The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-08-02

Christianity is summoned to a new
bar Of judgment 1t is questioned as
to the fulfillment of it's promises.
The judge is the Spirit of the Age.
He says, You claim to bring good
news, to bestow a more abundant
life. Prove this claim"
When Christianity first appeared
it's birth was lowly; its garb humble;
it had no letters of Introduction from
the great and powerful. 1t turned
from the palace gate and knocked at
the doors of the poor; it sought the
company of social outcasts, sinners.
those who knew they needed some
thing.
1t was not attired in academic
robes lit spoke no learned tongue; it
made no attempt to master the in
tellect through subtle reasoning, and
the learned scorned 1t.
It was no more than a summons to
a new life, a life Of loyalty to the
highest; 1t asked men to give them
selves with no reserves to the life of
love; it promised citizenship in a
kingdom Of heaven, beginning right
here.
Those who understood and began
TO live it were born again. BY that
simple appeal Christianity conquered
the Roman world Then came the
tragedy. The world conquered Chris
tianity and made it over into its own
likeness. 1t became powerful; it
threw aside the robe of a Galilean
peasant and donned the imperial pur-
pie; It changed its nature; became
proud. arrogant, domineering. 1t
could no longer touch hearts and so
It tried to touch intellects. 1t pre-
scented itself as a series of dogmatic
beliefs. If men did not yield to its
teachings it became malignant and
used force. It decked itself in the
cast of clothes Of a Pagan phfloso-
ply; it was not a life. but a theory
Of life. a set of doctrines. Jesus, the
inspiring teacher Of righteousness
entered the Pantheon a god, the sec
ond person Of an incomprehensible
Trinity.
This is why the Christianity Of to-
day is inlpotent; why half Of Indian
apolis is not in church on Sunday;
why many men in the church Sc
cretly despise 1t. but sustain it as
something good for men and chill
dren.
II Christianity is to reassume its
power over mems lives 1t must be
born again, a little child who does
not know much but loves much.
One word sums up the religion of
Jesus, Love. A love that embraces
the whole which we call God; which
stoops to the lowest which We call
man: a love which asks nothing for
itself. but delights in spending itself.
The promise Of Christianity is that if
we give ourselves completely to love
all good things will be added unto US.
DR.. Frank S. c. Wicks Of All
Souls Unitarian Church in the In
dianapolis Unitarian Bulletin.
REV. PAUL w. EDDINGFIELD,
pastor Of the Broad Ripple Chris
tan Church, will preach Sunday
morning on the subject, "A Wicked
Woman" and at night on Reading
Gods Secret Seal"
AT ST. MATHEW EVANGELI-
CAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. Rev.
L c. E. Fackler( will preach Sunday
morning on stormy Weather May
Even Curdle the Cream Of Human
ity" No night service. The vestry
will meet Tuesday night at the par
sonage. The Dorcas Society meets
on Tuesday at Garfield Park.
THE Y. NJ. c. A. GOSPEL TEAM
will have charge of the Sunday night
service at the Brightwood Congrega-
tional Church.
REV. GUY V. HARTMAN of the
Hall Place Methodist Church an
nounces his Sunday subjects as 1.-The
Lilies Of the Field" and Walking
Trees"
DIR. NJ. B. Hyde has returned from
his vacation and will preach at 10:45
on, THE Lord of Every Place" at
Grace NJ. E. At 7:45 his theme will
be, 1.-The Life That Now Is"
REV. JESSE BOGUE, pastor of
the North NJ. E. Church, will preach
3IcTUREs