The New York herald., 1922-02-06
FAITH UPPERMOST,
AYERS DR.. IRELAND
Christian Religion Needs to
Mind Its Own Business,
He Says.

There are too many people trying
to ''out-God God" who ought to be
holding their tongues instead of passing
Judgment on others, said DR.. Karl Rei-
land. rector OF st. Georges Church. in
Stuyvesant square. yesterday in his SER
mon. He continued:
I'VE have no business deciding what
the atmosphere OF the house of God
shall be. The Christian religion needs
the God given gift of minding its own
business. Stop telephoning. writing and
talking petty judgments and in place OF
these things fill up your life with doing
Gods work, by doing more, not so much
by the number Of things you believe, but
by the way in which you behave. All
the belief in the world doesn't get you
anywhere in comparison with one little
thing-belieying on Him with your soul.
mind and heart"
DIR. Reiland preached on the lesson OF
the elder brothers conduct and attitude
as related in the parable of the Prodigal
Son. His text was Luke XIV. 2S. The
Importance which this young man at
he pointed out, was not unlike the pres
ent condition of the Christian church.
He went on:
II am some times appalled, when
think of what people consider important
in Christian experience to-day. They
may no longer go to church in such
numbers actuated by fear they may
not come to church actuated by the
spirit of love for II. But Is the church
to blame? How long is this going TO
last? What shall We do? Is there fresh
orientation which we can get?
Just now in England there is a great
deal of trouble with a class of clergy
called modern churchmen. On account
of a conference which was held last
summer, it seems as If truth is threat
ened. and heresy and trials impend. l
take it that that indicates the way
things are going. There are questions
about the origin of Christ. what the
meaning of His life was. and what of
the Divine and Deity.
controversies Nonsense"
''Why that controversy has been going
on for 1900 years and it never gets
anywhere. True, our attitude of mind
mas greatly changed toward these
ing embers. blown by the wind. flare up.
Something is decided here and there in
localities and then every one settles
back into the harness pulling the load
of heavy organization. Is that going
on forever? / wonder il 7 will shock
your sensibilities If ] say that 1t Is
nonsense.
There is not single man who went
across with our armies, or who may
never have gone across. who doesn't
know this one great truth of human ma
ture which no man can gainsay. You
may believe just what You want to be-
lieve: you may believe all the articles
of the faith: you may be absolutely per-
soma grata in any church In the world
hold office, even become an Archbishop
If you willard yet when you go out
into the world to come in contact witt
those who have not been brought up as
you have. when you mingle in small
group Of people, that group will not care
the snap of finger for what you pro-
fcss: they will not care for your prin
cipes but for your personality. Thes
will not care for your mental luggage
but they will care tremendous lot for the
furnishings Of your heart They will moi
care for your system of cerebration, bu
they will care great deal for YOU
system of humanities.
"The first thing / think We ought tt
bear In mind is that people care more
for character than your creeds; for tho
spirit living in you than for any system
of philosophy or religion.
"If you are laying up for yourselves
| treasures in heaven, and those treasures
| in your mind represent the number o.
services you have attended in your life
time. or the number OF things to which
you have given money. the number o
| board meetings you have attended. tn
number of times you have come to com
munion or the number of people yot
have brought to communion, I tell yo,
now that ! don't think God will know
one bit about those things.
"No value I'm Prophecies"
"rll tell you why. because Jesus sale
on one occasion to a group of men tina
they had never done anything in Hi!
behalf. They asked if they hadn't pro
phesied and done many wonderful works
But that isn't what God looks for.
aren't we putting up our own little
conceived systems just as the elde1
brother did when the Prodigal cam,
| home? We have no right TO judge 9
single sinner 1t is none of our business
We are not going to out-God God. There
are too many trying to do that to-day
II would be better for them to hold theil
tongue. Such talk in this city. OF small
people and great. is such silly hypocrisy
that Jesus would damn II IL He were
here.
IF any one says he doesn't believe al
that others say of this. that 1t is toe
difficult. or he believe so little that hi
doubts II he can get along, / want tt
tell that person not to worry, but make
that little work. Make II work in your
humble daily life. Deepen your sin
cerity and your honesty right where you
are. Submit to that frankness in self.
examination which you demand OF
others. And instead OF saying whether
a man is poor churchnan. a high
churchman. no churchman. Unitarian
n Christian Scientist. let's stop
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