The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-11-22
"THE CHURCH FOR THE TIMES"
The Subject of Rev. W. B. MatteSOn'S Dis
course at the ArmOry on Sunday
Morning.

Morning.
Sunday was more than usually inter-
esting day at the Armory. Pastor Mat
teson presented varied and attractive
program: In the morning, discussing the
"Church for the Times" in the evening,
giving prelude on Eugene Field" and
a discourse on Martens powerful study
in conscience in his novel, "The Sin of
Joost Avelingh."
The morning sermon was the third in
the series of Sermons for the Times"
In the previous discourse on "The New
Theology" Mr.. Matteson had insisted
that the ruling principle in the new the
illogical thinking was fresh and living
conception of the historic Christ. The
sermon last Sunday was concerned with
the practical application of this principle
to the worship and service of the church.
Christianity was summarized by Christ
himself as the application of two great
principles: Love to God and love to man.
Not of either alone but of both together.
"God and one man could make any other
religion; it required God and two men to
make Christianity" Right relation to
God on the one hand; right relation to
man on the other Theology on the one
side; sociology on the other. These two
always and forever inseparable constitute
true Christianity.
Every age has been in some measure
conscious of this fundamental truth, but
the ages have differed widely in the rela-
tive emphasis placed on the two ele-
ments. In some age the sociological side;
in others:. the theological has been most
prominent; but it has generally been this
latter-the theological side-that men
have been disposed to emphasize. Dur
ing many centuries the ideal saint and
hero of the church was he who, with
drawing from all possible human rela-
tions, devoted himself in monastery or
hermit's hut to the establishment for
himfelf of right relation with God.
This idea, though much modified, still
largely prevails, that the supreme thing
for each individual is his own personal
salvation. Such conception, not wrong
in theory. has wrought much evil through
its many false applications. The con-
Ception suggests an altogether wrong
method. 1t tends to individualism, egot-
ism, selfshness. 1t contravenes the div
inc law that life is not to be saved by saw
ing it; but by losing it. Social service is
the way to personal salvation. He who
would truly save his life must go with
Jesus, travel alongIwith him along the Via
Dolorosa, toll with him up Calvary's
mountain; and with him be ready to
die for humanity.
The church for the times is the church
which most fully recognizes and most
sincerely practices that law. 1t has come
almost as a new revelation to the church
of this age that christianity has social
side. We have been praying all these
many years, "Thy kingdom, thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven" and not
sufficiently realized that what Christ
taught us to pray for, he also expect
ed us to work for. We have not striven
as we should that Gods will might be
done on earth, that the laws of human
society should be the laws which He has
given. We have not labored for the
speedy realization of the divine promise
OF new heaven and new earth in
which dwelleth righteousness. We have
been trying to pluck brands from the
burning, and it has not occurred to us to
seriously attempt to put out the fire. We
have reioiced to bring back now and then
a wandering sheep, and it has not SEEM
ed to occur to us that where so many
sheep wander, the fences must some
where be down.
The church for the times will not for
get the great truth of theology, that rei-
gion is fundamentally personal matter;
that for every man it is true that to his
own master he standeth or falleth; but it
will emphasize more than has been COM
monty done in recent centuries the other
complementary truth, that individual
salvation is through social services. Not
by laborious and anxious toll andself-
scrutiny, persistently trying to make
ones self fit for heaven, but by self-abne-
CATION, being willing with Paul to be &C
cursed for the brethren's cake, by self
remuneration and self-sacrifce. 1t is
along this way and by none other that
we approach God. Love to God and love
to man are not two things-they are two
sides of the same thing. whatsoever
we have done to the least of these we
have done it unto me"-the church for
the times accepts this as its fundamental
postulate. 1t gives itself to the practical
applications of this law.
Mr.. Matteson concludes the series of
"Sermons for the Times" next Sunday,
preaching in the morning on "The New
Pulpit, or What is it to preach the Cos
pel?" The evening subject will be, "The
New Woman"