The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-02

this this desired result? If so it is Of Christ
and has a legitimate place in the church.
The thing the church should do at all times
in all it's parts is to discover the thought
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 asslduously
to know the thought and purpose r. Christ,
and which most promptly responds TO that
thought and purpose. No man, minister,
deacon or any other has any authority to
he head of the church. Christ is the head.
The chief business OF the church IS to
know the mind of the Masttr.
Let church recognize itf vital connec-
ton with Jesus Christ as its heart. Its
mead. its life giving and directing powers,
and its success as an agency in extending
the kingdom is already assured. Such .
church will be found much in prayer seek
point. 1t will not be content with seating
itself in softly cushioned pews once week
with the feeling that it has fulfilled its re-
ligious obligations. On the contrary, you
will find it seven days in every week out
searching the highways and hedges trying
to inoculate the life of the Lord into SIN
sick world. As the growing lad cannot but
express the superabounding life leaplnig
through his veins, no more can church;
tingling wi tn the superabounding. spiritual
life of Christ fail to give expression to It's
powers. :.
But that church has recognized only half
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 confine these
spirits of ours in material body we can;
not know. The fact remains that tine. soul
must work through the body to, find ex-
expression to His spirit through the
church or His body we cannot say: He
has done it. We are the body Of Christ.
That organism through which He works.
by means Of which He finds expression to
the world. Christ exalted is seated at the
right hand of God, but Christ incarnate ls
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, s mani
fest to-day only through the church His
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 respon-
sibility and the divine dignity which ls
hers Think of it! You are a hand to do
His bidding, feet to fulfill His missions,
eyes to look to His interests, ears to hear
His truth, tongues to sound forth that
truth and utter His praise. Christ has in
men must come to know Him.
Except the church manifests the life OF
Christ it is no true church. except it per-
forms His mission it is not church of the
Redeemer As the body is one and hath
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 rae t.; thas ofn1e fne
ness unimpaired.
Independence is the cry of our time-in:
dependence of the nation, independence OF
the individual. This spirit seen everywhere
has found a large place in the church.
Within limits this is well. Within limits,
I 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 is
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 must
work as one in manifesting the life OF God
to the world in the transformation and sal
vation of snen.
You have before now seen couple of
pups get a hold of an old rope and then,
as though life depended on the process;
one pull one way while the other tugged
the other. have seen churches whose
condition would not be unaptly illustrated
by the dogs. Lack of unity in aim and et-
E., M
church The spirit of independence, good
in itself. runs riot, until concerted action
to a definite end is impossible. When IN
dependence thus errs against unity 1t ls
curse rather than blessing. All the mem.
bers of the body must work together, vital
lied bv the heart, directed by the head.
One Of the most beautiful sights In the
world is a symmetrical and responsive hu.
man body. One of the most beautiful
sights to the spiritual eye is the body OF
Christ-the church-harmoniously respo,n-
light Of Christ's mission while incarnate
in the flesh the church can make
no mistake as to. her mission, She must
save souls. in the light of this purpose
every petty difference SHOULD drop out of
sight and the whole Christian body be-
come one mind in regard to the chief aim
of their existence. The educator will take
care of the education of the community,
the aesthetic will look after the culture,
the reformer will lead reforms, but the
church must save men from sin and mani
fest the life of God to the world.
I have seen in one of the great mills OF
our country two great wheels. Note one
point. they fit each other. Moving, in
ceaseless unison. If single point be bro
ken off the machinery CRATES, if q number
be broken the wheel silps and the whole
network of machinery is helpless. Each
members of the church has his place: If he
fails the body is hampered in it's efficiency.
But while there is to he union in diver
sity. there is also to be diversity in unity:
Individuality is not effaced by the Gospel
of Christ. This gives the widest possible
scope to the churches ties which may be
included within the church. There is
place of usefulness for all. Each one is to
find his or her place and then in union
with the whole body work for its highest
efficiency.
When the church Of Christ awakens to
full consciousness of its status IN the
world, no longer will men call her, sick:
Within her borders there vi i'll be cries OF
iov over many sinners that have repented
and tested the power Of Christ to save.
This church will realize her highest useful
ness when she writes over her activities,
owe are the body Of Christ-Christ lncar-
nate in the present day-and severally. we
are members thereof"
Resisting Power.