The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-11-21
After Peace, the
Church's Opportunity
BY Rev. Guy E. konke'.

BY Rev. Guy {. konkc'.
Next to the birth Of Jesus Christ,
the coming Of peace is probably the
greatest event in the history of man.
Every nation and practically every
community on earth are effected pro-
fouridly- The prophecy OF Scripture
that all things shall be made new is in
large sense being fulfilled today New
governments. new ideals for nations.
new fellowship for the peoples of the
earth. made possible only by such a
universal calamity as the world war.
The days OF reconstruction are al
ready upon us. The hard job is ahead
1t is easy to tear down. to destroy, to
kill; 1t Is difficult to build up. to re-
store. to make alive. Not only must
Russia, Austria and Germany exper-
ience a new birth politically and NOR
ally; the forces at work there in a
striking and revolutionary manner will
assert themselves in all countries.
Everywhere evolution must work quiet
ly but surely, or anarchy and revolu-
tion will rear their red heads and push
their way through blood. Either we
must build wisely and with the spirit
of prophet. or the forces of life will
In our day the Church has had the
opportunity OF the centuries. Its to-
morrow will wear the glory of used
opportunity or the shame of the task
shirked Some leader there will be.
II should be the Church: 1t may be
the Church; by the grace OF God 1t
must be the Church. Had the Church
been utterly true to its mission there
would have been no world war;. shall
her neglect bring upon the world in
the days to come worse scourge2
Think of Russia and the new nations
In the making in Central Europe. Will
the Church dominate the situation
there or will every other force make
its impress first? Shall politics be gov
erned by the old spirit of suspicion. in
ternational relations by the old strug-
gle for supremacy, and business by
greed and competition! Or shall the
spirit of Jesus Christ rightly inter-
preted by His Church have chance
in these relations for once?
Think OF the returned soldier. He
has been In big business. A church
with a spirit too small to undertake
great things for God will not hold him.
He has fellowshiped. marched. fought
and shed his blood with men of all
faiths and of no faith. When he re-
turns home bigotry will disgust him.
anu OuT StItdfihli pt
his laughing stock The Church that
spends practically all its income on
itself and begrudges even small gifts
to missionary work Will seem puerile
to this man who risked his all for
others. Given a task worth while he
will do things for Christ and the
Church as he has for democracy" and
the peace OF the world. This man Of
action must be barnessed to mans
Job. Most OF our Churches are short
on real mems Jobs Our imaginations
have atrophied. Should they offer
their services tomorrow we could not
use ten live men without dispiacing
the few now at work.
In sense the Church has adjourned
its local activities during the war.
With our boys we have sent our pray
ers and interest and love. But as
never before they have experienced
the deep things of religion. An atmos-
phere OF genuine spirituality must
bathe the Church for the soldiers sake.
Imagine his disappointment II he finds
God less easy TO find in the Church
than in the trenches.
The thunder OF canon has ceased.
The silence appals. The ears of man
kind are strained for heavenly har-
monies. Whoever speaks a real mes
sage today will be heard. Let the
] Church speaki Let her tell OF the
Savior who loves justice, righteous
ness. peace, and love. Let her preach
and live brotherhood. Let her be a
neighbor and brother. Let her be
about the Fathers business and she
will bind a saddened and suffering
world to the heart OF God. Millions
OF prayers. hundreds of thousands Of
| missionaries in the home land and for
e.gn fields. and multiplied millions Of
money are demanded in the immediate
years ahead. The Church's opportun-
/ iy now knocks at its door. This chance
will never return, and will not linger
long. Every member must carry his
share of the opportunity. The Church
and the world-need demand our ut
most loyalty.