Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-14

The preponderance of the task
before the present-day church in
bringing before the modern man his
obligations to his Creator and how
nest to meet them, form the basis
for the majority of contributions re-
ceived during this last week on the
question, What is church,"
Swift moving civilization, en-
bodying the basic principles of de-
mocracy, have grown out of the laws
taught in the day of Abraham and
Isaac.
But in the mad rush for the al
mighty dollar many devout Chris
tian has turned into follower Of
the "money-changers' who were
driven from the church by Jesus
Christ.
Domination of the obvious rites
and ceremonies now employed in
the worship of the Supreme Being
has gradually slipped to the wealthy
church members.
But with the evolution of the
world through the recent purging .r
the greatest military conflict ever
seen in the history of humanity
comes the realization that Chris
tianity must begin with the heart
and that outward semblance of hon.
age to the God of our fathers is but
form and mockery.
Conceptions of serious minded
citizens of Nebraska concerning the
proper duties of the church and its
functions follow. Contributions to
the. discussion of the church are yet
welcome. The open forum will be
continued for brief period in the
future.
Combination of Three.
I offer, in part, answers and ideas
which may help to solve your time
ly questions beginning with:
What is a church, Is it
building. minister, assemblage, or
an ideal?
Permit ME to claim that a church
is = combination of the first three
foregoing definitions, and more, the
aim of which is to express an ideal.
The means and ways of execut-
ing this mission are many and
varied. A church is place where
one should learn more of God and
how best to worship Him; how to
develop the divine spark in each of
us; a place to learn'the meaning of
the God-inspired writers, whether
they be those of B. E. or A. d.
down to the present day.
"a large proportion of the world
POUNDS its church services on the
teachings and example of Jesus
Christ, Moses, and the Prophets, in
GLIDING the apostles of Jesus-the
one perfect sample man.
Jesus. Christ, on his human side,
sprang from the devout and cody
line Of King David
$50 the purer the parent mind,
the purer the child and the easier
for him to cope with every condi-
ton until he works out his saliva
ton here and now.
Has Huge Task.
There was never 50 much work
for q church to do as there is in
the present day. Commercial condi-
stions and general unrest have rem
dered most dwelling houses little
more than places in which to hastily
care for the superficial demands of |
the body.
THE united family about the
reading table before the warm glow
Of the fireside in the long winter
evenings is no more. The senses
mostly unframed, are attracted to
places of excitement and amusement.
They lead others to do the whole
list of the forbidden things.
The public schools have ever-in-
creasing duties of their own and
can hardly do for the child what
should be done for him in the home.
"The churches must rise to the
pressing need of improving the race.
Each visible church is a repre-
sentive of the one spirit church
where we worship in spirit and
truth We nourish our whole be-
ing with the word Of God.
st is found in words filled with
living substance. One God, one
Creator, one Mind, one Life, ever
present, all wise, all power, am in
seperablc from that everywhere
present all inclusive Being.
Outer Form Forgotten.
This is but the faintest illustra-
ton of opening the thought to the
will of God, that all the attributes
Of the one Life may manifest
through you and me when we learn
Elis way.
when we taste the meaning of
spirit-hlled words, their outer form
Is forgotten.
when we prayerfully, with = |
heart of praise, realize the presence
OF the spirit, we forget the form
md fixtures of the mere building in
which we gather The thought must |
Be lifted up to God before we can
worship Him Alright.
"a church, then, is also center
to which one draws in order to re-
fresh himself at the Life fount, while |
the thought is turned from the outer |
world, the ear closed to material
topics for the time being, that the
whole man may be revivihed, that
he may better perform each duty |
that shall present itself under any
and all circumstances.
Feed Ny sheep is the divine
command to those who understand
how to break the Bread of Life to
others.
The meaning Of inspired words is
life to those who find it and health |
to their flock. Every man that has
Ears to hear let him hear now.
Wisdom Is Fuel.
& "A church flock shows the kind
Of words digested, just as the sheep |
aock betrays food eaten.
1T is said, too, Where there is no
suel the FIRE goeth out II
The life fame within US gets low