The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29


 Its Cure" Even a greater crowd than that of the morning was present. Dr. Thacker took his text from the 22d verse of tho Sth chapter of Jeremiah, using the latter part of the verse-"Why, then, is not the health of the daughter of Israel recovered?" In enumerating the causes of the complaints of the church Dr. Thacker, in part, said:
 'The cause of the complaint of the church is threefold: First, lack of per fectlon on the part of the membership; second, it has come short of it's part in the worlds evangeizaton. Speaking of the first cause, there are three kinds of perfection mentioned in the Bible. Per fecticn of adjustment. as when the dis ciples were mending their nets and put ting them in shape, a perfection which we should scorn to reach We have be- come frightened at the word perfection because We do not understand 1t, and be- cause we have failed to reach it. A proper distr ction of the kinds of perfection will lead us all to strive for the perfection that is made the goal for our endeayor.
 
 tion. Through striving to adjust our lives to the standard set by Christ and reeelv- ing Him as our Redeemer, we are justi- fled. and this is what we call perfection by justification.
 "Perfection of advancement is the sec ond kind of perfection mentioned in the Bible. That is what St. Paul meant when he spoke of forgetting those things that are behind, I pres forward to the mark It could not mean that St. Paul thought he was perfect, for later he says that he was not so The third kind of perfection is the perfection of attainment. This is implied where the Bible says Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect It is impossible to attain this in our life, save that through the atonement of Christ all things ai< done for us through His blood, and when we see Him as He is we shall be like Him-perfect in attainment. We have, however, become adopted into Gods fam fly and -become His children This ia called the perfection through adoption.
 Second Cause of Complaint
 The second cause of the 'church's com plaint Is on account of our having come short in doing our part In the evangeli- zation of the world. Long ages ago il was said to the Christian, Ask of Me and I will give the heather for thine inheritance Yet in this day we have not become known even in all the coun- tries and isles of the world. We are cul- paby negligent in our home religious life in our church life and in the life we lead before the world.
 ''rhe cure for the complaint of the church lies first in greater consecration in pulpit and pew. We must realize oui abilities and dedicate them to Christ The five small loaves dedicated to Him were worth more than a hundred in the hands of ordinary men.
 "The second cure for the complaint oi the church is in greater spirit of sell sacrifice 'Whosoever shall save his life shall lose it. but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel shall find it. The third remedy for the complaint is greater recognition of in dividual responsibility. It is not whai your church has done, but it is what you have done that will call forth the Come yc blessed of My Father on the finai day"
 The soutnside Baptist church and the