Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-10-24
CHRIS IAN ENDEANoR.



Topic Why every one should join the
shurch.-Bon. X, LII.
That every one who has accepted the
Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour and
b trusting in Him for eternal salvation
should unite with the Christian church
would seem TO need no argument The
church is a divine institution Christ
Himself was its founder Its mission
"a to carry forward the work Of Christ
In the world. and nothing seems more
natural and reasonable than that those
who are saved and are Interested In
tho salvation Of others should be open
ly identified with the church and &C
lively engaged in its work. Yet in
spite Of these facts there are many to
whom church membership does not ap-
p g. and various excuses are offered
neg citing or refusing to join the
church Tie necessity, therefore. fire.
quent,y arises OF presenting reasons
why this step should be taken
l. The weakness of the arguments
against church membership should
convince Us OF its Importance. II il
were not necessary and desirable II
would certainly be possible 10 produce
some convincing reasons to this effect.
But such is not the case. The excuses
offered for neglecting this duty are
weak and untenable. Some excuse
themselves on the ground that they
can live Christian lives out OF the
church as well as in IT, If one Chris
tan can do this all could. aud there
fore the church is not a necessity and
It's Organization was a mistake. But
II was diyineiy instituted, and who can
accept a position that rests upon the
intimation that God erred? Hypocrisy
In the church is another excuse fire.
ruentIy given for not joining IT, But
we are not responsible for others The
Haithlessness Of others will never cx-
ruse US for failure TO perform the OBJ
legations that rest upon Us. Further
more. II some are false this fact should
stimulate the others to increased fidei-
lty. Instead Of Sinking church mem
bership we should desire 1t and be
faithful to II In order that we may of
pet the harm done by false professors
n Christianity The expensiveness OF
church membership is often used as
IN argument against IT. The church
nu., of course, be financially support
ID. and In our country this is done
Dr.ncipal!y, as 1t should be. by the
members of the church But the
church only expects its members TO
give In proportion to their ability. This
principle makes ii possible for all TO
support the church aud at the same
time not to burden themselves In 50
aoing. No valid excuse was ever given
Tor failure to join the church where
the opportunity exists. The logical re
suit is therefore that we should unite
ourselves with It.
2 Church membership is a duty
Confession Of Christ is one Of the re-
quirements in the salvation OF the soul
-If thou wilt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in
thine heart that God raised Him from
the dead thou shalt be saved" The
place where this confession is made
Is in the church. 1t Is undoubtedly the
place where ii should be made To
neglect to unite with the church. there
fore, is to fail to perform the duty of
confessing Christ.
g.. Church membership is beneficial.
1t throws around US safeguards
against evil: it brings 10 US the inspira-
don and Joy of Christian fellowship; il
provides the best and greatest oppor
tunities for serving Christ: through
membership in the church our infiu-
ence for Christ is enlarged The world
decides whether we are Christians or
not by our relation to the church. IL
we are not church members we are not
usually looked upon as Christians, and
the influence Of our example is against
Christ, no matter what we may think
of Him In our hearts Christ Himself
loved the church dearly. II is His
bride. His disciples should love IL. be
enrolled among its members and be
fAithful both to Christ and the church
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. Xvi. Ills; lxxxiv. 1-12: lxxxvii,
II; C, is; cvi, 1919; cxxxv. Is;
cxxxvii, 10: Matt xiii, 1920; Acts II.
A2-4T; Eph. V, 20. %; Heb. K. 1926.