Western Kansas world., 1918-10-24


called guerillas.
effective. demoralizing, and disreput-
able. 1t damages the very cause it
tries to help.
In like manner there are some peo-
pie who claim to be Christians, but
who refuse to join the church. Like
guerillas, they unconsciously damage
the very cause they ought to help.
They cannot give single good reason
for their position, but there are many
reasons why every Christian should
join some church.
Z. There he can render the most ef-
fecfive service. He is one of many,
who are all working under one COM
lnander and for the same end, and
who. collectively. can accomplish hat
could not be done separately. If it is
a good thing to have churches in
community. then Christians should
support them.
Remove the churches from a town,
and property would. depreciate. busi-
ness would decline, and all good peo-
pie would move away. Sunday would
become a holiday, life and property
would be unsafe, and the town would
soon have such bad reputation that
no decent person would move into it.
For this reason every Christian owes
it to himself, his family, to society,
and to his God, to join and support
some church.
II. II is the only consistent position
for Christian. In the church his in
fluence will help and not hinder; for
Van outsider, who ought to be in the
Church, damages the cause of Christ
just as much as an insider who ought
to be out. A Christian who refuses to
join the church practically says to the
world that the commands of Jesus are
not binding or important, which is not
true.
III. A Christian who does not Join
the church will soon lose his Joy, and
perhaps his hope. If, knowing his
Masters wish, he refuses to comply
with ii. he cannot be a happy person.
He may be a saved man, but he will
lose the joy of his salvation. And If
he loses his joy he will also lose his
power. for ''The joy of the Lord is
your strength"
~. To be member of Christ's
church is the highest honor this world
affords. Its sacraments are the most
sacred. its literature the most sublime,
and it's fellowship the most sweet and
enduring All lodges and other or
ganizatiOnS are man-made affairs, but
the church is divine institution,
founded by Jesus Christ, guided and
guarded by the Holy Spirit, having
for its mission the evangelization Of
the world. and for its destiny eternal
fellowship with God and heaven.
". If it be objected that there are
swer is: Yes, it may be true, but
Jesus Christ is no hypocrite, and he is
the life of every church"
Remember also that when the
church goes through the peariy gates
there will be sitting, and the hypo-
critics will be left on the outside of
the gate. on your side. unless you obey
Christ. and you will have to spend oil
eternity with them. Would it not be
better to. live with them a few years
in the church than to spend all eter-
nifty with them elsewhere2 You must
spend some time with those hypocrites
somewhere. Where shall it be7
VI The Christian who refuses to
join the church, dishonors jesus Christ.
lt - hke proposing secret marriage.
He Is willing that Christ should die
for him. but he Is not willing to live
for Christ. or even to acknowledge his
relation to him. He desires to be
saved. but he Is not willing to serve.
He wants the benefits Of Christianity
without the sacrifices, whereas the
sncrffices constitute nine-tenths OF the
-benef1ts.
l~4
Enc meanness OF 1t Is wen illustrated
by the relieving story: Doctor Lorime.
once asked q man why he did not Join
the church. The reply was that the
dying thief did not join the church
and he was saved ~Weu,- said the
doctor. III you do not belong to a
church. you help support missions, OF
course1"
No. said the man. ssThe dying
thlef did not help missions, and he
was saved. was he not
YeA said the doctor. Il suppose
he WnS but you must remember that
he Wns . dying thief. whereas ron aro
= Aving one.s