The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-25


~ -. association here. using the
above text. He also gave q
public address under the auspices OF
the association. He had crowded
houses and earnest attention. On the
above text he said in part:
I address you, dear friends, as Chris
tians. students of Gods word, and not
as sectarians. Although the world Is
full of denominations, each claiming 70
be the church of Christ, we all admit
that there is but the one Church OF
the frstborns whose names are writ
ten in heaven" (I1ebrews xii, 23). This
conviction is being borne IN upon US
more and more as the days go by, and
as the eyes of our understanding open
more widely to the teachings of God s
WORD. We realize increasingly that
our division means our shame IN the
eyes of the world. and that our credal
contradictions imply that We are not
all led in all things by the Holy Spirit.
the teachings Of which cannot be Yea
and Nay upon the same subject. 1t is
this sentiment which is taking hold OF
the ministry of all denominations and
making them anxious for an outWard
show of unity in church federation,
which will shortly be effected. The
Christian public however, and espe-
ciaIly Bible students, are not deeply
sympathetic with the federation idea.
They realize that at most 1t would be
a gloss of deception so far as doctrinal
oneness Is COuCCIHSds anu lAAeAS OhhOh
wise it is but business or worldly
combination.
Bible students are more and more
coming to prefer the Lords way-the
scriptural way. They are coming to
realize that what Gods people need is
cation, not more explicit creeds but
the one standard Of fellowship which
the Bible sets up. They are learning
that this simple creed is:--a turning
from sin and acceptance of the Lord
Jesus as the Redeemer from sin and
death and the full conservation of the
believer mind and body, to know and
to do the Lords will to the best of his
ability, under the Lords providential
guidance We all see that this simple
bond of fellowship Is the only one laid
down in Gods word, and that whatso-
ever is more than this is injurious
bondage to men and to systems. we
all see that "the Church of the Living
en-" is composed exclusively Of such as
conform to the terms Of this simple
creed-that these alone will constitute
"the Body of Christ which is the
Church" = "the Bride. the Lambs
wife" whom he will accept and unite
to himself in the end OF this age. We
all see that this class alone is referred
to in the scripture as "the elect, who
are to be associated with the Savior
in his glorious spiritual kingdom,
IL.
be established in power and great
glory for the blessing of natural Israel
and through her for the blessing of all
the families of the earth-liV1ng and
dead.
'eWorkmen Not Ashamed"
Let us consider the latter part of our
text first. The apostles suggestion IS
that Timothy and ali the ministers of
the gospel Of Christ are professedly
workmen laboring under the guidance
Of Gods word. In the larger sense
every Christian is a minister of the
gospel. or, as St. Peter declares of all
the consecrated, eye are a Royal
Priesthood. a Holy People, a Peculiar
Treasure In the end of the age vii!
come reckoning time, showing OF
results EVERY mans work that ne
hath wrought shall be made manifest"
Il Corinthians iii, 49,.
Our text urges that Timothy, and
every faithful servant of God should
be SO loyal to God and his message
that in the great time of examination
in the end Of this age preparatory TO
the introduction of the kingdom the
showing shall be one of which we need
not be ashamed. Let us, then, as
Christian Bible students of all denomi-
nations gathered here today. ask our
selves respecting our own work In the
world, and now it must appear to God,
to ourselves, and to our felloWmen-
yea. how it must shortly be made
Let us call the roll. Baptist breth-
rem, what have you to show as work
men who need not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth !?
Methodist brethren. what say you -?
Presbyterians next. Congregational
lists, Lutherans. Catholics-all!
The answer of one is practically the
answer of all: eve have-so many
hundred churches. They cost-so
MANY millions of dollars. Their stee-
ples are-so high. Their cost of main
tenance $50 much. The number of
ministers $50 many. The church col
Iections amount to SO much The
amount collected for foreign missions
$50 much. The amount expended
on fine choirs and elegant organs is