The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-27
AFfAIRSOFT HECHURCHES
AN ~ETHICAL" SERMON By THE REV.
c. c. ROWLIsoN.
He Argues for Overthrow of HInstitu-
tionaIism"-PrOgrammes Of
Easter Music.

Ia III 80 @A1-r- 49, -
mon last night at M~eridian-street NJ. E.
Church in the ethical revival" DR.. Row
lison's topic was ''The Kingdom and In
titutionalism. His text was: For am
not ashamed Of the gospel Of Christ. for it
Is the power Of God unto salvation to every
one that beiieveth. Romans, l. 10. Mr..
Rowlison said in part:
In religion this is the era OF the doctrine Of
the kingdom OF God. The leaders Of religious
thought to-day believe that God has a right TO
reign in every thought and action Of the in
dividual. and they are profoundly convinced that
there is no human reiationship-no organization
OF government. no business transaction or com
mercial enterprise. no union Of men for social
or religious purposss-but that should exist for
the fuller establishment Of the kingdom Of God
The coming or the kingdom into the life OF each
individual and its reign over al the affairs OF
There is no Institution which does not in a
way seek primarily for salvation. Even the
TO be the betterment OF the members OF the
league The government Of the United States has
exactly this object 20 attain for its citizens.
The church is organized 10 assist its members TO
the realization o. its ideals. So that all are
seeking salvation. IL is a question OF the dehni-
ton Of salvation. and whether or not the in
sutution meets the ends which God has planned
walton? We are pretty sure that the saloon
keepers league Is not earnestly seeking TO Sc
template %oafeiai eofruption in China. where
about one-third Of the men and women or eartn
1--we. and realize that the damning superstitions
which hold in ignorance and vice this vast ag-
gregation Of human beings have behind them
an the authority and power OF the great insti-
tutions OF state, when we remember the arro-
ganee Of the old regime in France a little more
than a century ago. and are reminded OF the aw-
fl horrors Of the French revolution: when we
are awakened 10 the indescriba5le crimes which
are forced upon society when the powers Of state
are directed by Crokerism; when such influences
as these prevail. one wonders sometimes whether
even the state has been more OF a power for or
a power against the kingdom Of heaven in the
earth. And not infrequently one is driven to
similar NEGOTIATIONS aDout the efhcacy OF organized
religion What indescTibable crimes against re-
ligion itself have been committed by religious
institutions! The very son OF God himself was
rejected and put away in the most f~anaticaI
rage by the mos jealous people for religious
nstiIutions Whlch the world mas ever known,
all Of which should teach US that. whatever may
be the value OF institutions. they are not the
power OF God unto salvation.
n NOT INSTITUTIONAL.
The apostle says the gospel Of Christ is
this power, and / am persuaded that he is right.
And what is this gospel? 1t is a plan of sal
walton in which one may work out his degrees,
and 50 attain a certain standing in the organized
institution Of the church, Hardly that. If Jesus
is permitted to define the gospel. 1t is rather
the good news that the kingdom OF heaven is
lot a thing Of outward manifestations, such
as offices and bishoprics and srand-stand ex-
hibitions and salaries; but it is the condition
OF a pure and devoted life-a life Of faithful
service FOR the highest good OF humanity. a
communal relationship IN which greatness Is
marked as II was IN the Master, By the spirit
which seeks 70 minister rather than TO be min
istsred unto. This gospel has its definitions OF
fighteousness and points out the way Of saliva
ton in the Sermon on the Mount. in the parallels
OF our LORD. ana IN the spirit exhibited IN every
act OF Jesus Christ
"Our text says That the gospel is the power
OF God unto salvation TO every one that believes:
10 the Jew hrst and also the gentle Now, 1
am inclined TO think that the reason why the
"uy ~ h4A6uOHAS
OF THIS NoIIo nave not yet become the Kingdoms
Of our Cod and Of His Christ. is because neither
jew nor Greek, neither Christian nor pagan.
neither church nor state, has believed that it Is
God's power. They may have believed tina
thefe was something IN the gospel which would
uShel man LOT MS passage on the ferry 10 the
other world. They may have believed IL to be
a sooa thing Tor some OF the affairs OF life. But
mat 4 mans whole being, that the whole of the
relationship Of man with man could become
sobered and gloriied and made divine bv a
= cpnpiSte union with sed has seemed visionary
and absurd 10 a vast portion OF p~rofessed Chris
serior to Confueianism we have no right to re
cent uutil II ceases 70 be our own attitude.
