Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-10
Cwri,ten for Tho Times. pispatch,,

i"ere nave Dceh great changes in
the world during tho last 100 years.
These changes have affected not only
material things. but also our whole
mental and spiritual outlook upon life.
In the past ono OF the most impressive
attributes of christianity has been the
way Christianity has brought itself
INTO harmony with the demands of each
succeeding century. Christianity has
peeh abb" TO answer the needs of the
succeeding Gcnerationss III Il way
which declares as nothing else could
mat Christianity is alive; that II is the
thurch OF tho Living God. Dead
Things never change, but "a leading
characteristic of live things is the
power OF adaptability TO the needs and
demands of the time.
With the church the question is not
whether 1t is adapted TO some previous
period in the history OF the world
The supreme question is whether IL is
IN vital sympathy with the needs OF
this age and generation. Has il an
answer FOR the longings of men and
women to-day? In the groupings of
this generation for the realities OF
!tc can II point out the way? Upon
mo mental doubts and COMMISSIONS OF
inc twentieth century can ii shed in
'erpreting light? In tho modern
world men and women often are not
satisfied with the old stcrcotypcd an
s"ers which used to be given to The
questions of mind and heart. The
church, II il is The Church Of tho
Living God, must enter into the new
age trying 10 be responsive 10 the
trnest and deepest need OF the times
what kind OF a church does the mod
crh world need If II is TO speak tho
language OF this age?
MODERN WORLD NEEDS
4 PRACTICAL CHURCH
First tho modern world needs n
Practical Church. This is the most
practical Of ages. The church must
he vitality connected with lie. The
world is Interested in living as never
before. 1t has outgrown a merely be-
iicNinE church, and demands also a
church In the midst of the daily ac-
tiTities of life. Christianity has be-
come In this generation not merely a
system of thought. but also a method
ana spirit OF daily life. The religion
or Jesus as emphasized in this TWEEN
teth century becomes a rule of life:
one not merely TO think b. or to be-
lieve by. but also 10 live by This is
the spirit of the practical. everyday
church. whose members no, ONLY rnno.
sunday. but 20 forth every day I'm tho
week. Carrying into the world the
Christ spirit.
Next. modern world needs n Simple
church. One which does not ernpha
size the intricacies OF theology The
world Is tired. and cares littlc for
scctarianism with its hair splitting def.
in'tions and distinctions What II
wants is simple straightforward re.
liEion which emphasizes the great real.
tics, allowing the minor things TO sink
into their secondary positions Re
ligion in itself is not a complicated
thing. and the modern world lcrgs 70,
its natural simplicity.
WORLD NE,EnS
CHURCH or INSPIR ALTON
Next. the world needs "a church Of
inspiration. Inspiration for men and
women that the waste places Of their
hVcs NAY he stirred into life. The
church must not be satisfied with
awakening only the heart or the will.
but must also try to stir the mind
into fuller activity. The ,rues, wor
snip Is that which awakenS the whole
being into fuller life. This Is the
more abundant life, which Jesus said
He came to give.
Next. the modern world needs
church OF refreshments Did il ever
need one more? How busy the world
is How occupied with it's undertake
inEs. Can there be a sublimer task
than giving tired, overburdencd hui
manity new life and strength TO pur-
sue the onward way? What does the
tired weary soul need? 1t needs TO
great aspirations OF life 1t needs TO
be lifted out OF its daily round and
given deep breaths OF purer air IL
needs to be brought into better har-
mony with the eternal currents OF
the spirit. II is this new adjustment
which brings life and rcfreshment.
Bodily WEAKNESS slips away after
climbing the mountain when the top
is reached. The vast view, with all
us enchantment stretches out on all
sides. and the former fatigue is for
gotten. SO the church must reveal
the wider horizon. 1t must uncover
tho hidden springs which bring re-
freshment II must send forth the
music which irvigoratcs into new life
and strength the dragging feet upon
the weary march.
NEED VITAL CONTACT
WITH REALITIES OF LIFE
Business men are breaking down
continually. But they are not break
ing down from overwork They are
breaking down because they are trying
to live without the vital contact Of
their spirits with the great realities
of life. They are trying to live by
he nourishment of their bodies alone
When tho great strains come these arc
the ones who are the first to fall
Man cannot live by bread alone" The
tired business man. the one over
hurdened with his weeks work is the
one who most needs the strength and
reVlVifying power of true worship.
The man too tired to 20 to church"
Is the one who most needs the stirring
and refllinS of his soul. as II comes
In contact with Gods spirit. awaken
Ing even his tired body into new life
and power
Lastly. the modern world needs
church which is more Christian than
II has ever been i'm the past. a great
preacher once said: I'VE had better
not talk of giving up Christianity until
we have tried it," The world needs
church which will gladly and
earnestly try Christianity as 1t has
never been tried before. endeavorinE
with all It's consecrated life TO nut tho
spirit Of the Christ into the world