Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-24
IS CHRISTIANITY DECLINING ?

The question "Ie Christianity decln-
ing?" has been discussed OF late both IN
the churches and among people who are
not connected with religious denomlna-
tions, but are Interested in the progress
Of religious and philosophical thought.
A recent article In the New York Her
aid offers some opinions on this subject
which reflect che views Of many per-
sons Of both classes, The conclusion
reached therein Is, that the religion OF
Christ Is advancing, while the church,
es are being emptled because people do
not believe what Is taught there" That
faith in It's larger sense Is on the In
crease. while belief In religious dogmas
IL rapidly decreasing
II Is evident that the writer OF the
article In the Herald and the many per-
sons whose views he represents. take
the position that what they call Chris
tlan deals are TO them the sum Of
Christianity They say real Christian
ity Is life rather than a belief" They
appear to forget the fact that Jesus
Christ not only enunciated principles for
the acceptance Of His followers, but or
genized a Church, In which they were
10 become members and to be governed
and directed by It's rules and instruct
ed by Its diyinely authorized ministers.
The Herald writer says Dogma Is
not Christianity, but an Insignificant in
cident in connection with H." This IL
getting to be common notion among
thoughtful people, but II is very
grave mistake. The Christianity Of
Jesus OF Nazareth Is founded on dogma.
That does not consist Of mere opinions
or speculative theories. II is doctrine
direct from Deity. The great Teacher
declared MY doctrine Is not mine but
His that sent me; II any man shall do
His viii he shall know Of the doctrine.
whether It be Of God or whether l speak
OF Myself He sent His authorized and
ordained Apostles into all the world TO
preach those doctrines which He re-
celved from God. declaring that the sal
walton Of mankind depended upon their
reception of those principles. "He that
belleyeth and is baptized" said He.
shall be saved and he that beleveth
not shall be damned"
Real Christianity Is something more
than mere Ideals The writer Of the
Herald article admits that the re-
ligion that is wanted Is 'the religion
OF Christ, not as you find 1, in the
creeds, but as you find It In the New
Testament" Taking that work as a
guide, the notion set forth in the article
Under consideration is an utter fallacy.
The New Testament gives the history
OF the establishment Of the visible
Church OF Christ; an organized body
with Apostles, Prophets, Eyangelists.
Elders. Bishops, Teachers. Deacons.
etc, for the work. OF the ministry, the
perfecting Of the Saints and the edify-
Ing Of the body OF Christ" until all
should come to THE unity Of the faith
and the knowledge OF the Son OF God"
What they preached was dogmatic.
Like the Master. they taught with au-
thority. John, the beloved disciple, de-
clared, "Whosoever transgresseth and
abideth not In the doctrine OF Christ
hath not God"
The Christianity OF the New Tesla
ment Is a practical religion, directing
members pS.;he Christian Church in all
the duties Of life. and bringing them In
to communion with the Head OF the
Church by the spirit Of truth which Is
an emanation from God TO lead man
Kind into the Divine Presence. Its
members were "all baptized by one
spirit into the one body" They obeyed
Its ordinances and conformed TO its
rules, and We're associated together
under its discipline. II was not com
posed OF fractional sects but was one
body. All its branches, wherever To-
Gated, We're parts Of its essential unity
Those who departed from the faith
were severed from the BODY and had
no part or lot in the matter
Modern so-called Christianity" Is al
together unlike the system established
by Christ II Is made up OF societies.
discordant In character. which have
been established on the opinions and
notions Of men. Its primitive form Is
gone. Its authority derived from God
has departed. The spirit that ami
mated II OF old is withdrawn. There
is in II no living standard TO settle con-
uoyersy, The Herald article says;
"Ofical Christianity tina, "a
theological or dogmatic Chris
tianlty-has suffered greatly during
the last generation A kind OF chaos
prevails, but out Of this chaos viii ul-
timately Issue a new and higher order
OF thought
This Is correct as 10 fact, but specu.
la'ive as 20 what Will be. II seems
strange that II never dawns upon the
minds Of thinkers who perceive the de-