My claim is that the gospel has never been
believed by any one except Christ. The apostles
their death churches had crystallized beliefs and
were crying 'heresy.' The Greek Church reduced
mace u an institution Ana we moderns. under
the inspiration Of the rediscovered Christ. have
been struggling for four hundred years 10 shake
ourselves Tree from their bondage. We are still
fglly hair slave And this indictment Of the
church applies equally well to the state. The
gentiles OF worldly wisdom. however earnestly
seeking salvation-and l do not doubt the sin.
even as the Romans did, 70 secure the reign of
rlghteousness. II the mental power. the in
now expended upon our institutionaIism could
be turned 20 the instruction OF men in righteous.
IoNaIu otheI men, by the attempt to redeem the
criminal rather than 70 punish him. or worse
sun 70 take ~Vengence on him-lf Americans
could be brought fully to believe that the gospel
and not something else, is the power OF God
disappointed IN the slow attainment n its Iofty
decisions nation. at least. would soon be ad-
Eitted as a state in the kingdom OF God.
CHURCH AMI STATE.
Il am Wei aware that both cbrrob 81 ....
are necessary, My position simply is that they
are not fundamental. The state is organized
and her constitution formed that she may have
the foundation for outgrowing the limits of her
little thirteen States and stretch across a con.
tinent. that her Constitution may be so amended
as to become a document which could not be
accepted by its original trainers.
The church is organized TO give opportunitv
for the expression OF a common BELIEF and for
the purpose Of missionary and philanthropc co.
operation But IL has no authority over the
conscience or the faith Of any man. and ,be
moment II assumes such authority it attempts
10 block the progress Of the kingdom Fvary
age inevitably formulates its faith. III may h,
written out IN a formulated symbol or IN MAJ
not. And this Is very helpful as a clear sxpres.
sion OF the central faith OF an age Br, - tI.
authority OF final truth Is demanded for it
IL is sought 70 bind its authority upon comm
generations-the coming OF the Kingdom nn.t -
delayed until this obstacle is removed That h.
mable worth when they are kept in subordinatio
20 the purposes Of God in His kingdom An
when mace so exist for their own sakes the,
become the worlds most desperate tvrants Nh
the Kingdom OF God shall not have come in ali il,
fullness until every association Of men am
women. from an athletic club to the natiora
ORGANIZATIONS. are filled with the Inspiration,
and purposes OF The kingdom Much more. ever,
individual must become wholly consecrated n
this eternal purpose of God in him.
primarily / have Just this message: We hav.
Tried 20 urinG m the kingdom through instftu
tionalism long enough We have failed. and W,
nave not given the gospel a chance. Institution
are essential conserving forces for mafntafnfn,
the degree OF salvation at any time attafne1
But the aggressive power of God is and AWAY
has been the gospel OF the kingdom. Let u,
demand that institutions no longer shackle i.
divine work. but that ft be gi.en a cIasr asiS
Let disciples OF the Master learn that their frs
great duty and privilege Is 10 preach and n
love the gospel. following thus in the very foot
steps OF the Lord. II they are stafasDrap -
physicians, or business men. or minfsfers ~
bootblacks. let every man remember thar bh
divine calling IS 70 work out the ends OF IA,
kinscom IN the very profession or calling :,
which he finds himself adapted. For mis- he =
ordained from an eternity. In this senctiSca
ton OF himself he finds eternal life :, shoT
heaven and earth become one realm. and -,
Master shall see % the travail Of his soul anf
be satisfied"
The Rev. Worth VI. Tippy. pastor of tn,
Broadway NJ. +. Church. delivered the moor
sermon yesterday at the Y. NJ. {. A. mar.
lOrs in the ethical revival series. DR.. Tipnv'.
topic was Scope OF the Kingdom {" tn,
attendance was larger than on the dan
previous, giving evidence that interest n
the meetings Is increasing. d.. Tipov,.
sermon dealt with the manner in which m,
church IS cxerting influence for the goor
of the world.
DIR. S~TANsFIELD'S LECTURE.