Arizona republican., 1910-06-12
Salt River Valley News
SCOTTSDAlE.

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ScOttsdale June 1.-THE Duty OF
Going to Church." was the theme oil
Rev VIM. Mcleod George in his ser
mon Sunday morning at Scottsdale
He took as his text, Hebrews 1928
Not forsaking the assembling of our
selves together, as the manner of some
is"
He said this is a plain text on the
duty of going to church. Not occa-
siOnally, on Christmas, or Easter. OF
Thanksgiving, but every Sabbath day
being a regular. When Paul says
not to forsake il we imply that he Is
talking to people who have taken NJ
i'm some measure at least, with church
going. Let us gather at first few
reasons why men who have taken mp
with church going. tend to forsake it
| will name first the pressure of
worldly business. This is a woman
excuse as well as mans. Many a
mother helps to get the family started
and then lies down at home herself
Many man intends To come, but by
eleven o'clock is SO engrossed with his
store. or his ranch, or his books, that
church is crowded out.
Some people stay away because they
do not like the minister. They may
not have any great objection to him.
but his preaching does not interest
them. SO they quit coming. or it may
be some member of the congregation
is giving them offense.
Some people stay at home because
they prefer a quiet home day with
their books, or in the open fields Such
a man will say, Il believe that God is
everywhere. that l can get as near to
Him in my own library, or under the
trees, as can in the church service.
That brings me To my first reason
why we should not forsake the habit
OF regular church going.
l. Because the church is Gods
house II may sound very beautiful
to say that God is everywhere pres
ent. and that we may meet with Him
in one place just as well as in another.
But this is not true. The Bible from
first TO last teaches us that God makes
IA difference in places. In the story
of the first family upon earth we find
Cain and Abel bringing an offering to
the altar. What is an altar? 1t Is a
meeting place with God. Turn over TO
the story Of Abraham. and every place
he pitches his tent he builds an altar
unto the Lord. When Israel wandered
through the wilderness they had a
movable church as God had command
ed Moses on Mt Sinai. Let them
make me a sanctuary; that | my dwell
among them" When they we're settled
in Jerusalem they set up the temple
upon MI MOriah to which all Israel
journeyed at each great feast 10 wor-
ship the Lord. God has always made
a difference in places And so in the
New Testament Christ founded the
church upon His own divine person,
saying unto Peter, Upon this rock
will build my church" He does not
say the church. but my church, for the
church, with Christ, was a labor of
love. As you prize your acquaintance
with God. seek Him in His appointed
place.
If. The church is the source Of all
our spiritual strength and well being
David said of the church. "All my well
springs are in thee" People who
come 10 church are not spiritual giants
but pilgrims, fOOt-sore, and weary,
VINO seek the sanctuary of Gods house
as the shadow of a great rock in
weary land. They go from strength
to strength. Every one of them in
Zion appeareth before God. II is true
To many a Christian experience that
when we come to church feeling the
worst, we go home feeling the best.
The provisions of God make it so.
Many a man is in Gods house like
Elijah under the juniper tree. needing
the ministration of angels lest he die.
Ill The church represents the work
Of Christ t. forsake the church is
not only to forsake His fellowship, but
To forsake His service. Christ has
given to His church the greatest task
that was ever entrusted to any aSso-
citation of men When He said, Go We
into all the world and preach the COS
pei to every creature He comiuis-
stoned the church Ia do it all. There
is not righteous cause on earth that
we can leave unaided, with honor.
There is not a naked boy under the
trees in frrtherest Africa that we can
leave to perish, with honor. | have
heard men object to the church be
cause il Is always asking for money.
asking for help, asking for workers.
Before you object to the church for
that, / would have you consider the
task that the church has in hand.
Christs work is a work for men. not
something to be delegated to the wo-
men and children. The women have
had their shoulders to the wheel un-
aided long enough. Ii is time for every
man who prizes his spiritual manhood
to take a mans part. You men know,
here, the despair of finding men who
will make a full hand in the hay field.
But have YOU ever thought of the
straits of the church to find men who
will make a full hand at religion.
Miss Pernie Frazier of this place be-
came Mrs. Ray Merrill, the first of the
week. The young people will reside in
Mesa. Circumstances made it neces-
sary to have a very quiet wedding.
Mr. Ware has been having some
trouble with his cattle. He found them
scattered all over Sunday morning.
The Indian thresher has been laid
up for repairs. The boys work slowly
but are doing splendid work.
The Indian header has beeen at work
on Mr.. Miller's grain this week. -
Mr. Robins has been here several
days putting up hay on the Showers