The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-08
CHRISTIANS OUTSIDE CHURCHES.
Topic of Rev. vi. l.. Haines's Sermon
at the First Presbyterian.


The story Of the buriel of Jesus Christ,
after his cruciixion. by Joseph and Nico-
demus, as told in the nineteenth chapter
of St John. formed the basis of the SER
mon by Rev. NJ. L. 11aines at the First
Presbyterian Church last night. His sub
ject was Christians Outside the
Churches"
Joseph and Nicodemus, though disciples
of Christ were serving Him secretly through
fear Of the Jews. The death of their master
and the many secret avowals of faith in
Him made at the time of His crucifxion
and their desire to keep his body from the
hands of those who had caused his death
led to an open declaration of their faith
and a request that they be allowed to take
the body and bury 1t. After setting out
these facts and probable reason for con-
cealing their attachment for Jesus, DR..
Haines brought his remarks to bear upon
the relations and Christian service of men
of to-day. Among other things he said:
1.-THE action of Joseph and Nicodemus
was a bold venture, when they walked into
the presence of the Roman governor and
asked permission to bury the body of
Christ.
II think we see also here in the action
of Nicodemus a courageous example. 1t
seems not unlikely that he had been hold
ing back. He was timid, as usual. not dar-
ing to come forward and declare himself.
I'm every ancient land Jesus Christ had
some disciples. Why not avowed disciples
before? There were a number of reasons
the danger with which they were sur
rounded They held high positions in the
| national council and the acknowledgment
of Jesus would mean loss of position; there
was the influence of caste. To avow their
| faith would mean to be cast out There
| was the influence of wealth. If they had
acknowledged Jesus Christ they would
| probably have been stripped of their world
| ly possessions. There was also cautious
ness and weakness of faith.
81 believe there are few who have not
| confessed mentally that Jesus Christ was
more than human. There are men who are
| true disciples of Christ, but who do not
| reason far enough to believe In his true
| divinity. There are some who have not
even confessed, yet who would resent being
| called unbelievers.
''Men are Christians when they are babes
| in Jesus Christ They must be babes in
| Christ before they are men in Christ. Some
make the mistake of thinking the church is
| the place for fully-developed Christians
| Heaven is that place. The church is a
| school. The church then is for beginners
| Some are not open Christians and mem
| bers of church, because, think, they mis-
| understand what is required or expected of
them. Man enters the church. how? Man
| acknowledges when he comes into the
/
| his savior, and that with His help prom
| ises to walk in his footsteps to the best
| of his ability.
Some say L can be Christian without
| being in the church, and even some can
| go to New York by walking and not taking
| a train, but that's not the best way.
| Churches are organizations to help our
| weaknesses and advance our endowment of
| Jesus Christ. While 1t is possible for one
| to be a Christian outside of the church, he
is losing ground by attempting 1t and
| misses a great many opportunities of do
| ing good and at the same time setting
| a bad example that may be harmful to
| others. Some remain outside the church
| thinking they are more at liberty to do
as they please and not bound by rules
and creeds, but the Christian outside the
| church is no more free to do as he pleases
than the man inside the church. because
| everyone created in Gods image ought to
| honor Gods things and acknowledge God
| openly before men. think there are many
| men who pray and every evening give
| thanks to God for the merces of that day
but who shrink from open acknowledge
| ment of their belief in Jesus Christ and
thus lead the world to think their virtues
their own. when they are not In reality.
Churches of Jesus Christ are the broad
| est institutions on this earth. There are
many societies and institutions that are
| helpful, such the artists societies, the
| carpenters and mechanics unions, the re-
tail clerks association, and others. but all
| are limited. The church comes to men on
| the basis of their humanity-of their fallen
humanity. There are no limitations. Who
among the sons of man could have founded
an organization so deep. broad and wide,
taking in all classes and nationalities!
| What are the requirements of the church
Only belief that God is merciful and God
In Jesus Christ has provided for our re-
demption from sin. nf.
'I think many of those Christians now
outside the church and hoping against
hope would be vastly helped by coming as
they are and starting in that open relation
Il Sh wit .nd xrhi ot, hos hno
fully tried by so many thousands Of men
| and women"