The Detroit times., 1916-12-07
In the Religious World
DOES THE CHURCH COUNT

, many Of her leaders. the church is
shaping life fundamentally, and for
10th time and eternity. She alone
las adequate motives TO bring 10
Tear upon human nature No other
program but hers undertakes to
Inake over the essential character OF
mankind.
SO the person who goes into
church work sets his hand to the
biggest task OF all He is serving
the world In the WAYS that count
most because he IS building for
eternity. The highest expression OF
human capacity is found In the man
" no is working most potently in and
thru and for the church.
Because the church is so vital, all
who love her should be fearless In
guarding her against wrong tenden-
oies. II Is a sorry day when the men
Of church settle down in SNUG
complacency. content 20 be mere
members OF an organization that
IL success, when measured by
worldly standards. This lesson Is
the most dramatic OF all appeals for
solicitude for the church. Heaven
cares for the church on earth, and
holds her accountable for her char
acter and her work The church
militant is under the supervision OF
the church triumphant
Seven Spots On the Nap.
When John, the aged, wrote the
majestic and mysterious passages
that will today be studied by mil.
lions OF Sunday school r,embers. he
had in mind seven real churches in
seven real cities They we're not in
heaven but on the map, His feet
had trodden their streets He knew
their Christians by name. Even
row. tho war has closed all of Tur-
keys gates. 4 traveller NAV look for
ward TO visiting the sizes OF the
ccven actual cities, 10 whose church,
es the second and third chapters ol
the Revelation were directed
All Of these cities arc now in
ruins except smyrna which is a
great mercantile city largely dom
mated by the Christian Creeks, but
at present in terror OF tho Allied
warships which sail the Mediterran-
can, outside its guardian portals Of
heauJifu, islands Some of the other
six cities have small villages or
towns near their ruins hut the
cities themselves. which yaunted
themselves 50 proudly r. the days
when John was an ignored exile on
The rocky island. OF Patmos, have
VOW passed away
What John wrote applied definite
Is 20 each church as hs know H. His
characterization were particular,
and thc'. application was meant 10
q Gednir, cases We know enough
history 10 perceive thar the danger
against vhich ne warned the church
cs. we're real md individual and
characteristic: they were rot vague
u'uralizings This ~ 10 be kept
coarly in mind Let rs not lose the
igtorical aspect IF cur studies The
E,blc suffers from over SIiiitualiz-
ina and from making II appear a
manual of moralizinEs
Fearing that fact in mind. we may
20 on g. the clear truth that the
.rIessage TO the -cven churches of
Asia Is applicabla today TO he
church of Christ universally rhc
warning and pleadIngs written
down by The inspired pen OF this
scer Of Patmos are ppGcahlr aEC
appropriate 70 present conditions.
ANY church may End It's own por-
trait in these passages nditet to
The seven churche, of Ana rhis
study should promote church
sense. The lesson viii miss its mis-.
sion with MS, IL it does not help US
t. contemplate tho church in the
large and 10 enter into what may
he termed. in nohlcst significance.
tho ecclesiastical mind. "lIo that
hath an ear TO hear, let him hear
what The Spirit saith unto the
churches"
Az an Oriental Speaks.
John did not write in English for
twentieth century American readers
Ills speech is that OF his time and
his country. fact which would save