Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-09-07
NEED OF WORLD.


Then drew near unto Him all the
publicans and sinners for to hear Him.
Luke 10: l.
That the church and the world are
drawing further apart Is common re-
mark.
We do not believe that the schism Is
AS vide as many think, nor do we De
lleve that is is growing. The church'
bcyond all denial, is exerting a pro-
found influence upon the age, ana the
world is no slower to-day than ever 10
resoect religion that bears the marks
OF sincerity.
Nevertheless, It Is too true that there
Is far more of such an alienation than
there should be. Our text shows that
tbe case was not such with the founu-
or of the Christian religion. lhere
was nothing in His manner or words
or life that repelled the multitude But
saws the inspired historian, "Ihen drew
near unto Him al the publicans anu
sinners for TO hear Him." And these
wore the very ones who most needed
His divine counsels! Let us ask, theh'
why it is that the church too orteh
seems TO fail in getting into such llv-
Ing touch with the world as TO Trans
form it as it should.
First, because of the attempt TO sec
ularlze its message. This Is the device
of pulpit charlatans and sensational
lists. In order to draw the world the!
nore off all the distinctive marks OF the
church They withdraw the claim OF
divine authority for its teachings. Ihey
rcrudiate the supernatural in Its origin
md history. They square all It's tenets
with narrow reason. so that there Is
left no sphere for the larger exercise OF
faith If the world wants anything IL
wants the real gospel, the WORD Oh ile'
Another reason, no doubt, Is the rail-
,re of church members to Illustrate the
religion they profess. Very true, the
world is too exacting here. 1t forgets
, that church people have many lncoh
sistencies and in many respects snow
the same weaknesses as others and ye
be sincerely pious.
S Still. religion must radically chang'
: the nature. 1t must make one a new
4 creature. 1t must give one new mas
1 fer motive. And when the church doe
! not show itself a nursing mother of th'
( craces of love and humility and unself
ishness and brotherhood the world MAJ
e a right to question It's claims.
i A third and chief reason for too FIRE
J. oucnt alterations Is an Incorrect anC
Y III. lust presentation Of religion. IL
n many spheres of life which the worl'
/ rightly regards as innocent the churcl
C IS often made to take hostile attitude
e chasm is forced between piety ant
It the ordinary ways Of life. Temperance
e IS confounded with abstinence. Libert,
!, is labeled with the tag of license. I'M
II spiritual life Is divorced from the nat
? ,lral. TO come to the church men ar
l. asked to deny what Is justified by thel
IS common sense. One-sided religionist
= overlook the fact that man can legtl
# mately love and enjoy life, art, beauty
e pleasure, without loving God the less
W but only the more.
e. Nor do these austere notions trul
y represent the historic church. In he
3 true, worldwide character she has al
a. ways been characterized by broad, lit
e eral, rational and joyous conception
of that piety which is pleasing to Goo
who is love, and who as Father re
70 joices in the happiness of His children
a Let then, "the children Of light b
a wise in their generation" toward tn
70 worldly and unsaved. And let the worl
- abandon its misconceptions and preJu
"a dices as to genuine piety and the worl
- and the church meeting together, relil
- ion will prove to be that benign powe
y, for Righteousness, joy and sonship O
. God which it was meant to be by tn
g eternal Author.