Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-22
SERVICE IS NEW
 NOTE IN RELIGION
Central Baptist Pastor Says Saved to
 Serve Should Be Our Slogan.

The New Note in Religion was the topic of the Sunday morning sermon delivered by Rev Joel B. Slocum, D. D., at the Central Baptist church. The as He that Serveth. Rev. Dr. Slo- cum spoke in part as follows: The new note in religion is indicated by a single word that twenty five vocabulary as thought it had just been born. That word was "service.' The word itself was not new a quarter of century ago, but it gained new notoriety because it put itself at the head of new movement.
 This movement has been going on with increasing momentum during these last two decades.
 The nature of this new emphasis is best indicated by taking notice of some new phases that have come to pass in the thinking of people. God has not changed but mans con- years. We no longed think of Him as remote, isolated and executive, but as inmanent. We no longer feel that God is simply a God of justice and of God of powers, and great King over all the earth. but that along with His omnipotence He is also infinite in love and mercy and compassion. It looks very much as though the world had been getting acquainted with God and that instead of finding Him stern and vindicative and unapproachable in the splendor of His righteousness, they have discovered Him to be tender and compassionate and approachable in the daily occupations and affairs of our common earthly lot.
 Sin has not changed in all the his tory of human affairs. And yet our conception of it has changed. We no longer see it as simply something man has inherited and therefore something that he cannot be responsible for: but we see sin with all it's ug1iness as something that man entertains and as something, that. whatever it's origin, man keeps committing; that sin dis turbs mans relations with God and also his relations with his fellow men; God and selfish disobedience of the will of God. We used to lay it off on the devil. Now we hold man re- sponsible for sin and its consequences Sin has become all the more terrible to us inasmuch as we see how deadly an instrument it has become in the hands of man.
 And also during these last twenty five years we have gained a new ap- preciation of the Bible. By all the light that has been thrown upon it's sacread pages. it has become no less Gods book, but all the more mans book. We have come to see that the Bible is not a mystemious fetish with the name Holy on the back of it as a suggestion that we are to worship it. but a great library of sixty-six volumes, not all of equal value. but each adapted to it's purpose and each bearing message to meet some pe- culfar need. We trace through all these books a great purpose that comes to it's climax in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. We are com ing to believe more profoundly than ever in the Bible as the word of God, not simply because we believe it is uneQualy inspired, but because we know it inspires. By it's fruit do we know 1t.
 Then, too, spirituality has come to have new meaning for us. No longer spirituality which retnres into some secret place and there sits and sing Cor prays) itself away in everlasting bliss. That was all very well for the holy name is not necessarily the one that spends all his time in prayer or in holy meditation.
 Josiah Strong twenty-five years ago startled the world with his little book, The New Era, for he ehere set forth the conviction that not every one who saith Lord. Lord. but he that doeth the will of my father who is in heaven.
 Jesus and the select three went to the top of the mountain and there were witnesses of the remarkable glory of God in the transnguration. The disciples wanted to stay there for it was a holy place, but Jesus led the
 
 where His and their duty lay with people.
 That is a very apt suggestion of what Jesus has taught Us in the new emphasis.
 And we are coming to see that sal vation means not simply the saving of the soul but the Reorganization of humane society, the cleansing of it by the spirit of God. That salvation does not simply apply to the life that is beyond this but especially applies to this life in all the problems that be- long to society.
 Salvation is not simply a matter of spiritual safety for the life hereafter, but spiritual right living for now.
 It is matter of clean thinking and clean living right here where our daily task is.
 There are great tasks to be accom- said he was to the Romans. He said also: Though I be free from all men, yet have I enslaved myself unto all, that I might gain the more. It is the judgment the test questions then put are not what creed did ysu believe and what synagogue did you attend and how often dod you go. but did you feel hungry, visit the sick, clothe the maker uplift the fallen.
 This great work of making the world better is committed to us.
 Great wrongs have yet to be right ed. Social justice must be secured. Better understanding between capital Better conditions for labor. Better housing of the poor. Better laws for the protection of the young. In a word, to give everybody a fair chance.
 But in all this, the world is moving towards the morning. Look back only a hunrred years and then see how much progress has been made. Look forward and let us make this the slogan of our devotion to Christ, Saved to Serve"