The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-01
RELIGIOUS READING,
GOING OUT AND BRINGING n.

Going out is the indispensable prellmi-
nary to bringing in for every worker in the
Masters vineyard. This holds true OF the
great Worker himself. 1t was necessary tor
the Saviour to 60 out from Heaven before
He could bring lost world within the pale
of salvation. Only the aggressive church
can be the redemptive church. DR.. Chal-
mers, the famous preacher and reformer OF
Scotland. used to contend that there were
two kinds Of churches. One is simply at
tractive, while the other is aggressive. The
attractive church draws within its walls
persons suited by its teaching and SER
vices, but the aggressive church goes out
into the highways and hedges, taking
with it the message and machinery cal
culated to win back to the fold those
who had strayed away or carelessly kept
type Of church most in harmony with the
New Testament ideal. Ecclesiastical con-
ventions are in the habit OF spending good
deal Of time and talk over ''the secret OF
winning the Masses" but in reality there Is
no secret about the matter. 1t was made
plain long ago in the instructions given by
our Lord to His disciples. $50 ye oat,"
said He, Unto the highways and hedges and
compel them to come in" Going out in
yariably leads to bringing in. The marvel
Gus success Of the Salvation Army in win
ming the unchurched multitudes is the re-
suit Of its going out after them. When the
church of Jesus Christ goes out after her
alienated or Indifferent children with full
understanding OF their needs and the open
hand Of hearty human fellowship,
then-and not until then-will she
succeed in bringing them back.
Religious Incidence and selishness are the
two great obstacles in the way OF going out
after the lapsed masses in our day. Too
many protesting Christians content them
selves with the unworthy reflection that
there are plenty of churches and mission
halls in every town, and that If people who
live within the sound of church bells go to
no place of worship, the fault Is their own.
They forget that the come from the cold
iron throat of q church bell falls unheeded
on ears that would be responsive to the
warm, loving. urgent come OF CHRISTIAN
sympathy The Good Samaritan has no
need to get off his beast nowadays, and go
to the wounded man where he lies. Least
of all is he required to 60 to the sensational
length of giving up his own beast, and
trudging laboriously on foot. He satisfies
himself with the remembrance that the inn
is,close by where the wounded stranger can
be attended to, and it is his own fault II be
does not 90 to it. How the man is to get
there, or whether he is In too weakened
condition to walk to the friendly shelter,
way with the comfortable reflection that so
much is being done for that class Of people.
The sting of this sarcastic rendering OF the
grand parable OF philanthropy lies In its
truth. We have deputed to church bells and
mission agencies the work We ought to do
ourselves. Nothing can be more opposed to
the spirit and method of Jesus Christ than
the policy of that church which has hand
some building, luXuriously cushioned, car
peted and curtained for its richer adherents,
and is content to keep the poor at arms
length in what it is pleased to call its "mis-
sion" Equally fatuous Is the decision OF o
professed follower of Jesus Christ that
he does his duty by his brethren
wandering in the highways il be pays
subscription to home missions while he
sits in his church or at his fireside in
selfish and indolent ease. The demon of
selnshness must be driven out, and the only
way in which it can be driven out Is by the
eXpulsive power of new affection for souls.
Tarrying at the cross, the smouldering en-
bers Of enthusiasm will leap up into the fire
on the altar Of our hearts, and we shall be
urged by the Irresistible constraint OF
Christlike passion to
"Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the
grave;
Weep Ger the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty TO save"