had come to
Barnabas because of this glorious deed:
done the same thing and expected the same
reward. But Ananias and Sapphire had
lied about it, having kept back a part of the
price.
Alas! how many ill deeds arise from these
causes; love of money and love of ap-
plause. They who will be rich fall into
many temptations. How sadly these two
temptations degraded and ruined Ananias,
name meant the grace of God; and
Sapphire, whose name meant The Beautl-
full; the Grace of God"% becoming the 'Dis-
grace of God" and the Beautiful" beoon-
ing The Hideous. Such are the transfer
nations of sin.
Another theme illustrated by this history
is the folly, the sin and the damage of
lying. 1t is a sin universally detssted, but
also universally praoticed. 1t has it's grip
upon society; it ID resotted to by us all in
innumerable instances. Lying lips are an
;,a y ton unto the Lord" Lot no
all provocation. The ancisnts had a motto,
do right. though the heavens fall"
But. says the objector, to tell the truth
brings grief and trouble Upon us
or our friends. True. In the providence
of God some men are called upon to bear
hero to do a duty or to stand by the Truth.
1t is a test, and blessed the man who can
true when he is tested and tried.
Moreover, a lie is ninety nine times out
of a hundred absolutely useless. No sin.
except it be swearing, is SO useless. Sir"
DO you catch fish without bait?"
mo, indeed" replied the fisherman. But
I know a fisherman who catches fish with
put bait.' Who can it be?" said the fish
in eagerness. The DEVIL" said his
friend. So he does. He catches the
swearer and also the liar without bait.
In this narrative we also learn how swift
10 Y - SeiS " Sop-o uPoHA
men. "Be sure your sin will find you out"
and Sapphire thought they had
up sins tracks completely. They
to take God into the reckoning.
Not only sure are Gods Judgments, but
swift. Many are the occur
rences in history which look like this swift
Judgment of God upon Ananias and
~apphira. Rev. DIR. Taylor of New York
says that in the town of Devices, England.
there is at the market place a tablet on
is inscribed the statement that near
20 this spot II woman dropped down dead,
having Just uttered the words: IF / have
got the half crown may God strike mo
The half crown was found clutc he'd
N her hand.
Not often do judgments come so swift,
cut these judgements come more frequently
han many suppose. But if the mills of
God grind slow, they grind sure; be sure
your sin will find you out.
Two contrasts are found in this narrative
filed with the Holy Ghost; Ananias
md Sapphira filed with satan. Which one
q our representative Alas that such II
hing should be possible that satan could
20 in us!
My soul be on thy guard,
Ten thousand foos arise,
And hosts OF sin arc pressing hard
10 draw thee from the akies.'
Our Savior bids us pray-"Lead us not
- ~.S,- a -, l.A ,,,A rNu sNy Aha |