Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-07
SACRED REGARD IS NOT
J GIVEN CHURCH OF LORD
In Popular Thought the
Church Is Simply BeneG.
cent Institution.
Ncr. w. Il. Gibson In sermon at
Droadus Memorial Says the Church
should lie Put Higher Than Lodges
and Charitable Institutions.

and Charitable Institutions
Speaking on Tho Dignity OF the
Church" at Broadus Memorial Church
yesterday morning. Res. w. Il. Glib
son. d. D., the pastor. took HIS text
from Acts XIX rs: Tho church OF
God which iIe has purchased with
His own blood" Hs said tn. church
of our Lord and Savior does not have
in tho view or the public In general.
nor even In the View OF some Chris
tian people. the GaCrcd regnrd that
bclongH to II. la popular thought
the church IS AMPLY one OF the btne-
rcent end Bene"oIunt Institutions @.
tho world. - Is placed alongsido Of
charitable Institutions and lodges and
huch have nothing to say against
those organizations which have as
thoir aim 20 alleviate suffering, 70
promote comfort and happiness. and
70 advance material prosperity and
aoctai purity. There arc greut
many secret societ.ea and humane
ipntituttons that are doing greut
good In tho world. Many of these
bsvs como into being through tho
:nouonoo of ChriHtianity, and they
arc doing something toward maxi
Ing the world a better place in which
To Two. and some OF Thorn arc aiding
In no little measure the advance m on |
OF tho Kingdom of God. wish oil
such abundant prosperity and Greater
power for good.
But MOI one OF these organizations.
however sorvlcoabis II may DO To HUI
mainly. IL in the same category with
tho church OF our Lord Jesus Christ.
some ono may dnrna tho Christian
church rs nm assembly Of men and
women who hold distinct religious
V,nws, who have high and holy pur-
poses In itfo, and who arc unitsd in
bonds OF brotherly love to advance
the Cause nj ChriHt. Tho church truly
~ all OF this, but q is vastly NOR.
IMAM this. prominent Christlun
loader has VOL said regarding tho
chorch: II IL not n Development O.
tho moral. religious or social n,,ur.
or man: IL Is not produce Of tho
human Intellect. 1t Is a supernatural
and vital union. a new creation. a
divine organism"
Christ Shed Hood for Church.
III This IN true. and ] beiiev. Il
w. Then the church has 4 dignity
which no nerniy human inetitut,on
NAV The faGt Ia, for which there ia
abundant scripturai and historical
proof. God has had everything Ia do
with tho formation and porpotuu,ion
OF mo church. The dignity Of Tn,
'hurch Is the dignity which belongs
10 ,hat which God Himself has made.
ana nAh" ho!y, and In which He Him.
sclf dwolis- Our ScriNur. SAY, th,,
Institution ia Tho church OF COD
which He hath purchased with u,g
own blood" Christ shed His blood
'or the church. but Christ Is God.
therefore,. gays thr apostle. church of
iod which He has purchased with
ms own blood" Another Scrintu,.
says: Christ loved the church ana
gave Himself for n" II is IN. oh.
Ject q! His dearest love and tend.r.s,
care. ard II is in real, vital. essen
va! union with Him. He IS It's M,
ana poVer. It's guiding mind un1
governing spirit. Tn. church \,
FhriHts body. What touch.a m.
uFch TOT Marin touches Him. what
abuse Is hcaped upon the church 10
hrapcd upon Him: what wr,o,. q.
SuH"rs are wTonss against Him. Men
shou!d takn care how they sneak
ilEhtiy or the church. they sn.a,-
i'shtly or Christ: aud take care how
t"eS CAL Gods people hypocrir.s
th"y arc pronouncing Christ a hyno
THO; and take caro- how they nj.
'emn to deceive tia church IN ,,aL
PERSONAL gain by imposition unnr
~" members. they are attempti,p
20 deceive God and lying to tho IInIv
most. God most impressivcly Taught
Ill for
al! Time a.! ., .-s, %! AI,,,io. ,d
H"pph'fd. TO make Il personal gain
thoy thought to deceive the chur.p
but in lying to IN. church thev IIeI
10 Goa. 10 the Holy Ghost, and were
rmiften with death, carried out from
me church. each corpse Saul Of
laTsns prosecuted the church Of God
ana wasted II; but when Christ mo.ts
MN on tho way To Damascus Ho
says 10 saul OF Tarsus: Il am Jesus
OF Nazareth whom thou perseculsth
Whom Saul laid his hands on Chris
lianS and Imprisoned them and had
them Hcourged and put to death he
was prosecuting Christ.
IN speaking Of tho church h,vc
h"t IN mind an indistinct. ideal
ma ihdtl"e assembly; have in mind
distinct. living. local assembly or
believers. identified with Christ NM,
united In the full beliof OF His t.oab.
inGs. and covenanting to do Ills corn
uandmentH. When the APOSTLE Paul
speaks here of the church OF Con
which He has purchased with TN.
own blood. no is speaking of tho
church at Hphesus. local. Visible
body OF Followers
Whatever may he said Of tho wboIo
bouy or believers composing tho
church universal may be said NJ IN.
local church. There is not a cir
nor blessing, nor an honor nor
power which the whole body has
which tho individual church does M,
have And so I am emphasizing tho
dignity OF the local. individual church
1t is the church OF God. purchased
by His own blood. tho dwelling place
Of His Spirit, His agency. His in
strument to express His life and
power. and to do His work in the
world.