St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-16
POPULARITY OF PIETY
Rev. E. r. Edwards Analyses
a Subject Dear to Chris
tianS,
How TO Make the. Church
More Popular With the
Masses.
Consideration Given to the
Means to Be Employed in
the Work.
The Outstanding Of Human
ity as 1t Progresses In
These Days.
Text. Acts yx % "

w nat means Snal we employ TO win the
attention Of the multitudes? How can
we best emphasize the teaching o
Christ SO as to extend His kingdom
among the masses? These are living
issues that confront us in our Christian
work. These are questions that should
be answered intelligently and cor
rectly. Let me remark that hail with
Joy the advent Of problem that looks
toward more extensive work in the
realm of spiritual things.
1t is not the least among the signs OF
the times that spirit of restlessneSs
prevades the ranks OF Gods children.
1t is healthy and commendable dis
satisfaction. We have an answer to the
matter suggested by our Introductory
questions. On the one side we are eX-
horted to cling to the policy maintained
by the primitive preachers of the
gospel-to take the word of God in its
entirety and preach it as it is written.
On the other hand there are those who
would persuade us that the plain and
forcible teaching of the Bible has out
grown it power; that we must aug
ment its strength by certain innova-
tons. These additions may consist of
anything from an operetta to dancing
pavilion. The advocates of this latter
theory entitle their proposition liberal
ism and plead the cause Of what they
term
A Liberal Church.
Just what is meant by this term they
seem not to be able to clearly define.
Their purpose seems to indicate desire
to popularIZe the church. They seek to
satisfy the Initiated tastes of humanity,
and by compromising the truth win ap-
piauSe. l believe in liberalism, | be-
lieve in liberal church. Standing by
the side of Christ and the apostles | say
that the most liberal church is the one
that IS broad enough and generous
enough to invite into its told all those
who will obey the conditions of saliva
ton as laid down by the Scripture, and
tnat Is exclusive enough to refuse mem
berShlp to any who propose to only
partially obey the truth as it is in Christ.
10 the person who believes the Savior
to be the Son of God. and who is ready
to surrender the throne and Scepter of
MS heart into His keeping, | say well
come. 10 the man who attempts to
serve both Christ and Satan, aud who
pleads for the preservation of some sin
full pleasure, [ say God will take moth
ing but a full and complete surrender
This is the liberalism demanded of re-
ligiouS teachers. Do not understand
me to proclaim that persons reforma-
ton is instantaneous, or that they be-
come matured in moment. Growth in
righteousness, and the development of
ChriStllkenesS is not q rapid process.
AT the Same time we must acknowledge
that he who would be accepted of God
must renounce in heart and practice in
his life the avoidance of evil. When
you reflect on the history of the Chris
tan religion, you will be ready 10 admit
that at no period of its existence was it
universally popular. There is
A Constant Warfare
between the world, the flesh and the
devil on the one hand and the army of
Gods followers OH the other Christ
said: 81 came not to send peace, but a
sword" What did he mean? That
though the message He brought man
kind was the best and sweetest, and
most encouraging He could give them,
yet so depraved and perverted were the
hearts Of many that the Divine Mes
senger was crucified and His message
spurned.
Because the Gospel in its sincerity
and purity and simplicity uncoyerS sin
in all its forms and condemns vice, 10
matter what may be its nature, there
will always be opposition TO its spread.
How strange that some who claim to
preach and teach the Gospel should
bury some Of its cleareSt principles, and
so mutilate the remainder that it can
can sit down with the world and swear
eternal peace! That policy has not, nor
will it ever succeed in spreading the
kingdom of Christ. The advocates of
liberalism i'll the church are surely
ready to submit to facts in order that
their logic may be proven false or true.
Their desire is to populariZe the church
to so broaden its teaching as that
man can retain most any vicious habit
and yet be numbered among the faith
full. Now, teacher that can subject
the consciences of his hearers to hyp-
motto treatment Instead Of aW akening
them to sense OF virtue ought to find
what he supposed he was on the track
of-popularity. Surely, doctrine that
proposes not to see some Of
Humanity's Folly and Sin,
and that leaves the conscience severely
alone, ought to win the attention of the
masses if we are to believe the argu-
ment used is sound. 1t is pity that
the Apostle Paul did not with avidity
seize upon that principle and win his
success along those lines. Instead, he
rebuked sin, he warned men to make
their peace with God, he urged upon
them the thought of Gods retribution,
he proclaimed to them the conditions
of salvation. In this some would per-
Suade us that Paul was wrong. 1t surely
does seem shame that mind like his
should win only small hearing. AS he
stood Oh the shore of Miletus, surround
ed by faithful company of Christians
small in NUMBER, but strong in loyaly,
there reared its walls before them, the
great theater of that city. To it multi
tudeS thronged, into it the crowds
pressed. Why could not Paul have an-
some special attraction, and,
having secured large attendance,
tell them pretty things, and delight
them with the news that all this
talk about hell and Christ's divinity is
trash. That they must not imagine
they are to surrender their souls to ever
ldSliIS vi COulSO yOu odG 11o
would have large following. Would
He? Suppose you secure the latest re-
ligious statistics. and see how strong are
those churches that hirt with the world
and compromise with error. Take that
liberalism that with a falsehood prizes
off their hinges the gates of hell, and
with distorted teaching whitewashes
the pit of darkness. If that policy is to
convert the world, why is it that its
1evotees do not display faculty for
drawing the multitudes within their
fold? Again, when you consider the
teaching that places Christ in the tomb
and
Hacks His Cross to Pieces,
you will be surprised not to find it more
popular. Consider the standing of those
who are at least loyal enough to empha-
size both threat and promise as con-
aimed in the Scripture. According to
some prevalent notions they do not
each humanity and fail to extend
Christ's kingdom. The clamor is that
hey become more liberal in their de-
hands. What facts are to be ar
aged against that tallacious clamor?
lust this. Our Methodist breth-
Ell teach and preach the OWN
tY of Christ Lhey warn men