The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-10-13
(By Rev. G. C. Greenway, Pastor of
What Is the Church Worth to Me?

Wnat AS Ine OnuTcn worm 10 we!
Christ also loved the church and
gave himself for it."-Eph. 5:25.
Introduction-Th hope of the
world has been in every generation,
and is today, in the church. The
greatest need of the church today is
men, and the greatest need of men
is the church.
There are too few people who at
tach any real Importance to the
church. This no doubt is because so
few have given the matter any con-
sideration. What value has it been
to you? Would it have made any ar
ticular difference if you had been born
in China or Japan rather than in
America? Would it make any diff.
ference if you had never heard of
the church?
II we trace the history and infiu-
ence Of the church upon the past and
present do not think we shall be able
to find movement which has been of
such tremendous value and pimpor-
tance to the world. challenge the
world to show me an institution which
has had such an abiding and helpful
influence upon the world and morals
of men. It's leader taught both by
precept and example the highest
form of morals.
1t has really made a marvellous
growth in the face of the stern oppo-
sition which it has encountered
through the centuries. There were
probably not more than 100000
Christians at the end of the first cen
tury. At the end of the second there
were 100000; the third, 5000, 900;
the fourth, 10000, 900; the 10th, 50,-
100000; the 18th, 100000, 900, and to-
day there are probably more than
10000, 900.
Perhaps it has not meant great
deal to a great many people, because
they have not put anything in it:
that is, of time, service, substance and
self. A thing is valued largely in pro-
portion to what we put into it. This
is true of business or of intellectual
attainments and is also true of the
church. AS we give of ourselves in
service and sacrifice we will value it
Your church will mean little more
than you make it mean to others.
| think the church is of value be-
cause it helps one to discover God.
Judge that large percent of the re-
ligious influence which is exerted up
on our lives in the home came through
the church; and this home influence
has been one of the largest factorstin
helping US to discover God.
There are other things of import
Z anee but nothing more important for
man to discover than the fact that
God is, and that we are His creatures
and that He is creator of all. We are
prone to go on in the world forget
ting the fact that God made US and
gave His Son for us; forgetting that
we are under his laws, and that we
r. cannot ignore them and receive His
highest blessings. We could not eX-
pect that he would create us as the
rulers of this world without being
subject to His laws.
Thus the church helps me to dis
cover that / have transgressed many
of His laws and also discover that
it is impossible to live I'D to the let.
ter of the law and merit salvation
but that Christ died for US.
Then it is of value to us because
it reveals something of the future
The church teaches us that there is q
better life for those who love the
Lord. When we talk of the future
there are not many of us who have
very much to say outside of what the
Bible has said. In fact, | do not know
of any other book which has told Us
so much about the future as the Bi
BILE. So, the church teaches US thai