The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-24
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NOT A SOCIAL CLUB
DR.. scudder Defines the
Church and the Duties
of Its Members.
AN APPEAL FOR POOR MINISTERS
Archdtacon Jenvey Points Out the
Evils of the Business
Wcman.

'Church Members" was the subject OF
the Rev. John L. Scudder's sermon IN
the Tabernacle last night.
IT purpose to speak this evening" he
said, upon the duty of every Chris
tian to unite with the church and thus
fulfill the command of Christ to con-
fess Him before men. This Is the right
and privilege of.everyone who calls him
self a follower OF the Lord; but it is
more than that; it is his positive and
solemn duty. and this is the aspect OF
the subject which I shall especially
present at this hour.
1.-THE church of Christ is not a social
club OF league established by men for
mutual edifcation and culture. Were it
only this, identification Herewith could
not be called a duty. but only a matter
of affinity or choice. The church of
Christ is infinitely more than this. 1t
is IAN institution founded by the Son
of loo Himself, and established not
for the spiritual development of His fol-
lowers, but for the better accomplish
ment of His work upon the earth. The
grand mission of Christ is to %subjugate
this world unto Himself. but in order to
do, 1T He needs a well organized army
OIL 1dllllul SOlQicIS, II SAdil ODCy 11AS
orders, be subject to His discipline and
become invincible by massing themselves
together under one captain. Such an
institution is the Christian Church. 1t
Is an army CT believers, who. under the
banner of Christianity are to battle with
sin and conquer this world for God.
This task in itself is a prodigious IN IN
accomplished, unless the followers of
Christ are banded together and thor
WHO ARE CHRIsT's SOLDIERS?
Christ wishes to know who His sol,
diers are, so He says:-'Confess me-
that is. to be enrolled and don youi
claims, Follow mt and obey orders
+ any man is mnwilling ts asknowlsdgs
fuse 10 acknowledge him as a disciple
but will regard him as an alien from
the -commonwealth of grace.
The time has passed for making the
pry men up into an open confession OF
Jesus. Christ. In this age an appeal to
fear has no effect, and in no g did
conscience. to a mans sense of right
a~ccompltshes a thousandfold more, and
YET there is q realm higher even than
co2fcienceAthat Of love.If a man claims
ct lie a Christian and yet persistently re-
fuses to unite with some church in the
community in which he lives. / am
of his convictions or believe he, S suf-
fering under some form of delusion.
There is something wrong somewhere.
I'VE don't care particularly about how
much theology a candidate for the
church has in his head; our paramount
purpose is to ascertain If you really
have b grace of God in your heart.
You may not be able to give a~satisfac-
tory explanation of the Trinity (who
can?) or unravel the mysteries OF futur
retribution {no one asks you to-, but II
you repent Of your sins and worship
God in sincerity and truth your place
is in the church. and we welcome you
there. Remember when you come to
church you come to confess Christ not
NOT SUPERsTITIONS.
"We have a creed in this church. and
We value It, fer it has It's place as an
it. We do not worship it. 1t represents
the current theology of the DAY, the
general belief of Christendom at this
hour
cur minds are made up differently,
points of doctrine. Satan employs tracts
in dealing with doubling Christians. A
quite popular and influential one advo-
Gates the pernicious doctrine that a per-
t tHe church h as as n init it. This Is aatiy un-
true, yet. in this day the sla1derer has
succeeded in making many people be-
lievel it, A Christian outside of the
church is disobedient. Remaining out.
tends to diminish its numbers and pres
t:ge and encourages others to do the
In conclusion, Pastor Scudder made a
strong aa appeal n,1bI 5e e eonfesnion to Of ma esri an
and to remain with the church and
work for the glory of God.