Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-21
ByBishoOW. A.Candler


. S-.-Dle imagine that this fact indicates
something wrong with the Church, cut
they are mistaken. In Apostolic times
some said with reference To the Frlflli-
tive Church. Concerning this sect We
know tnat everywhere Il Is spoken
against The trouble. however, was hot
with the Primitive. but with those VINO
spoke against IL -
This did not surprise the early chris
rfans: IL was what they expected Insir
Master had said 10 them beforehand. "As
shall be hated OF all men for my name
sake The disciple Is noI above MS mas
ter. nor the servant above his LORD II
n enough for the disciple 10 De as ais
A Master. and the servant as his LORD II
they have called the Master OF the mouse
BeeI7ebub, how much more shsA 1hey
call them OF his householdE
In the fuIeGCsssOry prayer OF ouI
Lord made on behalf OF his followers
ne night before he died. he said 10 me
Fathar. II have given them Thy WORD
and the world hath hated them peos--
thew are not OF the world. even as l am
not OF the world"
IN = world OF sin. an individual OF an
organization. standing for the righteous
ness Of God can not expect 20 Pc
2roved OF men Jesus Chrlse. "nS -
universally confessed 20 nave SHOWN
form sinIess perfection. was so hateo
r1at ha was not permitted 10 live as Lohs
a. rhfrty-dve years The great ana SoOo
C.oa Of heaven and earth Is not popular
A tha world. So. Paul gives US the rea-
ao, for this fact when he says me
carnal mind is enmity against GOu-
Mark the words; II is not sald the ca q. ia -
lind a at enmity with God, out II =
5000 tbsf the carnaI mind is itself
tnca-nate enmity 10 the an-loVins Fa-
Their In heaven -
II man are thus hostile 70 the Al
,,szhtv E-zther and II the world cruclheu
tha only begOtten Son why shouio II
b thought a strange thing tnal Ile
CHURCH OF God is criticised ana CetlsuL
sd7 II il were not thus censureo' theEe
would be reason 10 suspect It's spir
ity- :. t.s
5tvt,ast forms il hated and cruci-
Tad- the corporate body which STANDS
for the work OF God In the WoELu
can not escape similar tres Ilsee
such an organization Is q reouke 10
All unrighteousneSs, and hvlhs
condemnation OF all sin: and since II
is thus In conflict with the "orn
tvvrong-doiug, Il much incur lneNltA-
bly the opposition OF the "OrIu-
Mos men are rsldy TO approve
rbrfstfanity in the abstract; out
v-bsn the principles of christianity
are applied concretely 10 nnat1eIS
Trttb which they have TO DO. they are
instantly aroused against II Nnen
thus aroused. they proceed 20 hnS
fault with the organized FORM -
rbrfzrfanftv because they are unWli-
ing 10 incur the Odium OF attacAlhs
tLe nrinciples OF christianity Hence
.ba,- SaaIs TO discover Offenses IN IN
dfvfduaI christians. or blemlsnes IN
some Church. Which they may usS
:, sort of .-tu sluclue argument 10
offzet the cor 1emnaJi0fi wnieh 'hsS
feel that they richly deserve
some men having determines %
course of vrongdOInSs or na'lhs
10000 in sin. seek the advantage u
Ss.s.'r- a., ere irst word, and thus they
,-a.-taka 10 attack the church IN au-
80. On the church's condemnation o.
80 de.ds This attack Is as oid as
-sbzb When that wicked kihs Ne
t-o,,gb+ all sorts OF disasters upon Is
-,sI nv his nefarious deeds, on meet
,nx the prophet Elijah. he broke gu. GU.
,-ftl an .accusative interrogation
shou he that trOubleth lsraeII
80 unjust indictment the unterrlneo
rsyrsrad. 4 have not troubled
Ts-saI- but thou. and thy fathers mouse
!, tb.t We have fOrsaken the COMMAND
r,sDts OF the Lord and thou hast toiio"-
-. church OF God might make just
e., t1.s same answer to its modern &C
.ussrs They have troubled the couh-
~ and yexed all nations by their Sshs'
md they are ready 20 assal the ehdFch
and divert attention rom their own
crimes. -.
This f. especially true OF some VINO
- baen most kindly aided by the
-burrb and who have turned migrate
r,,II1-- AGAINST II Ingratitude Is Al
z-avs verv- bitter for the simple reason
.b.t IN Justify its own existence IL must
.lIere great odenses against its oene-
F.ctor A man who has been helped
nv a loan from a friend, and VINO re-
fuses 10 repay the loan, generally pc
comes the enemy OF him who oe1riehoeu
hin In like manner people who have
-acefved benefits from the church. anu
nave sinned against Il, become VeHy
bitter toward IT.
There IS still another fact which
should not be overlooked in considering
4 tafs matter OF the censuring OF the
church bv the world. The fact TO which
references is intended is the ease with
which the fauIt-dnding spirit can utter
cynical criticisms. Cynicism CONFORMS
10 the current OF the carnal mind, and,
therefore. f. is very easy for even an
ordinary man, or woman, TO say brighl
things in accusation OF the good. This
sort OF satire is about the easiest spe-
clss of composition possible. For It's
production neither Intellectual strength
nor moral power Is required. IL can be
spoken, or written, without much prep
aratfou, and with the smallest degree OF
culture. II one has few scruples and a
habit OF hatred. he is amply Qualined
20 say all manner OF bitter things &C
companfed with a measure OF bright
ness False lights frequently shine in
bozEy places as the result Of the rottins
processes found in such places In like
manner there are coruscatiOns OF cor
ruption thrown OF by malignant minds
In defense OF the Church against its
accusers IL ia not necessary 70 claim
Tor it exemption from all fault what
soever II must be admitted that the
church IS not perfect CandOr requires
this admission: but candor requires also
that we acknowledge what is indisput-
ably true. namely, the Church Of God
includes the very best people living or
the earth. and IL is the only hope OF
the world for redemption. II il the only
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