The Idaho recorder., 1922-02-24
WHAT Is THE MATTER WITH
SALM0N--WHAT OF CHuRCHy

Elias, and others, jeremiah, or One of
the Prophets. He said unite them, But
whom sayeth YE that l am? And
Simon Peter answered and said. Thou
art the Christ, the son of the living
God, And Jesus answered and said
unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar
gona, flesh and blood hath not reveal
ed Il unto you, but my father which
is in Heaven; and ! say unto you, that
thou art Peter, and upon this rock
will build my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it,
That is the church that stands to-
day and is the only true church; ii will
continue to stand until time shall be
no more; il is the one that the pois-
oned darts of unbelief and unfair crit
icism has been hurled at for centuries,
and yet il is the silver strand reach
ing down from the foot of Calvary,
and will so continue until the great
archangel shall blow his trumpet.
1t appears to the layman, that the
churchman of today has departed from
the teachings of Christ and the faith
of Peter at the time the church was
established and .disregards the rock
upon which it was founded. Ii will be
remembered that Mary Magdalene,
who was brought to Jesus by her
accusers, and He said unto them, He
that is without sin among you, let
him cast the first stone. II Is left to
the reader to say how many stones
We're cast. And he said to Mary,
Neither do | condemn thee; go and
sin no more. What a beautiful picture
OF forgiveness; this same Mary was
one of the first at the tomb Of Jesus,
and 1t was she who bore the good tid-
ings to the disciples that Christ had
arisen. BY the forgiveness of Christ,
Mary's soul was made pure and spot
less. 1t is not possible to bring the
sinner to repentance as Jesus did, but
we can Mt least do our best to bring
them back into the fold, for there is
more rejoicing in Heaven over one
sinner brought to see the light, than
over the ninety and nine that went
not estray.
Those who think that just because
they have their names enrolled on the
church books that II is all that Is re-
quired Of them have yet to learn the
lesson impaired to the world more than
nineteen hundred years ago by the low
ly Carpenter of Nazareth, and SO
beautifully exemplifiei by Him on
Calvary's rugged brow, when there on
the cross between two sinners, He
spoke these words, Father forgive
them for they know not what they do"
and il our great redeemed could when
suffering such pain and anguish, ask
the forgiveness of the thief upon the
cross, do you think that we, his child
ren, should try to REDEEM those that he
died to save, and to not criticise with
out using every effort to redeem.
The Pharasees, with US as Of old;
are found in the churches today; they
attend divine services on Sunday, and
imagine that by so doing, they have
fulfilled their Christian duty; one day
dedicated to the worship of the living
God, and six days for the worship of
the god of gold, or perhaps throwing
stones at some poor sinner, and again
advising more capable people as to
the manner of rearing their children.
II is admitted by al civilized peoples
that children should be encouraged
to attend Christ's church and Sunday
schools; such churches and schools are
marks Of progress; the children will
AMI many times, when they are tempt
ed by Satan. they will hear that
small still voice. whispering TO the
soul, Turn not away.
Undoubtedly there are many godly
men and women in the church who
will see to ii, that Christ died not in
vain; still you will always find the
Pharisee who assumes the "holier than
thou attitude, who will rejoice and
exclaim in loud voice, Thank God,
that ] am not like other men. Verify,
verify, / say unto you, they have their
reward. We need more like the poor
publican, who, with eyes turned
heavenward, smote his breast, and
asked God to have mercy on him a
sinner.
In the breast of all of US, there Is
tiny spark Of goodness. All that Is
required, in many cases, Is the breath
OF human kindness TO fan such spark
into a glowing light, and is 1t right
for Us TO sit in judgment, for we are
told in the Holy Writ, TO judge not
that we be not judged, for with what
judgment we judge. We shall be Judged
Christ came TO earth TO save those who
no physician''), and was ever ready,
with kind word and helping hand, 20
bit the fallen, and those who had wan
dered away in the paths Of sin, he
taught us not TO be to ready to con
denim, for we know not the heart Of
man.
We arc not taught TO press iown
upon the brow of the sinner a crown
Of thorns, but instead, we are adnon- /
ished TO place on his shoulders the |
mantle of brotherly love and forgive |
ness.
In expressing these views. there is |
not harbored the spirit of ill-wiH to-
ward anyone; it is simply one persons |
view, as to what constitutes Christian
lty. LAYMAN.
Woman's Club.
The regular meeting of the Woman's |
Club has been arranged for Saturday |
afternoon February 25th.
Roll call will be answered by sug-
zestions from other clubs. Miss Lunney
will talk of her work in Lemhi county.