The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-09
OWN CHURCHSHIP.
DIR. KERR DELIVERS AN IMP RESSIVE
SERMON Ar TIE FIRST CHURCH.
He Tells What Truo Christian Churchshp
ia and How We Can ssoure and Main
tain it-O.ber Presbyt rlsn News.

An unusually large congregation as
sembied I'm the First Presbyterian church
Sunday morning and heard DIR. Kerr de-
liver a most logical and impressive ser
mon on churchship. Last Sunday was
the FIRST Sunday In the new church year.
and the First church starts this year en-
tirely free OF debt. Or. Kerr chose as
hts text the nth chapter and twenty
third verse of Ephesians: "Christ Is the
head OF the Church" lie spoke as fol-
lows;
In the religious discussions Of the pres
ent day the most prominent topic Is
churchship. and the leading question,
What Is the Church? After some thou
sands Of years OF church life and work
that question has not received an answer
satisfactory 10 all Christians. l confess
that / am unable 10 understand why II
should be so, and l do not discover any
great difficulty In tho matter. The only
obvious answer seems 70 be that the
Church is the Kingdom OF Christ The
invisible Church Is His Invisible, and
the visible Church is His visible Kingdom
To say that is TO admit candidly mat
the Presbyterian denomination Is not the
Church. and the utmost that its strong
est advocates claim for 1t Is that II is
only part OF the Church, or kingdom OF
Christ. This Is all that any Christian
ought TO claim for his own particular
sect or section of the Church. and II IS
all that Is claimed by most demnomina-
lions To assert that my own denomua-
lion Is the Church is virtually TO declare
that every other is outside the visible
kingdom. that their baptism Is no bap-
tism; their communion Is no Lords sup
per; their ordination is invalid. ana tnat
their Church Is no Church. This Is the
necessary logical consequence OF an eN-
elusive claim 10 chrrchship But. ~ the
grace OF God, most Christians 90 no
draw this logical conclusion. ana IL Is
70 their credit that they DO not. lhose
who do not recognize any baptism pu'
their own. still acknowledge the church-
shin Of others by admitting all evangeh-
cal ministers into their pulpits, and by
unhesitatlngly declaring that others thdh
themselves are good Christians 1hose
who do not recognize the validity OF me
ordination OF other Churches still recog-
nize the validity Of the baptism OF other
Churches invite members OF al Churches
TO their communion, and treat them In
most WAYS as brethren tn the Lord. TINS
shows that the real kinship OF Chris
tians is a potent factor and that Cnris-
tian love is a stronger factor IN the lllc
of Christians than are IN" peculiar uoc-
trines Of any denomination. The mass
OF Christians refuse to be kept apart
and do come together In most matters
which concern the rfe and work of the
Church OF God on earth. Let us hope
that all Christians may ultimately snow
their oneness Ia all ways.
BAPrfsrs AND RpIsooPALIASs.
| have sincere admiration fer our Bap-
fist brethren-a great and useful body OF
~, 81, bgl trf %
knowledge in every particular We re-
ceive their members on certificate Just as
we do PTesbyterisns who come 10 us;
we dismiss members to their churches,
Just as we do TO our own and we wei
come their members at our communion
table and their ministers in our pulpits.
/ have great respect for the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and we acknowledge
its full churchship. admitting its minis
tiers and members to all the privileges OF
our Church, Just as II they were Pres
byterians. They are noble body Of thris-
tlans, and we rejoice In their good work
| do pray that the Episcopaiians may
ultimately acknowledge the ministerial
ordination OF other churches, and that
the Baptists Of America, as most OF
the English Psytists do, may open their
communion TO all christians.
God speed the day when all denomina-
lions shall recognize fully the churchship
of all who confess Christ. The Prcsby-
terrain Church does this. and claims that
all professed Christians constitute the
Church of God on eaTth-the visible
kingdom of Christ
CHURCH CONSTITUTION.
The constitution Of the Presbyterian
Church declares that
THE Church which the Lord Jesus
Christ has erected I'm this world for the
gathering and perfecting Of the saints is
His visible kingdom Of grace and is
one and the same in all ages. The MEM
beers Of this visible Church Catholic are
all those persons in every nation, to-
gether with their children, who make
profession of the holy religion of Christ
and Of submission to His laws" FOrm
of Government. chapter l., sections and
81
This definition is one of the funda-
mental principles of our constitution, and
We may Justly claim that 1t is broad and
liberal and we also believe II Is Scrip
tural one.
When John. one of Christ's disciples. re-
ported to Christ that they had found
man casting out devils in His name. and
yet not following their company. and
that he and other disciples had forbidden
him TO do II, the Lord said, FORBID him
not for he that is not against
us is on our part" II any man be preach
ing Christ and doing his work we say
he Is ION our part" and is a member
OF the Kingdom of Christ
The constitution of the Presbyterian
Church also provides that wnen persons
are admitted to full membership from
the outside world they are required TO
assent to the following questions, and
nothing else:
Cd DO you ack owleoge yourselves TO
be sinners in the sight of God, justly de-
serving His displeasure. and without
hope save in Hts sovereign mercy?
tg do you believe IN the Lord Jesus
Christ as the Son OF God and Saviour of
sinners, and DO You receive and rest
upon Him alone for salvation as lie is
offered In the Gospel
go do you now resolve and promise
IN humble reliance upon The grace of the
Holy Spirit. that YOU will endeavor TO
walk as becometh the followers OF Christ,
forsaking all sin, and conforming your
life TO His teachings and example?
"a DO you submit yourselves 10 the
gov eminent and discipline Of the Church,
and promise 10 study it's purity and
peace?" (Sce Directory Of Worship, Con-
stitution Of the Presbyterian church,
SIMPLY A CONFESSION
This makes the great and only test OF
Church membership a confession Of faith
IN Christ and a determination TO serve
Him.
This puts Christ before all Church or
dinances. and makes the only qualifica-
ton for citizenship In Hts kingdom-the
acknowledgment OF Him as kirg. of
course II any denomination processing