The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-08-19

it directly accomplish this endy Does it
qualify men and women in brine ng to pass
this desired result! II so it is Of Christ
and has legitimate place in the ~ .rch
The thing the church show i do at a times
in all its parts is TO discover the tnoight
Of the head. That is the most perfect
body which most perfectly responds to the
direction of the rain. That Is the best
church which sets its II most assiduousy
to know the thought and purpose Christ,
and which most prompt responds TO that
thought and purpose. No man, minister,
deacon or any other. has any authority to
be head of the church. Christ is the head.
The chief business. OF the church Is to
know the mind of the Master.
Let a church recognize its vital connec'
tion with Jesus Christ as its heart, ITS
head, its life giving and directing powers.
and its success as an agency IN, extenning
the kingdom is already assured. SUCH a
church will be found much in prayer seek
ing to know the will of its Lord at every
point. 1t will not be content witt seating
itself in softly cushioned pews once a week
with the feeling that it has fulfilled its re-
liaious obligations. On the contrary, you
will find it seven days in every week out
searching the highways and hedges irving
sick world. As the growing lad cannot but
express the superabounding life leapn,2
through his veins, no more can church.
tingling with the superaboundng spiritual
life of Christ fail to give expression to its
powers.
But that church has recognized only hall
the truth when it has come to know that
Christ is the life Of the church. The other
half is that while Christ is the heart and
the head we are the body.
II. The church is the body of Christ.
Why the Creator saw fit to conhne these
spirits of ours in material body we can.
not know. The fact remains that the soul
must work through the body to find ex'
preston. Why God was pleased to give
expression to His spirit through the
church or His body we cannot saw. he
has done it. We are the body OF Christ
That organism through which He works
by means of which He finds expression to
right hand of God, but Christ incarnate is
| in the world to-day. He lives in and works
| through His body the church. This should
| be deeply solemn and impressive Thought
| to every church OF the Redeemer. God
| also manifested Himself in Christ, is mani
| fest to-day only through the church Ills
| body. This is why the church fails in her
mission and lacks power. She has failed
| to realized her status in the world. She
! has not sufficiently appreciated her resnon.
sibiity and the divine dignity which is
hers. Think of it! You are hand to do
His bidding, feet to fulfill His missions,
| ewes to look to His interests, ears to hear
| His truth. tongues to sound forth that
truth and utter His praise. Christ has IN.
carnated Himself in you Through you
men must come to know Him.
Except the church manifests the life ot
| Christ it is no true church. except it per
| forms His mission it is not a church OF the
| I'll Ae ko Il.
many members. and all the members OF the
| body. being many. are one body. so also is
the church. The body OF Christ one
though many, unity in diversity. All the
| members are necessary in order that the
symmetry may be complete, and its useful
! ness unimpaired.
independence is the cry OF our time-in.
dependence of the nation. independence oil
the individual. This spirit seen everywhere
has found a large place in the church
Within limits this is well. Within limits
| | say, for Just as soon as individuality be.
comes obtrusive or obstinate: It has passed
the limit where it can be of the most use
to the world. Within the church this !:
especially true. 1t is one body-it Is
| Christ in the world each part must be In
closest union with every other part. More
and more the church must work together
more and more the denominations mus;
| work as one in manfesting the life OF God
vaton of men.
You have before now seen couple oi
pups get hold of an old rope and then
as though life depended on the process
one pull one way while the other tuggec
the other. | have seen churches whost
condition would rot he unaptly illustrate
by the dogs. Lack of unity in aim and et
fort is a great source of weakness to th'
church The spirit of independence, COCO
in itself. runs riot, until concerted actor
to a definite end is impossible. When. in
dependence thus errs against unity it is
curse rather than blessing. All the mem
bers of the body must work together, vital
lied bv the heart directed bv the head
One Of the most beautiful sights in tn
world is a symmetrical and RESPONSIVE hu
man body One of the most heauttu
sights to the spiritual eye is the body o
sive to His thought and purpose; In tn
light of Christ's mission while incarnat
in the flesh the church can mak'
no mistake as to her mission. She mus
save souls. Jn the light Ct this purpos
every petty difference slould drop out o
sight and the, whole Christian body be
come one mind in rerard to the Chief am
of their existence. The educator will taxi
care OF the education of the community
the aesthetic will look after the culture
the reformer will lead reforms but tn
church must save men from sin and mani
test the lie oil tiO0 TO tne NOriU. -
/ have seen in one OF the great mills n
our country two great wheels. Note on
point. they fit each other. Moving i
ceaseless unison. Ii single point be hrc
ken off the machinery crates. il a numbe,
be broken the wheel siIps and the who
network of MACHINERY is helpless. Eac
members of the church has his place. Ii h
fails the body is hampered in its efficiency
But while there is to be union in diver
sity. there is also to be diversity in unit,
Individualitv is not effaced nv the Go.pt
of Christ. This gives the widest possih'
scope to the churches ties which may b
included within the church. There is
nlsce of usefulness for ALL Each one is t
find his or her place and then in unio
with the whole body work for its highe:
efficiency.
When the church of Christ awakens to
full consciousness of its status in tn
world no longer will men call her sicl
Within her borders there will be cries {
joy over many sinners that have repente
and tested the power of Christ to saw
This church viii realize her highest usetu
ness when she writes over her activitie
eve are the body OF Christ-Chrst inca
nate in the present day-and severaliy "
! are members thereof"