The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-03-10

Methodist Church III our leading New Eng
land city is to-day eXaltIng the spirit or
the PhariSees instead OF the spirit OF the
NeSicyS III trying to eNcommuncate It's
leading scholar, just as Pre>hytcrlaalSm
few years ago III prosecuting It's chlef
scholar went back dangerously near the
standard OF $50 years ago. raised by its
illus;rious ancestor. John Calvin. who in
1853 burned Servctus at the stake III Cen
eva for doubling the equality OF the per-
sons OF "the Trinity and the validity OF
infant baptism Christ dealt lnore loving.
" with heretics. To Thomas He unveiled
His side and loved him into the necessary
belief Phariseeism. on the other hand,
crucifed Christ and stoned Stephen to
death. Loving as brethren those within
the church; tolerant as Christians toward
those without is the ideal that should rule.
How refreshing to reflect upon such a
passage of Scripture as that which stands
at the head OF this sermon. 1t is plea
for religious liberation and sets before us
a standard OF religious liberty it would be
we'll to live up to. We are so inclined to
become narrowed in our views of truth;
we are so prone to live under the shelter
of some creed that the vistas OF truth
stretching ahead OF US everywhere become
narrowed and hidden, and before we arc
aware of it the peculiar dogma we cherish
or the certain fact we advocate is magnl-
fed into Identification with the truth it.
self. There is at least danger here. Thus,
how needful to be often carried out into
the broad field the Gospel opens up. Look
at the scene revealed here. jesus Is hav-
ing another of His oft-recurring talks with
the PhariSees: but. as of old. they do not
understand Him. He is a fanatic. or at
best, a stubborn partisan. who, While pro-
Tossing to lead them into larger freedom,
seems only to break up their honored IN
stitutions. So this peculiar saying falls
from His lips. AS He speaks how precious
the outlook. There He leads His follow
ers through the old loved fields, ont under
the blue sky. their life and His identified:
bound together by common fidelity OF
truth. But even this freedom seems mar
row in view of what is yet TO come. These
are Nv sheep, He SAYS, and for them [ lay
down Ny life; but also other sheep | have
which are not of this fo,d, and as we con-
template the words, the range OF our Wis
ion is extended, the fields through which
they pass widen. the visible horizon that
hemmed us in lifts, the blue dome OF the
heavens expands until we see all truth
loving souls everywhere, known by many
a different name. coming in as the sheep
iold opens to receive them. And we turn
our steps homeward. resolving in future to
be more tolerant for the Masters sake.
4 few weeks ago an attendant upon our
church. lover of truth, believer in
Christ but who had never made an open
profession of religion, asked me what ]
thought constituted a Christian. and il |
did not think it meant to be church
member. and Baptist Church member. 1T
was that earnest question that called forth
these sermons. What constitutes Chris
tian? No progress can be made in our dis
cussion until we settle that question. Is 1t
to be a communlcant OF any church! Is 1t
to subscribe 10 any creed? A hundred
times no! All trustworthy sources make it
to be a believer in Christ. What do
YOU mean by belief in Christ? We'll. what
do you mean when You tell person You
believe in him, that YOU believe he IS
good citizen. faithful husband, a loving
father? You may believe in him as all
that. vet not be willing to trust him with
a dollar out of your sight. or open your
home to him as Friend. You honor him
not most unless willing to trust him with
money uncounted, your good name, the
very secrets of your heart. A belief that
does not express itself in confidence does
not count for much. All else is cold, I'M
Christ less than You would Your friend. a
saved soul. any more than belief III
Caesar or Luther or Washington. even
though You believe Him as more than
teacher sent from God. more than pro-
phet, even the very Saviour OF the world.
Just as friendship is more than an intellec-
tual opinion, even possession OF the HE:
just as love, the divine essential in all
true living without much society, Is
self-centred. self-circumferenced conglom-
Grafton, and the home den. denying its
own existence, Is virtue of the heart IN
stead of secretion of the brain; so relig.
ion has its abiding place in the heart, else
nowhere in the life at ali.
To be a believer In Christ then Is no
different than to be believer in, man.
Tell him whom you profess to call your
friend you believe in him. When you will
not confide in him. when in perpleXity you
seek another's counsel, and in sorrow an.
others sympathy. and you have insulted
faith. and friendship has become in your
hand an empty name. If you believe in
man trust him as all men demand you
should. You say you love? Show it by
loving ard manifesting the sell. denial love
demands, else your profession ls sound
ing brass, an empty name, dastardly al
fair
Do YOU believe in Christ? Show It by
a loving trust. Otherylse, YOU beherc only
Intellectually, and that means you do
not want to have much to do with Him:
1t means self first and always. And II
perchance you start to follow Him from so
superficial motive be not surprised ii the
first time His demands conflict with your
plans you turn traitor and swear You
never knew the man. The test is. My
sheep hear Ny voice and know them and
they follow Me. That is the test-to hear
His voice and follow Him.
Now, what is the purpose OF church,
and in how far does church membership
constitute Christian? Church member
ship constitutes Christian just so far as
a Christian constitutes church member.
No church, whatever its name and infiu-
ence, has OF itself power to make a man
a Christian. unless the Roman Church, ana
that is only in its own estimation. We
fall into one or the other of two errors:
Either of thinking OF Christianity as an alb
straction. or as fact identical with an or
sanization of earth, when it is grander
than both There is no Christianity apart
from the life of its founder. 1t is not to
be born in a Christian community. 1t Is
not to be swayed by religious excitement.
Il is not, under the uplift OF fine music.
nor the tender sentiment of a keen sorrow
to catch some celestial glimpse OF truth.
and conclude you arc henceforth a relig-
io,is man. To be Christian is nothing