The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-14
IN EVERY CHURCH
IN SAVANNAH CHRIST COULD VISIT,
SAYS REV. \. NJ. WILLIAMS.
MANY EVILS ARE APPARENT
IN ALL AND THERE is MUCH THAT
HE WOULD CENSURE.


pie Can Decide what savannah
Churches lie WOuId Attend-Were
He on Earth He Would Unite
with One Church and Would Go
where He Could Do the Most Good.
Rev. A. NJ. Williams preached last
night on What Church Would Christ
Attend if He Were in savannah"
The discourse was built upon the text
from Luke 4:16: And, as his custom
was. he went into the synagogue on
the Sabbath day" The speaker said
in part:
THE text plainly teaches that He
would go to church somewhere. His
example being always for regularity
in attendance at the worship of God.
There was only one place for him to
go in Nazareth, but in Savannah there
are so many places, of such different
phases of thought, as to puzzle the
person who must decide. These are
the Salvation Army, the Reformed
Jewish Synagogue, the Orthodox, the
Catholics, the Episcopalians. the
Lutherans, the Presbyterians, the Dis
cipes, the Baptists, the Methodists,
and perhaps even others. Which one
would he select?
How He Would Decide.
Here are some of the principles of
Christs character by which we may
judge how he would decide the ques-
tion. First, Jesus was not exclusive
in his heart. He came to save the
world and his thinking is inclusive.
There are many Illustrations of this
in His life, one of the most noteworthy
of which is that when told one was
casting out devils in His name he re-
piled; Forbid him not This is a
lesson both of tolerance and warn
ing. Secondly, Jesus was not exact
ing. There was nothing of the heresy
hunter in His nature. There was no
disposition in Him to compel or force
adherence He knew what truth was
and believed in human liberty. Third
ly, Jesus was not a literalist The lit
eralists attach supreme Importance to
the letter, the form, the outward ex-
preston. He becomes particular and
judges character by accidental ines
sential marks. Out of this come His
sympathies and antipathies. 1t is nat
ural from such premises to extend ex-
communications and withdraw fellow
ship. Jesus. however, looks at the
spirit If the spirit is supreme, earn
est. faithful, loving, he accepts it. In
this respect His religion is peculiar
He looks at the heart from whence
cometh the good or the evil. Taking
these characteristics into consideration
to what church would he go?
Would Find Much TO Pain Him.
1--WE must bear in mind that Jesus
in symbol has returned to this earth
since he left it. What a glorious Wis
ion did John see while on the Isle of
Patmos, q glorious vision of the Son
of Man coming to him with a message
for the churches of Asia. In this mes
sage he tells us something of the
churches, how he found them, what he
praised in them, what their prospects.
From this record we may safely infer
that the formula of these Epistles to
the seven churches of Asia would be
applied by Jesus to all the churches of
Savannah, Nevertheless, / have some
what against thee!'
He would see in all our churches
much that Panied him He would see
much indifference, much attachment to
this present evil world, much of self.
lnanifesting itself in consciousness.
stiffness, Formally, exclusiveness.
fear He would find us all running In
ruts and those ruts far away from the
pain where Christian faith. gentleness,
ana energy is so greatly needed. He
would find us magnifying the unimpor-
tant into the important, and neg1ecting
the Welghtier matters, judgment, mercy
and faith.
would Find Much GoOd
ON the other hand l believe that
He would find much good in
All, that His loving eye must
ma some good in every one
ana that His loving heart would enter
an these portals. In the syna gogue
ne would sec a great loyalty to the
history OF His people Israel. In the
Sathollc lie would see large hearted
democracy and a tender care for the
suHering children of his Providence.
In the Episcopalian He would see a
beautiful reverence for Holy places and
hallowed associates. In the Presbv-
terrain He would find jealous regard
Tor the faith once delivered to the
SAINTS, the precious word of revela-
ton. In the Lutheran He would find
the custodian of the doctrine out of
Which our establishment in right
eousness is involved; in the Disciples
Yigor for the spreading of the story OF
His work. in the Salvation Army. His
own mission practically carried out: in
the Baptist, simplicity and earnestness;
in our own Methodism He would find
the proclamation of the universally of
His grace and an organized effort to
tell all sinners. in all churches He would
md enough of the good to feel al
home and enjoy sweet fellowship.
Which Church Would Christ JOins
There is one danger in this catholi-
city of sympathy and while it and a
loving tolerance should fill us all, al
the same time Christian efficiency de-
mands an anchoring of our church af-
fections. The man who finds in all
churches so much good that he will
not become attached to one is general.
ly a religious nonentity Christ's fol.
lowers should attach themselves to one
church and put in it all they are
worth. On this theory which church
would Christ join?
Il will answer that question by CIV
ing two rules which 1 draw from His
character and work First, He would
join the church from which he could get
the most good this depending on tenn
permanent, environment and history
Secondly, he would join that chuhch t
which He could do the most good, thi.
depending on the organization, tn,
field reached, the opportunity for serv
ice, and the greatest freedom of ex
ercise. In conclusion, il Jesus SHOULD
come to Savannah, He would be founC
where he is most needed"
RECALLS OLD HUMBUG.