Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1923-12-28
,Assther Versiisa Of Lack
I, OF Church Attendance

Us tOr puDucStlOn ana ID IN erect q
reply to or collaboration Of the
article upon this subject in the pre-.
lceding weeks paper. Both articles
are printed by the Journal for any
igood they may do in a matter OF
Sommunity concern. but further dis
eussion will have to come under ad-
Teftisement since We feel that such
matters may easily become subjects
of a many-sided controversy which
has no proper place in the news
columns.-Editor)
read with interest the article in
last weeks Journal regarding the
, churches and church members. The
writer of the article inquiries what
is the matter with Monte Vista; why
do so few people go to church now
a-days and why are the congrega-
tions SO small. condition that can
readily be seen at this day and age
OF fast living. In the first place.
there is a wide difference between
the person who calls him or herself
a Christian. Some so-called Chris
tians like pleasure-seeking and friv-
olity more than they do the house
of God on the Lords day.
The further query is made, What
is the matter with Monte VISTA"
There is nothing the matter with
Monte Vista: it's the people in II.
Monte Vista Is one OF the cleanest
towns in the valley and her early
citizens should be congratulated up
on never allowing a saloon inside
OF the city limits. We have good
school and church privileges and
that is what good people want in any
community.
To my personal knowledge there
are nine church homes in Monte
Vista in which the same God is wor-
shipped and for this reason should
he recognized as well as Christian.
Methodist. Presbyterian and Baptist
As read the article l thought 1t an
injustice to the ministers of the
other churches not to be counted In
for they are worshipping the same
God
Now to get back to the back
slider. l don't think II is for us to
say who is a backslider or who Is
not. Every person is responsible for
his own souls salvation and the
bible says "by the fruits he bear
shall ye be known" Now l think
can explain why there Is such a
poor turnout at all our churches
and use the following for an Illus
tration: You have gone through a
great forest and you have seen n
monstrous tree that has fallen. Well.
it's dead TO the rest Of them and so
with the church member OF today
he has strayed from the path OF
righteousness and Is self-righteous,
probably carrying chip on his
shoulder and don't come to church
on that account. something that ten
year old school boy would not do
And again. We have others that have
laid their letters away in n trunk
or elsewhere that are like the fallen
tree-dead to the church and his
feliowmen. Another thing that keeps
lots OF them away from church on
the Lords day Is the greed for
money. When Sunday comes where
Is the man that was once converted
and baptixed In the faith and was
walking In the newness Of life? I
think he can answer this question
better than anyone else and he will
admit that he should be at the house
of God with his family. And what
are such so-cailed Christians doing
now? Crucifying our Savior anew
and denying him. Then again there
are others who have lots OF stock to
look after and when Sunday comes
this Ia the biggest day to do that
work and build fences and do other
oNQ Jobs which he has piled up all
weeA. to attend TO especially on the
Lords day. He has gotten SO cold
that he don't think about his church
obligations and should he there with
his presence. Maybe he is sitting In
the house smoking an old strong
pipe and giving his good wife and
babies 4 second hand smoke or read
Ing the daily paper or doing some
thing else. say the Lord deliver
ms from such. II we are Christians
let US show ourselves approved and
live II and make our calling and
our election sure.
For Christ and tho upbuIlding OF