The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-09-03

defects wherever they may exist or
seem to exist, still 1t is true that many
churches. yea, may we not say, most
churches, are tinctured with this ten
dency to class distinction. In some
churches It Is more marked than IL
others. To the degree that the Spirit
OF God rules In the hearts of the mem
bers, to that degree Is the church free
from this marrlng and dishonoring
condition. But hardly church blu.
shows this weakness, this natural hui
man failing to some extent.
T HIS sin OF class distinction is one
into which the Christian falls SO
naturally and easily. How much more
prone we all are to render to the
rich and well dressed, to the cultured
and educated. to the commercial or
professional man or woman of promi-
nence, the homage and courtesy and
attention which we feel are due them,
while we turn with scant courtesy
from the poorly dressed stranger.
from the unprepossessing and un-
couth. We feel dattered by the at
tendance upon the church Of the rich
ly dressed, the social leader, the bank
er, the doctor and lawyer and railroad
magnate. We feel that we must show
them assiduous attention, we must
make them feel that we appreciate
their social and business and
professional standing. Naturally
and perhaps unconsciously this
attitude is manifested. You whis-
per to Mr.. or Mrs. So-and-So that
there is Mr.. Wealth, or Miss Fashion
able, or Mr.. Wiseman, or Miss Society,
and that 1--WE must not let them get
out without our prettiest and most
fiattering speech and most cordial in
vitation to come again." And while
thus busy, and, as you fiatter yourself,
SO judiciously engaged, some humble
brother or sister is slipping into an
obscure seat unnoticed and unknown.
And while you are Sinking and bow
ing and exchanging the formal courte-
sizes Of the day with the prominent,
and rich and well dressed, the unno-
ticed and unknown man or woman in
homespun slips quietly by you and
Aaway, with never a Christian greet
ling, never a warm handshake. never
an invitation to come again.
{ EEMETH It to you that such class
- distinction is only a weakness, and
not sin? Think you that 1t is light
thing in the estimation of Christ?
tell you nay. James calls 1t sin, SIN,
and all sin is devilish and abhorrent to
God. II Christ came to church we
think we would welcome Him with
open arms; we think the little select
circles would reach out to welcome and
greet Him, but inasmuch as that is not
done to the least of His brethren-thc
weak, the lowly, the poorly-dressed, the
| ignorant, 1t is not done unto Him, nor
would it be done. knew woman
| who would not remain in the Bible
class in Sunday school because the COL
ored sexton, child of God. and one
who loved his Saviour and enjoyed the
study Of Gods Word, came and sat on
| the outer edge of the circle and lis
tened to the exposition by the teach
er. She forgot that in him the Christ
was represented, and that respect of
persons was dishonoring and displeas.
ing to Him. 1t was sin. God is no
respecter of persons" He does not re-
gard the outward conditions, the raj
ment, the worldly possessions, the po-
sition, the intellectual attainments He
| looks beneath all that man sees and
| searches the heart and if Christ is
| there enthroned, God accepts that man.
! And 1t is sin for man to make distinc-
| lions which God does not make or
recognize. "Harken, my beloved breth-
| rem" says James to the Christians of
| that early church, where this insidiouc
| sin of respect of persons was perform
| ing It's destructive work; did not God
choose them that are poor as to the
world to be rich in faith, and heirs Of
| the kingdom which He promised to
them that love him? But We have dis
honored the poor man." And this same
solemn rebuke needs to be spoken to
every Christian heart. This sin of re-
spect of persons is corrosion, dry
rot which will eat the very heart and
life out of ones religion and leave him
cold and lifeless spiritually.
| p ESPECT OF persons does then prevail
IN among Christians. and in the
churches of to-day. 1t is not Gods way.
1t is sin, black, awful sin. Displeasing
and dishonoring to God and destructive
of spiritual life. And what is the REM
edy? How may the Christian avoid or
eradicate this weakness, this sin? Let
us see what James says about 1t and
what Jesus said. James reminds the
| ones to whom he is writing, and who evil
IDENTIFY were offending in this matter
of respect of persons, that "if we full
fill the royal law, Thou shalt love thy
neighfor as myself we do we'll" Here
then is the antidote for the poison of
this sin. Here then Is the means Of
eradicating the deadly disease. Let the
Spirit of Christ so rule in the heart that
love for your neighbor will be as
strong as the love for yourself. And
did you ever stop to think that the root
| NJ tho evil IF having raepect NJ nareona