The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-28

built years ago, was paCeQ the nSuIe OF d ldllu WILL iuC
finger pointing upward. 1t seemed to be turning the at
tention of men away from this world with its tumults and
cares, and to be directing their thoughts to that which IS here
after. 1t seemed to be a guide to point men to heaven. A
few years ago this church was renodeled portions OF the
building were torn down and rebuilt, and among other
chances the hand was not replaced, but was omitted from the
restored building. A significant change-onet that indicated
a radically different view of religion. The hand seemed to
indicate that religion had to do primarily with the unseen,
and the future that it's attention and energies were not
directed to this earth and it's concerns, but that it did most
accomplish its end and work when it got away from earth,
and it's affairs. The omission of the hand, on the contrary
seemed to indicate that the sphere and functions of religion
did not lie in the future only, but had to do with the
present ; that it's interests did not so much lie In heaven
as on earth. Now which one of these two views more
adequately expresses the truth and meaning OF Christianity !
Is Christianity a steady contemplation and expectation ot a
future, or is it a hearty laying hold OF a present lite i!
Doubtless it is both but which is it primarily and essen
tally? Which one o. these two views does most adequate
1y express the essence of the gospel of Christ l say that
an answer to this question is given US in the single term m
caruatiou, that word which expresses to US all religion as
we know it. The only religion we know IS the religion
of the ncarnation-which is not God in heaven, but God
on earth, God in the Man Jesus, and God in every man who
accepts Jesus. Christ, then, came on earth not tell US
about heaven, what are to be our duties and employments
there, but to tell US about the world, what are our duties
and emplovments here, and how we are to meet these
responsibilities. And He did this by Himself becoming
a man: and by fulfilling all lies duties He has shown US how
to lead the life we ought,to live. Christianity, then, as an
incarnation, is directed to this world and its concerns. 1t
teaches us about earth rather than about heaven. You
will not misunderstood me. Christ has brought life and i'm
mortality to light. He has made certain to us the future.
And as has been said, ''this revelation OF the future IS our
Hope, our inspirations, our consolation, and warning We
look to the future to complete what is begun here. But
that is all. Christ tells us about the present, not about the
future. For example, consider the Sermon on the Mount
as it is given US in chapters ", W., VII. OF st. Matthew S
Gospel. 1t points us to a religion that has to do with this
earth not one that is concerning itself about a future world
49, Eeo-& n,I;,r r. n fnt,ra ictop npcan r
twice, nothing is said on that subject. So in the Lords
PRAYER. We ask that as Gods will is done IN heaven, so 1t
may be obeyed and fulfilled on earth. We are thinking
about this earth, and our duties here, not about heaven.
Religion then is an incarnation it brings God and heaven
down to this earth, and bids us seek them in this world :
the religion of Jesus bids u.s. realize IN ourselves God and
heaven now, on this earth, and strive to enable other men
to realize this. 1t does not direct our attention to the
future and unseen world to find God and heaven, but says
that we can only know them there by finding them herein
the Incarnate Christ-in the Church and Christians who do
extend and carry on that incarnation. Christianity then is
the religion of the incarnation-God in the Church and
world and so our attention is directed mainly to this and
not to an invisible future life-of the existence of which we
5are sure, but of whose duties and conditions we know moth
ing. And | John saw the holy city, new jerusalem, COM
ing down from God out of heaven. The new jerusalem,
the holy city, is that which every Christian is striving to
enter, and, in the words of our text, it is not to be sought
in the clouds, but on this earth, having come down from
God in heaven. A hand, then, pointing heavenward is an
simperfect symbol of Christianity it expresses that which
is subordinate. A truer image is that of the Good Shep-
herd-God on this earth saving men manhood in Christ
and in his Church furnishing the Body, the Temple for the
indwelling of God. God and salvation for men were not
up in the heaven whittier that spme with its hand was point
ing, but in the crowds at its base, hurrying here and there
intent upon lfe's duties, striving in some measure to be in
the world what Christ had been-a temple of God-carry-
ing out and realizing among all the cares and relations of
life, the purpose and mind OF God.
Christ, then, directs our thoughts not to a future heaven
but to a holy city, a jerusalem, that has come down from
God, and has been established on this earth. To this
world, then, and its concerns, does our religion direct US.
We are not to desire to be separated from this world to
shun all contact with it, to avoid intercourse and associa-
ton with it. This world and its life, with all the touch
and association with matter that belongs to it, we are not
to shun as bringing contamination to our spirits. Christ
has come into this world, and taken hold of it with its
earthly associations, and shown what a nightly instru-
ment for the glory of God it might become. On this earth
then, and not up in the clouds, Christ has built the holy
city; and it is on this earth, in a full and varied and nor
NAL life that we are to find this city, enter it, and realize in
ourselves its blessings, and help to extend the blessings to 9TH
ers. We are not to be Conformed to the world; our religion
is an incarnation-God taking the weak and beggarly ele-|
ments of this earth and conforming them to the divine
life. The mission of the Church, then, is to bring God into
the world ever more and more, to carry on to its final &C
complishment Gods incarnation in the world-the molding.
by the Spirit of God all the parts and powers of this earth
into the divine ideal. That is what Christ did in Himself
and that is what he has commissioned His Church to carry
on to its completion. The world, then, is to be redeemed for
Christ. No part of it is to be lost. 1t is all valuable it
all has its part to play in carrying out the divine purposes.
The holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem, then, is on the earth;
If is on the earth to conquer the earth tor God, to stamp.