Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-01-02
What Is Christianity?
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(6y the Rev. Charles StelzIe.)
The difference of opinion, anon
men with regard to the nature IF
Christianity is due to the fact that it
has to do with LIFE and with MEM;
and as life expands, our conception of
all related subjects changes. We do
not believe about anything just what
we believed about it ten years ago.
provided that We are living and grow
ing. A row of fence posts placed
alongside the road will remain the
same for many years, or, until they
rot, but row of trees planted in
the same place will grow and hence
change, every day, because they are
living.
The fact, therefore, that mems opin-
ions concerning Christianity undergo a.
change is nothing against it. It is
rather in favor Of Christianity and in
favo rof the men whose minds are ex-
banding. For while the fundamental
basis of Christianity must always re-
main the same, and while the funda-
mental principles of mems characters
are eternal both are capable of in
finite expansion. They cannot be
limited to the ecclesiastical termino-
logy of the theologian In the one case,
nor to a narrow Interpretation of life
In the other.
Our conception Of Christianity de-
ponds largely upon our peculiar ma.
lures or our previous environment. To
the Russian Jew. Christianity means
the brutality to Kieff or Kishenieff. To
others it means the Catholicism of
South America or Of, some half-en1ight-
ened European country. To still
others it means the Professionalism of
former generation of even the mons
trosities that have grown round about
/ in our own day. But these are not
fair Illustrations Of any of the churches
or denominations involved. Organized
labor demands that 1t shall be judged
not by its worst characteristics, but
by its best hopes and aspirations. By
the same token, the church must be
judged not by its weakest but by its
best output But we are discussing not
the church, but Christianity. We are
quite ready to confess that the church
has not always truly represented Chris
tianity.
Neither is religion" Christianity.
Some men are very religious, but they
are not very good Christians. 4 You
have heard of men who have become
insane because they had too much rei-
gion, but you never heard Of a man
who became insane because he had too
much Christianity Christianity is not.
q scheme to increase the population
Of heaven. It's cardinal principle is
that given by its founder: HE that
saveth his life shall lose It, and he
that loseth his life flor the sake of his
fellowmen9, shall find it" It's purpose
for It's followers is not to get to-
heaven, but to bring heaven down to-
earth. Principally, then, Christianity
lis character and life-the posses
sion and the manifestation Of the life
and the spirit lOf Christ. Not essen
tally the life Of the monk, on the
"Pharisee," or the stole, or the aPuri-
tan these may all be Christian in a
very important sense, but they are
abnormal The healthy Christian life
Is lived in the world among men and
Is interested In their everyday affairs.
Il Is lived at the primary and in the
labor union. It Is lived In the shop
and In the ONCE. There Is nothing
which concerns the well-beng Of men
which can be alien to the Christian
life It does not involve q belief In
an impossible dogma. It does not de-
mand an absolute acceptance Of the
inspiration of the Bible It asks
merely that the man who wishes to
-