The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-17
How to Deal With Doubts.

Among the mistaken ideas in the commu.
nifty as to the significance of the act of
connecting ones self with a Christian
church is the thought that it indicates that
one has made progress in character and
well doing, and desires to testify to that
fact before his fellows. Of course this is
very different doubt from the doubt as
this is quite as real question and almost
as common as the other. Underneath this
error there is, of course, a mistaken view
of the nature and object of the church It.
self, but how to correct this mistaken view
must be decided differently in different
cases.
A Christian worker who had for some
time been absent from his old home found
on returning to it that near neighbor of
his had Just connected himself with the
church. Glad to learn this fact he went to
that neighbor and said to him heartily:
'"Pm very glad to know that you have
taken the step of connecting yourself with
the church, and want to congratulate you
on it."
To his surprise the new communicate
said, with a show of modesty and yet with
somewhat confident air:
"Well, thought the matter over for
some time before taking that step. I know
I'm not as good as I ought to be, but I'm
better than the average, SO decided to
His surprised friend thought it not best
to say anything more in the line Of congrat-
was to be particularly congratulated on its
new member. Later on he found that other
men than tnat neighbor had that standard
of fitness for church membership. Some
are modest in their doubling, honestly
thinking themselves unworthy to be
counted with the Christian host. Others
desire to live as well as they can outside of
the church fold without being judged by
church standards of conduct. Yet others
again, like the person instanced, have only
a doubt as to their relative goodness. and
settle it by themselves in self-confdent
mood.
A churchgoer, who desired to be right
and to do right, when urged to connect
himself with the church, expressed the
fear that he was not good enough. This
seemingly was bis sincere feeling. For
years he waited outside in the. hope that
he would grow better. Appeals from his
friends for another course were of no avail.
Then ne was taken seriously i'll, and he
was brought to face death. As he prayed
Cor recovery. and as he was prayed for, he
seemed to have a different view of Christ,
and when he was restored to health he was
glad to think of his Saviour to whom he
ought to show gratitude. When his pastor
who desired to evidence his thankfulness
and trust. he came forward as a loving,
trusting follower of Christ. 1t were better
to come just as he was than to wait out
side indefinitely to grow better.
A man Of upright walk in life persistent.
ly refrained from connecting himself with
the church, claiming that he loved and
trusted Christ as his Saviour. and that he
would show to the world that he was doing
this without being a member of any church.
At this friend said to him:
"Assuredly do"
"Yet you persist in refusing to confess
Christ before men, as He has particularly
enjoined it unon you to do. Is that fair?
Jesus saws, Every one therefore who shall
confess Me before men, him will also con-
fess before My Father who is in heaven
Yet You say you are not willing to be with
those who confess Christ before men,"
ooh! I am ready to be known as lover
of Christ. but I don't want to be in the
church where men claim to be better than
other men: l will try to, be as good as
thev are without saying so"
Christ's church, to begin with. The church
is not an exhibition hall, where good men
and women show themselves off. The
church is hospital where are those who
need and want to be saved by Christ. Yet,
as understand you, you arr willing to be
counted as one who needs the hospital or
the Great Physician, but YOU want to stand
,ff outside and prove that you can cure
yourself. Is that making an honest show?'
~ don't want to have it look that way"
II shouldn't think you would"
So another man concluded to join the
church-not because he thought he was rs
good as the average. but because he felt
that he needed hospital treatment as much
as the average church member.-The Sun.
day-School Times.