Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-23
MOST DANGEROUS INFIDEL is
uNFAITHFUL one Within TINE
CHURCH, SAYS REV. w. A. GUY
Unfaithful Lives Within Church Have Four
fold Detrimental Effect Upon Cause of
Christianity, According to Pastor of Broad
wav Christian Church in Sermon ON lnfidels

vague theories and so exalted them
as to make a religion of them.
Their theories have an attraction
about them; they make them ap-
pear as beautiful and reasonable
that many are deceived as to their
true nature.
1t would seem that Paul had
just such men in mind when, in
Col 2:S, he warns the early
Christians to beware lest any man
spoil you through philosophy and
vain deceit, after the tradition of
men, after the elements of the
world, and not after Christ"
say this group is far more dan
geibus to true Christianity than
the first because the first definitely
stated that they we're enemies of
Christianity and that they sought
to destroy it, while the second
claim to be the friends and OK
ponents of Christianity and so de-
ceive many as to the true nature
of their teachings.
However, we are beginning to
awaken to the situation. A great
protest is being made by the Chris
tian manhood of Our country
against this destructive criticism.
We are finding that it is nothing
more than German Rationalism,'
the very thing that has killed the
spiritual life of the German peo-
pie and made that nation what she
is today. When once our people
realize the destructive nature OF
these teachings. the power and in
fluence of this group will be
broken.
The third class of infidels is by
far the largest of the three and is
undoubtedly far more destructive to
the life and power of Christianity
than either of the other two class
es. The me mbers of this group are
found in all our churches, and
their names are on all our church
rolls They profess to love God
and to honor Christ, but their lives
of Indifference dishonor Him. OF
such Jesus says in Matt. 1873, This
people draweth nigh unto Me with
their mouth and honoreth Me
with their lips, but their heart Is
far from Me" This simply means
that the religion Of these people Is
all outward and meaningless. They
claim to be members of the body
of Christ and yet are unfaithful
servants.
These people would be Mortified
should we call them infidels, and
yet that is exactly what they are.
The literal meaning of the word
is 'unfaithful." These people then
are guilty of infidelity to Christ
| They are untrue to Him, disloyal
/ to His cause. ] said that this
/ group was far more dangerous tc
/ the life and power of Christianity
than either of the other two groups
and 1t is true. This group is with
in the church. the world is looking
to them as examples of what Chris
can do for men. and the worlt
sees the emptiness of their lives
! and desires none Of their religion
Christ said, "Yc shall be witnesses
unto me-" but these are false wit
nesses.
The effect of these unfaithfu
lives within the church Is four
fold. They have a detrimental
effect upon the world They arr
q poor advertisement for tn
church. They have deadenin;
effect upon the church. sapping it
| strength and destroying its powe
and influence. They have dis
heartening effect upon the minis
ter as their negative lives Target
outweigh his teachings. They de
ceive themselves, thinking tina
they are Christians, yet knowin
nothing of the real joy Of tn
Christian life.
Christianity means nothing if
does not mean larger living. hap
pier living, more fruitful living
1t is said of the early Christian
that 'they continued steadfastl
in the apostles teaching and fel
lowship and in breaking of brea
in prayers" Such loyalty bring
a Joy of soul and peace of lif
that nothing can destroy. Sue
loyalty and faithfulness on tn
part of Christ's followers woul
give a power and influence t
Christianity that all the boastine
and destructive criticisms of a
the infidels in the world would b
as naught when compared with 1
+. C. Baird tells the followin
story:
Just yesterday attended a grea
e,aoYaI ,1oatin0 Tho oh Gfrnf