Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-03
TROUBLE With CHURCHES
Baptist Minister Discusses Interest.
Ing Subject.
some PERTINENT QUESTIONS ASKED

| DR.. kester says fnoiHeFencS OF moms
bership Is Weakening Influence Of
the chureh-some Church Members
Think They Can Live Anyway and
Get to Heaven.
What is wrong with the churches?F
This was the subject OF DR.. Kester's
sermon at the First Baptist church OF
Yorkville Tuesday night, as he stood
before a congregation nearly filling
the church. mr.
Let us study ourselves as PROCESS
ing Christians and the organization OF
which we are a part-the churches.
When we consider the numbers. the
culture and the wealth of the churches
and survey what they are doing, we
must confess that they are far from
being powerful. We are utterly fail
ing. We want to inquire into the
source of the weakness and see II we
can find a remedy. tsJ ~
Statistics show that in America the
Roman Catholics lead In numbers with
the Baptists more than eight millions
strong, closely followed by the Metho-
dists,. the Lutherans and Presby-
terians-totaling for the Protestant
churches more than twenty odd mil
lions Less than 100000 American
soldiers went into the fighting Of the
World War, but think what a tremen-
dous influence our boys had In that
war. Are we as church members as
patriotic to the Christian cause?
II cannot speak for the other de-
nominations" said DR.. Kester "but
our churches and boards. north and
south, are finding 1t necessary to re-
trench. In spite Of our people having
money, many of them rich. the sup
port is not being given the churches"
The source of the weakness OF the
churches Is not in the Lord. He is
just as powerful today as when he
thundered on Mt. Sinai, or divided the
Red Sea, or worked the miracles
through his Son, or raised Him from
the dead. He is just as anxious to
help us today as he was the Children
Of Israel. or David. or Jesus or Paul
or Luther. He il anxious to see us
powerful and useful. ~ - i
What are the sources Of our weslt-
ness? General indifference to the
whole business of the church. Our
lukswarmness-neither hot NOR cold.
Love of the world, afnusernents the
race for worldly wealth. There are
many in every community who are
church members somewhere. but they
are not lined up with the local church
and with God, and do little or moth
ing for the churches in, which they
hold membership. Luxuries and
pleasures are all they care about, and
so break the Sabbath, leave the
church at anytime without giving
thought to God. Like Samson they
give themselves into the lap of Delilah
and she has shorn them of their
power.
What is ChristianT asked the
speaker. am afraid there are some
church members who think they can
live just any way and yet get into
heaven. Christianity is a life. It is
not a creed or system ofsbelief. There
is danger in that some are likely to
think that IL we subscribe to a certain
creed or faith we are Christians. That
is superficial and cannot stand the
test. 3.
Christianity is the Christ-life re-
produced in us. 1t is vital. essential,
and will be manifest when one has It.
It involves the whole OF our lives
will, mind, affections. Christ the true
vine and from him we are to receiye
his life-not any kind Of life, but his
life. All Of US are living, but not all
of us are living Christian lives. Listen
to this: "Whosoever hath not the
spirit Of Christ, is none of his"
This touches our character. We
may deceive mortal man. We may get
by in this world on regulations; but 1t
will take more than that in judgment.
There is no need Of trying to keep
your name on the church roll IL you
lie and cheat and live worldly. God
looks on the heart and will demand q
Christ-like character sometime :.
Christianity is life dedicated to
Gods kingdom. It Is not merely. "a
good, pious life. II Is an active life,
for God and kingdom service. The
good tree will bear fruit-the branches
will bear fruit. Faith without works
is dead" Why call me Lord. Lord.
and not do the things command you."
If this church Is weak 1t Is because
the members are weak. The church
does not mean the building, it means
the membership. >
What is Christianity? It Is a life
that Is regenerated and made over
and when we can say with Paul, For
me to live is Christ" the church will
become strong.