Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-02-12
Rev. John W. Wilson
Christianity's Challenge
lCnntinnad from front naeel
(Continued from front pace


people to make a perfect church,
the speaker dwelt upon the high
character and function of the Chris
tian Church as the household of God
the family circle of our Heavenly
Father, the body of Christ and the
chosen agency through which Christ
reveals himself and ministers effec-
tually to human need, and proclaims
the Gospel of brotherhood, righteous
ness and mercy, He then spoke of
the church of today and the funda-
mental principles underlying its eff
fectiye ministry in community life
and a kingdom of brotherly men in
the world
First, it must be a Christ-Center-
ed church as it has always been,
built upon the foundation of the
matchless personality and spirit of
Him who came not to be ministered
unto. but to minis er.''
Second, it must be an inclusive and
not an exclusive organization, minis
tering to all who need and will re-
ceive it's ministration. 1t must not be
an exclusive Club setting up bars to
keep out all but few elite or favor
ed ones. The church is the great
leveler in which no distinction of
wealth or learning or power or social
position have any legitimate place,
but where all are on a common level
before God all weak, erring children
ignorant of the highest and best in
character, and ali needing to be
shown the way in Christ.
Third, the church must be broad
minded and wide visioned, seeing
the opportunities on every hand to
help make more Christian commun-
ity, more Christian Nation and a
more Christian World. 1t must be
willing and anxious to do all in its
power to help make good.
Americans and gooa Christians out
Of every neglected or backward group
of people, whom it must reach with
it's influence and, so far as it has
ability, it must help to spread the
Christian ideals around the world
amongst all peoples. Never did any
gneration of Christians face so great
a challenge as confronts the present
generation. We realize that nothing
90, cave go. y1r.ocou+ civiIi7oti0n ev-
cept the practical knowledge Of the
Christian spirit and ideals, and never
did God in his Providence bring To-
men so great challenge by the very
magnitude and amazing success of
the Christian enterprise.
IF this is the true ideal and chal-
lenge of the Christian church then it
follows, that it deserves the goodwill
and hearty support of all high minded
people in every community. It calls
not simply for their perfunctory inter
est and financial support, but for
their vital interest and their active
sharing in the worship and work OF
this great institution which for 1900
years has been doing more than all
other institutions to rebuild the world
in righteousness. Every good Llan
who believes IN his community and
loves his country ought to stand by
the church and put his life under it's
program. For the spirit of reverence
and devotion to God and instruction
in the moral teachings of the bible
and the ethics of Jesus are at the.
/. heart of all community betterment
and national stability. There can be
no national stability or high commun-
ity life without this Some of the
worst communities we know, where
Iawlessness is rampant and vices and
immoralities of every description
flourish are towns without any resi-
dent preacher and without regular
religious instruction or public wor-
ship. The church keeps alive the
sense of God and cultivates the spirit
of reverence and devotion. 1t does
this by its prayers and songs, and by
its vary buildings. When you go
through town and see a beautiful
church like this, with its tower point
ing upward, it bids you pause and
think and be reverent. And that is
Of inestimable value to any commun-
ity and nation No one would dare as
sumo the responsibility of closing the
doors of the churches today, and no
one of any sense would wish to do
this.
If therefore, it is the duty of some
people to maintain the church in
the community, should any one
think to be excused from his share of
this responsibility? This is no time
to be Boosting of an. inexpensive re-
ligion | once heard of a man who
boasted that he had paid out only
fifty cents for religious purposes.
Shame on him, if he can find no high
er ideals than that Such man has
no right to belong to any Christian
church. These are times that chal
Ienge us to make tremendous sacri
fices for the Christian ideals we hold
and to give in due proportion to the
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