Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-05
Among Cburcbes Of @rfat falls
Decries Religious Bigotry
as a Stumbling Block in
Way of Christian Progress
The Rev. We're " Loper of First Congregational
Church in Sunday Morning Sermon Declares
Bigot Tragedy in Amy Field

corporation. They had the ability to
outgrow the narrowness which they
evidence in this incident, but unfortun-
ately those who took up their burdens
have nver taken seriously what Jesus
commanded them at this time. The
than that Christ conquered the grave.
They do not study the Bible in the same
way that they formerly did but 1t Is
the inspired word OF God to them. They
only insist on thet right to study it in
telligently as well as prayerfully.
"All of this has brought tremend-
Gus uproar in religious circles. Those
who style themselves liberals have de-
nounced the orthodox people. They
have told men who have studied the
Bible all their lives that they are moss
backs. Their ridicule and sarcasm has
at times fallen on devout men and
women, who have spent lifetime in
the service of the finest interests OF
early spirit Of bigotry which the disci-
pies evidenced has become more eter-
nal than the spirit Of the Master. We
know this as we read with sorrowing
hearts Of the great prosecutions which
sincere men have endured because they
east out devils in the name of Jesus,
but did not belong to the religious
hierarchy. All the splits. which have
torn the church asunder, would never
have weakened the church in her work
had Christians taken this one incident
to heart.
Sins Are as Great
yet our sins are as great as those
of our ancestors. Denominations are
still born but seldom die. Great church
es still say that they will not cooperate
in any way with their fellow workers
in Christ. They, like the disciples,
think they have monopoly on Chris"
tian truth.
Within the various churches and re-
ligious groups we see the same spirit.
The study of modern science and philos-
ophy has revolutionized the thought Of
many genuinely Christian men and
women. They are just as firm as ever
in their conviction that the great heart
of religion is tied up in the life and
teachings of Jesus Christ. They know
the mighty meaning of the cross of
Jesus is still the central message of
christianity. They recognize that there
is no better attested fact in history
life. The same spirit has been mani
fest in the other camp. Men whose
ship-wrecked faith has been salvaged
by the liberal approach to religious
problems, have been denounced because
they dared to share with others what
saved their religious life.
Great Central Ground
Would that another Christ might
come to our generation with his warn
ing words, Forbid him not He would
find the great central ground Of rea-
son, common sense, and piety. If he
applied any test 1t would not be
whether churches had bishops or mod
orators; or what creeds were accepted.
His test would be that which he ap-
piled in the greatest address which has
ever been given to men BY their fruits
ye shall know them
"The time has got to come when as
Christian people we are willing to judge
men by their fruits as our Master did
We must see that spirituality. a warm
evangelical spirit, fine application OF
the word of God to the problems of
life, an exultation of the cross of Jesus
is not limited to those who hold any
particular theory Of these things.
Every man must work out his be-
1iefs by thought. study, and prayer, and
hold to them. Yet he must be willing
to grant the same privilege to others
who are sincere, thoughtful, and devout
The church will never be united on a
creed. The walls of ancient cities were
never successful in either holding
friends inside or keeping the enemies
outside. The cities grew beyond their
walls and enemies broke them down
The creeds Of the church will be no
more successful. They will not keep
the saints inside the church or the
sinners outside. The common ground
upon which all Christians must stand
is one, of action: perpetual warfare
against the forces of ungodliness, and
eternal glorification of our Lord and
Master. Then, as Zecharinh has said
Jerusalem shall be inhabited as viii
lage without walls of reason of the
multitude of men therein. For l. sayeth
the Lord, will be unto her a wall OF
five round about, and ] will be the
glory in the midst of her,