South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-08
RAPS HYPOCRISY
Of CHURCH MEN
Sincerity is Imperative in Re-
IigiOn, Declares Rev. G.
w. Allison.

Nothing is so damnable in relig-
ious life as hypocrisy. The person
whose religion is msincere is worthy
only Of every auathema which the
church and which society can hurL
lie is pretense. "a sham and "a fraud
lie wins only criticism for the church
and added condemnation for him
self and i'm addition often stands as
a stumbling block to the unsaved,
preventing them from seeing the
real i'm religion on account Of his
parading the unreal and insincere'
said Rev George William ALISON
uastor of Hope Presbyterian church,
sunday morning in his sermon on
the subject. sincerity
Rev Allison said that those out
side Of the church who use the
bypccrite a. "A defense Of their posi-
ton speak as though they expected
the church 10 defend him. The
church does not even wish 10 defend
hvpocrisy but condemns IT. even
more strongly than the outside
veorld. In speaking further on the
subject of sincerity. he said
Defines sincerity.
Sincerity is n word coming from
the Latin tongue and means with
a.. wax and came into use prob
sbfv through the custom Of Dotters
wasting tho cracks in faulty vessels
- as to veil their faulty rasping ring
when tested. And a pot was sin
ce~e' when IL had no waXed or hid
den cracks. Sincerity demands of "A
life that il actually be that which II
seems or pretends 20 be.
"In Jesus words two men went
up unto the temple 10 pray the one
vas hypocrite and the other a gem
uiue penitont seeking forgiveness
for his sins. And these two classes
have been going up unto the temple
ever since. save for the fact that the
hypocrite doesn't go quite SO often.
Hypocrisy must be uncomfortable
cen 10 the subject, I'm addition 70
the pain IL causes those who have to
associate with IT,
The sincerity Of Jesus personal
religion with an of its unusual claims
T. Sayiourhood is eminently attested
by reason of the fact that there was
never a charge OF insincerity
brought against Him even by enc
mics who were sharply alert for an
opportunity 10 destroy His influence.
Md meanwhile He most unmerci-
ally naycd their hypocrisy, speak
ing Of them as 'whitCd sepulchres,
beat tfuI in outward appearance,
but .nwardly fun of all uncleanness,
rottelness and dead mems honest
They were those who washed the
outside of the cup. but left the in
side fun of NTH one of these could
scarcely get comfort out OF the
words Man looketh upon the out
ward appearance. but God lOoketh
upon the heart
Imperative in Religion.
sincerity is absolutely imperative
In the matter of personal and insti-
trisonaI religion. We must be that
which we seem or pretend. or, to
t,.ln & about. we must pretend 10 be
only thai which we actually are. BE
sincere Even a s light basis for the
charge Of iusihaerity --"uid be a
mater for serious concern Wtthin the
church. The hypocrite shared Jesus
most severe arraignmCnt
Men sometimes say, ~ doesn't
matter what 1 believe So long as
am sincere in my belief There was
never a more fatal heresav. He
says. III fare all right SO long as
liz. up 20 lieht ] have. We may
ask such a one. But do YOU really
seek more Hght2 Are YOU willing TO
learn. or is your alleged sincerity
only an excuse for Your religious
lethargy % But this is no more true
in religion than in medicine. and 1
have a vision OF YOU going 20 your
physician and saving. Well doctor.
b. doesn't matter what believe
about the poisonous properties of
atrychp.ne 20 lorC rs / am sincere
I'm my belief Even the most devOt-