The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-07-21
thoughts. but the type OF fiimsy novel that


simply entertains.
The Church of Christ is no longer conf
Portable place in which the unrepentant
sinner can sit. Religion has become much
more of reality to every man. 1t fills d
more sacred place. It is not regarded IN
these days as simply combination OF 1ates
and ceremonies, performed IN special
building, but religion is known by all men
TO be coordinate and co-eXtensive with HE
and the man who willingly lives sintul!;TT
and in disregard of Christ's standard VIII
not add to his degradation by playing the
hypocrite and impostor. This means that
in the minds of irrehgious men there is
growing respect for religion anG sound
regard for the church even among those
who do not attend. I say that it is the lie
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, ard how? I believe that it can,
and the way to overcome 1t is to satisfy
men that we are living in moral and 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 winch must be recognized
if we know by our own experience that
there is 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, benefcence and
growth and power are added to lite by
their obedience, and how injury and weak.
ness and suffering are the resultants or
disobedience to the individual and to the
nation and the race. Men believe in these
- ~
not believe in their power as you and l..
dear Christian friends do, it is because
they have been hindercd by other things
from looking at them seriously enough. II
they can be turned from the craze of the
age, which is selfshness, they Will be able
to see and appreciate the workings of this
real kingdom OF love and Christ in our
midst. II the church is to help men it
must open it's doors and heart to such men.
1t must not refuse their admission or re-
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
all he is ready and willing to receive. Let
US not be afraid Of our sacrsmspts being
desecrated. Men will not come to them
unless they really want them and believe
in them. We ask zoo 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 place and
a welcome for those who are fully equipped
with faith in all its sacred doctrines, but
a church which, like Christ, shall draw all
men unto it and gradually, by its spiritual
love and care, nourish men into Its highest
privileges and possessions.
If men can believe something of Christ,s
revelation of God, il they can say, Lord.
1 believe" it becomes then the part Of
every Christian as an individual and of all
Christians as an organization to heip their
unbelief until men can enter into the tui-
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 own ideal Of per-
fectness. This is the opening OF the gates
of salvation to men, from selfshness and
animalism, into the happiness and encour-
aeement of knowing that we are the sons
of God, for God hath not called us to un-
cleanness, but to holiness. When the
churches of Christ take this attitude to-
ward men and men shall learn that the
ministration of the church is toward help
ing them out of their sins and mistakes,
rather than in a constant condemnation OF
their faults, I believe they will be found
within its walls, ready to be helped and
led toward larger knowledge of God and
His love.