Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-16

lis True Christianity Losing Ground?
That fs q question that l would like
to say q few words about in the PEG.
pies pulpit Christianity, as taught
i by Christ and exemplified In his life,
Is not losing ground; the individual is
not losing In respect and admiration
for the perfect life of Christ, and de-
sire (unexpressed perhaps) to have
that life; and SO long as that Is true,
Christianity cannot lose. Church.
ianity'' may be losing; and IL it is, it
is because 1t is losing its position as an
instrument in showing mankind the
true life Of Christ, and in that sense
I believe "churchianity' lis losing. Too
many church organizations, and too
many ministers, are permitting men to
be in the front" of their organiza-
tons, whose daily lives give the lie
to their pretensions Of having the
Christ life or spirit within them; and
that has the effect OF that church or
ganization losing ground as an instru-
ment to show to mankind what the
Christ life can do for the individual,
and the result is. the individual loses
faith in the church organization, and
cases to induce the individual to lose
faith in the true Christ life, but he
falls. In our daily intercourse with
men, we know that is true; because
how often we hear persons in different
walks of life who, in talking of Christ
Unity say, Now there Is Mr.. H-who
is living his religion" or, "Mr. Cts
living like Christian and don't belong
to any church; that Is proof Of the
great admiration and respect that man.
kind generally have for the Christ,
who said Il am the way the truth and
the life" 49,. ... .ss "g,1
What a shame it is, that men will
take advantage of a church organiza-
ton to crowd themselves to the
front" in that organization for the
purpose of securing standing in the
community that their daily lives do not
justify; what a shame it is that organ
izations and ministers permit It;
Christ did not, Studying and gradual
ing in the creeds and isms of Church.
ianity' is not the great need for adj
vancing the cause of Christianity, but
by taking Christ into our daily life,
then we show what the Christ spirit |
can do for sinful man, not to glorify |
but to glorify God and the
Christ. ~ ~ =.
Christ did not die in vain; no his
spirit ;is conquering evil and is success
fully striving with mankind individual.
~, regardless of the ground that may
be lost by "churchianity." Phariseeism
and hypocrisy never has and never will
destroy the. cause of Christianity
Christ warned his followers Of the
rleaven" OF the pharisees, when he was
IN earth, and that warning 1t is our
luty to heed today; and the danger
rom that Heaven" of the pharisaical
'pirit, to the cause of true Christianity
s as great today as at the time he was
lere in the physical body; but though
hat be- true, the Heaven" of Christ
'pirit Is working as strong in the
hearts of men every where today as
It the time he was on earth, and un-
more generally; and that
,ower for Christianity, more clearly
md more effectively through the indi'
'idual who by his daily life (and per-
laps outside of any church creeds or
sms) is giving mankind, an evidence
# the power of the spirit Of Christ,
han all the creeds and isms. Not
very one who sayeth Lord, Lord; r
tut he that doeth his will" Some
hurch organizations ought to "get into
inc" more effectively with :front'
rec from "pharisees," or quit pretend
ng to represent themselves as being
he Church of the living Christ"
would say "get into line" II possible,
nd If you cannot or do not, then the
Individual should not stay where the I
flag" is trailed in the dust; beware Of
he ''leaven." !
Yours for the truth,
A Believer.