The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-10-17
SHOULD ATTEND CHURCH
Three Kinds of People Who Ought to
Go to Church.

ought especially to go to church regu-
larly. For them absence from reli-
giOus services is not only a mistake
but serious fault.
The first of these classes consists of
those who are church members. Some
of these, indeed, are absent from the
services because it is impossible for
them to attend but there are many
others who are extremely irregular
in attendance who could easily be pre-
sent every Sunday. These owe it to
themselves to be in their places regu-
larly.
One great reason why they are
members of the church is that they
may be helped by the church into a
larger manhood or womanhood If
they come only now and then they are
missing probably the very message
that they most need and those they
hear are SO infrequent as to be of COM
paratively small value to them. OF
the inspiration and enlargement that
comes to the regular attendant they
receive very little so that the very end
of their church membership is missed.
Paying school taxes or enrolment on
the school record doesn't give a man
an education and giving financial sup
port to a church and being member
of it does not insure religious enrich
ment. For his own sake the church
member should go to church.
Then the preacher needs to see the
members OF his church in their places
in order that he may do his best work.
Nothing so encourages the preacher
as to see his regulars coming into the
church door Sunday after Sunday,
rain or shine. Nothing can so dis
hearten him as to read in the absence
of his members the opinion that his
sermons, the climaxes of his weeks
work, seem to his own people of so
little worth that they will not come to
hear save when inclination and cir
cumstances make it altogether easier
to come than to stay away So the
members of the church add to the ef-
ficency of their preacher or substract
from it by the regularity or Irregular
ity of their attendance.
The third reason may be put in a
sentence. Every time member of a
church goes to it's service he is say
ing, my church is worth attending. ."
Every time he stays away without suf-
ficient reason he is saying to all his
neighbors, my church is not worth at
tending" 1t takes very attractive
service to draw those who are outside
the church over barrier of non-at-
tending church members. II you are
a member of any church get all you
can from its services and put all the
courage you can into the heart of your
pastor by regular attendance. Move
on! Move in! Clear the path that
leads to the church door so that those
who are outside its membership may
follow you and hear the proclamation
OF the Gospel, perhaps, to their saliva
tion.
The second class who should attend
church regularly, at least for some lit
tie time, Is made up of those who Wig
orously oppose the church, who re-
gard the Bible as myth and religion
as childish superstition. If the multi
tudes OF intelligent men who believe
that religion Is Of the very first i'm
portance in this life as well as the
next be right and these opposers
wrong-which possibility they must
admit unless they are swallowed up in
boundless self-cOnceit-it is thing
OF great concern to them to be sure of
their position. The only way to thus
reach assurance is to attend church
regularly long enough to become thor
oughly familiar with its teachings and
practices. If then they continue in
their attitude they will be intelligent
opposers and not make themselves ri
diculous In the eyes OF thoughtful men
by t,.eir absurd blunders concerning
the church and it's work
Tho Nd ~
who are ever ready to compliment the
church and to argue that the church is
a good thing but who seldom pass
through ita doors or sit in its pews
II the chufch and its presence In a.
community does not enhance the value
OF propertyhnd increase the Joy of liv-
Ing and conserve the morals of the
people and DO add to the welfare of the
community let such men cease offer
ing It hypocritical praise. II 1t does
these things in any considerable mea-
sure let tham stand by the church In
fashion that will count for some
thing. II IL has faults these men who
are unbias4d In their judgments are
specially akle to help correct such
faults. Th4r regular attendance on
the servicef'if nothing more will mean
mucn 10 those who are working to
make the Church q real force for good
in the community.
In short. II would be most excellent
thing II we would all go to church re-
eularly for 4 while, starting next Sum
day Contributed. i
nome Visit4re Fxcursien Via Oregon
6hsrt Line.