American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-10-21
is CHRISTIANITY A FAILURE?

The subject for a sermon by one of the ministers of Am
erican Falls last Sunday was SIS Christianity a Failure?"
Every community furnishes its own evidence, overwhelm-
ing and indisputable, that it Us not a failure. The highest
ideals of Christianity may pot be reached, and professors
of the faith of the lowly Nazarene may fall far short of
his teachings, yet every community throughout the civiliz-
ed world has been uplifted by the code He left with the
world. The best men of every community are members
of some religious organization, or believers in the Chris
tian faith. Greed is of little Importance, because the
tents of all creeds are toward a higher state of righteous
ness-an ideal perhaps beyond reach, yet a worthy goal
for which to strive. Take any community with which
you are familiar, and study its people. Which ones are
foremost in working for better social conditions? Which
ones are the more public spirited? Which ones have the
least measure of personal strife and bitterness? Which
ones are clean of speech and thought? Which ones are not
found among the loafers and the g~ossipers? Which ones
are seldom found in the criminal court records? Which
ones are the best models for a young man or a young
woman to take as a guide to life?
There is no installing the answer. Though they may
fall far short of the Christian ideal, though SelfintereSt
may mark their judgment and in a measure control their
acts, yet no well informed person can deny that as a
class believers are possessed of higher ideals, and are
more upright and just in their dealings with their fell
than unbelievers. A community made up entire
ly of people having a Christian spirit is a better communi-
ty in every way than one where such spirit is lacking.
Christianity is the highest standard of justice and puri-
tv. Every professor of the faith has accepted an ideal
which can not do other than make of such person a bet
ter citizen. Individual intelligence, environment, or here
ditary tendencies may distort the ideal to the individual,
with a consequent lowering of the standard of conduct
which the ideal implies, yet who can doubt that such a per-
son is better because of the ideal than he would be
without it.
Christianity is a failure only to the degree that mankind
have failed to apply it. 1t has bettered every community
and improved every individual where its principles have
been applied even in part.
been applied even in part. Creeds are man made and i'm
perfect. They are the Interpretation of the spirit of
Christianity by the makers of the creeds, and vary &C
cording to the enlightment and environment of the max
ers. They often represent a compromise of ideals and are
open to criticism, acceptance or rejection in whole or in
part. as each conscience may dictate. They are only the
ideals of the various sects concerning Christianity put
into form as a platform of principles. True Christianity
is broad enough to embrace all believers, regardless of
creed, in or out of any church organization.
Secretary of War Daniels proposes to have a trained
army of 1,0OO,O 900 men within six years.