Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-07-28
thoughts. but the type OF fimsy novel that

THOUGHTS, but the type OF fiimsy ncvel that
simply entertalns.
The Church Of Christ is no longer a com
Portable place in which the unrepentant
more of a reality to every man. 1t fills q
more sacred place. It is not regarded IN
these DAYS as simply a combination OF rites
and ceremonies, performed in a special
building, but religion is known by all men
to be coordinate and co-extensive with lite
and the man who willingly lives slnful !;y
not. add to his degradation by playing the
hvpocrite and impostor. This means that
in the minds of irreligious men there is a
growing respect for religion and a sound
reoard for the church even among those
who do not attend. I say that it is the life
which the age is calling on men to live
that is weakening the religious life and
faith of men. Men cannot serve God and
mammon is true forever. Can this evil be
overcome. and how? | believe that it can,
and the way to overcome it is to satisfy
men that we are living in a moral INC spir--
itual world in which God is present and
in which He makes His demands. PROBES
sor James, of Harvard, speaks of the uni
versatility of religious experience opening
up a new world which science has hitherto
scoffed at, but which must be recognized
if we know by our own experience that
there is a realm Of thought, of love, Of
conscience, of righteousness. toward which
things our hearts yearn. We know more
than ever the laws of this department Of
life. how. under God, beneticence and
growth and power are added to life by
their obedience smH how injury and weak
ness and suffering are the resultants OF
disobedience to the individual! and to the
nation n the race. Men beileye n these
things, because they see them. If they 90
not believe in their power as you and |,
dear Christian friends do, it is because
they have been hindered by other things
from looking at them seriously enough. II
they can be turned from the craze Of the
age, which is s~el6shness, they will be able
to see and appreciate the workings OF this
midst. If the church is to help men IT
must open it's doors and heart to such men.
It must not refuse their admission or res
tard them by insulting them when they
come. IF a man is looking. for righteous
ness and anxious to govern his life accord
ing to that inspiration, the church ought
to be ready to give to such an honest man
us not be afraid of our sacraments being
desecrated. Men will not come to them
unless they really want them and believe
in them. We ask too much of men about
what they believe or do not believe. The
working and living Church of Christ is
not that which shall only have Il place ana
a welcome for those who are fully equipped
with faith in all its sacred doctrines, but
q church which, like Christ, shall draw all
men unto it and gradually, by its spiritual
love and care, nourish men into it's highest
| privileges and possessions.
If men can believe something of Christ's
revelation of God, if they can say, Lord,
I believe" it becomes then the part ef
every Christian as an Individual and Of all
Christians as an organization to help their
unbelief until men can enter into the full
ness of His message and take for their in
spiration in life, "God SO loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son. that
whose believeth on Him might not perish.
but have everlasting life" This is the
Christians message of Gods presence
among us, God loving men, inspiring and
guiding them toward His Owl ideal OF peri
fectness. This is the opening of the gates
of salvation to men, from selfishness and
animalism. into the happiness and encour|
agement of knowing that we are the SOM
Of God, for God hath not called us to ur
cleanness, but to holiness. When ths
churches of Christ take this attitude I'd
ward men and men shall learn that thu
ministration of the church is toward help
ing them out of their sins and mistakes
rather than in a constant condemnation oil
their faults, I believe they will be found
within its walls, ready to be helped and
led toward a larger knowledge of God and
His love.