Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-12-15
FOR SUNDAY REA DING.
All sorts OF Opinions.

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What flinders Spiritual LIE In Our
Ministers and Churches. >,
The following Is the synopsis of q
farewell sermon OF Rev. j. u. Gonzales,
late pastor of the Congregational church,
OF Marion. Iowa. delivered Sunday
evening, Oct 4. 1897
The object OF this sermon is simply to-
point out, and call attention to, some of I
the things which hinder spiritual life
and growth in ministers and Churches
Not to enter into a discussion of said
POINTS, neither to attempt proof of the
same, tho this would be delightful task
* time permitted. am sure that as
Christian ministers and men we are
a greed that one OF the most Important
the church today is that of the spiritual
Of the church.
To my mind this is in many respects
the most important of the many impor-
tant questions before us, for II this be
solved and our churches be made up of
spirit filled men and women, the other
questions will he easily disposed of.
AS you are all aware, the tendency of
modern thoughta among our leaders and
lstiieologians has been, and still is, ex-
brressed under the familiar phrase,
sIsacls to Christ.
/ But Ii, our eagerness to get back to
Christ and Ills teachings we must not
forsake, neither neglect. the important.
revelations regarding the mission and
/ work of the Holy Spirit. So this ques-;
1 ton of the spiritual life of men and
occurrences is of Importance and demands
lattention.
We believe that we read in the signs
l5of the times a fact that is hopeful.
along this line
There seems to be a desire upon the
Il part of many to enter into and share the
81 expercnces of the apostles. a searching
after the power that comes with the
iEnowing and indwelling of the Holy
Spirit.
We believe that the Christian workers
Of today as OF all time, who are most
used of God are those who believe in the
Holy Ghost. who depend upon Him for
power and strength. Moreover we be-
lieve that the lack of power in our
churches. and among our ministry, to
produce larger effects upon the world is
& due to- lack of the Holy Ghost in us
ard our work. We can not question our
l.lack of power; we must admit that we
are not coming up to our full measure
Of work and Influence.
If there is doubt az to our lack of
power, our inability 10 triumph over the
coarse and low in our nature--of the
10 hurch to do her ultimate work ook
about you. Pause moment and note
conditions in the religious life and expe-
rienceeof ministers and churches What
dc we find2
large percentage, yea. r,ine-tenths
lter more of our church membership are
living along at poor, miserable. dying
rate. There is absolutely no spiritual
warmth or glow about them. No relig-
ious zeal or enthusiasm flashing forth II,
word ard deed.
There can be no question but that the
spirituality in the average Christian OF
today is almost or entirely devoid of real
81 force. strength and courage. 1t is fee
bic and impotent. 1t lacks the rugged
mess ard potency even of that of ouf
: ancestors of 100 years ago. not to speak
J Tiers or of the heroes of the reforma-
tlon
But our question proper for this hour
is, What hinders the development ef
spiritual power. of real vital heart pow
CT. in the church and ministry OF to-
day
First. a lack of real bsliefin the per.
sonaiity divinity and mission of the
Holy Ghost fear. brethren. that toe
n,any Of us, as ministers. treat the sub
ject as one of comparatively little impor-
lance. We read extensively the --latest
productions concerning philosophy sci
ence. sociology, etc. we Investigate
carefully and thoughtfuily any new BIZ
Of church machinery that appears upor
the scene We expound inteHigently
T. ourselves at least. many of the mos
difficult passages in the Word We tail
almost intelligently on anycurrent ques
ton. We hold our hearers spellbount
by nlatchless flights of oratory on tn,
exploits of Dewey or Schley or HobSon
on the Cuban and Panama canal ques
ton or the latest discovery In Egypt o.
Babylon.
But how littl. we read. how little w
hrow. how little we care to know, an,
how seldom do we give our people I;
rare treat by setting before them In ten
der. pleading, earnest tones the facts o
this great subject of the scriptures, i
we mention the subject at all, it is in
sort of half-hearted manner, as tho W
Is 6idn't more than half believe 1t our
selves. and didn't know how to expires
the little we do believe. instead of de
clarng the scriptures teaching with
thunderous Thus saith the Lord"
don't understand all the mysteries of tn
subject. but what God says do know
We need men and churches who hav
received Him and know His blessin,