The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-10
FNDAY AMONG SOME OF
me HONOLULU CHURCHES

-
tues, the organizing and planning of fu
ture work, as evidenced by HIS choosing
! of the twelve disciples His daily min.
ilstry of healing was another expression
Oh Ills religion. His heart was full of
sympathy and compassion; to be helpful
and relieve suffering was His greatest
joy.
How far does this element enter into
our lives? With Jesus it was meat and
drink; 1t was a passion. With us it is
spasmodic-fitful. Do We always have
TINS neart of love and kindness? Is it a
part of our religion, or do We do it be-
cause it is fashionable and Others do it?
The third foundation element of Jesus
religious expression is instruction. He
preached to the people; mis- wonderful
sermon on the Mount sought TO bring
men to the truth about God He taught
how men estranged from God by sin
might be brought back through repent
ance and faith. He taught men the great
truth that TO think evil is sin, as well as
TO do evil; that to be humble meek. un-
selfish is righteousness. You say per-
haps, That is just what Jesus came TO
do. He was specially called and fitted
just for that work. True, but it was a
vital part of His religion, and He has
commissioned US His followers to carry
on the work He began. AS the Father
hath sent me even so send 1 you
Does this element exist in our relig-
ious life? How much time do We spend
in expressing religion in this way? How
frequently do we, do it?
This is perhaps the hardest element
cause of our own imperfections and lack
of knowledge. Yet it is vital element
and our religion is not complete without
1T We are not following strictly our
Master and example unless we do. These
three elements constitute the true ex-
preston of religion.
The trouble with most of US is we
fear TO be considered very religious Per-
haps we have never admitted it to any
one else, and have unwillingly admitted
III to ourselves. We have hesitated to
show the religion that is really in US.
One reason undoubtedly is because the
old type of very religious people does not
appeal 10 us. l desire TO make no dis
paraging remarks upon the religious life
of our forefathers. The Puritans of New
England played an important and indis-
penSable part in the development of.
Christian life and thought They were
necessary, and produced wonderfully
good results Witness the present status
of the Christian Church today, direct in
heritance of these noble men and women.
Nevertheless, times have changed and
the details of religious life must neces-
sarily change The fundamental ele-
ments, of course, remain the same, and
the three great lines of expression are
imnutable. but the exact manner in
which each of these shall express itself
alters with the circumstances and en-
ivironments. 1t is thus that the old type
of religious life, which still has many
examples. does not appeal to the rising
generation. Perhaps it would be better
to have more of Puritan type of thought
and life. But the fact remains that it
does not appeal, and because men and
women think that is the only correct
type they refuse to manifest their re-
ligion.
cit is a grievous mistake. If our re-
ligion is real at all, we must express it,
manifest 1t. So long as We keep I'M
changed the three great lines OF ex-
preston, the detail is question for
each individual to decide. In setting the
question of detail, various lines of action
viii present themselves to us, and we
swiu be forced to say, Can l do this?
] Can / do thatg Things wrong We can
not do, but many things seeming neither
right nor wrong perplex us; We must test
them. we must ask ourselves some test
louestions-Does this thing lead to worse
things? Is the danger of habit great In
this case? Will it cause others to Stun
BILE? Dot we clearly see that liberty may
not become license? Are we apt 10 ouil
the edge of conscience? Is our moral
sensitiveness going to be made less
keen? This sensitiveness is very mpor-
! tant to religious life.
.sI3ut too often men and women hesitate
to be religious because certain manner
; of life which is not wholly consistent
: with the best Christian life pleases and
attracts them and ,ney are unwilling 10
/ forego it. People dislike to be called
.eowartis.' Yet what is more cowardiy
than to refuse to do the right wnen one
clearly perceives it2 1t Is this element
! of cowardice that defeats so many noble
plans and purposes. We despise man
who fears when q brave act Is placed III
his way. Why is not this cowardice as
tdespicabIe? Such people mign. as wen
have no religion, for that which tney
! claim to have is unexpressed and dwarf
/ cd. They are dangerous. The principle
/; is that of a criminal who knows the law
and deliberately breaks it. GOD nave
mercy on such.
I .sRelfgfon. TO be religion, must find ex-
preston in our lives. Our great exam
| pie. Jesus, has shown us how 1t can
completely be expressed. Let us hoio
fast these three elements-communion
worship. activity. love, sympathy, ana
instruction leading Others to truth.
EVENING AT CENTRAL UNION.
The evening service at Central Union
was also conducted by Rev. Mr. Erd-
mann. who took for his text Deut. 1.zl-zz'
.sBehold the Lord, thy God, hath set the
land before thee: go up and possess It,
Ietc ths words of Moses to the Israeli
iitas after they had come out Of the viii
lderness and within sight of the promised
land.
.srhey had come to the open door,,
said the minister, they mad been
brought out of great peril by the Loro'
1 they had been freed from the terrible
bondage of the Egyptians, and led gu.
/ by Moses under thesdirection OF the LORD
J tbro,,ph the wilderness: when they came
to the land where there was no water to
! auench their own thirst. or to keep their
beasts alive. the Lord caused "a.er -
how from the rocks that they might
drink. The cloud of fire was always