The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-15
CHRISTIANITY, F. O. B.
DETROIT
by n. ID. Cochran

I'm much of optmist that I find some
good in everybody and some hope in almost situa
ton.
On the face of it that rumpus in Detroit over shut
ting the Protestant church doors in the face of labor
leaders looks pretty bad for the churches. They're
in for lot Of redlhot criticism But good pounding
will do them good and won't do religion any harm.
Certainly Christianity won't suffer 1t may get
chance in even the eminently respectable churches
If the Detroit row starts a campaign for free
speech in the pulpit it will be well worth while BY
free speech in the pulpit the freedom Of Chris
tan minister preach the Christianity of Christ. in
stead of the spurious Christianity of Churchanity of
Not that there is anything wrong with business
merely because it is big Bigness neither legally
morally but business isn't necessarily moral be
it is big.
A man can be rich and still be Christian, but his
influence in any church should be determined by his
Christianity rather than by the size Of his pile. Too
often however, his Importance as church member is
gagged by his ability to contribute and get others to
contribute toward the pastors salary building new
and bigger church
Fortunately for His gospel, Chrst's time wasn't
taken up in raising money to build churches. He had
a message md He preached with roof His head
and with no deacon to pass the plate. And because
He had message the crowds followed Him wherever
He went whether in the fields, the market place
the seashore.
While there is not only room but need for real
Christianity in every walk Of life and all relations of
still Christianity is something different from max
ing automobiles, selling town lots, practicng law
printing newspapers Let the manufacturers, mer-
chants lawyers doctors, editors, brickayers and
chanics mind their own business-and let the minister
of the gospel mind his.
The business Of the minister of the gospel Is to
preach Christianity and particularly the gospel of love-
When he turns his pulpts propagandiss of
roversal subjects which involve the greed selfish
ambitions Of men, his congregation is apt to
listen to the gospel of hate than the gospel of love.
That's what happened when some Of the Protes
tant churches turned their pulpts the hired
professional propagandiss of the AntiSaloon League
The Catholic churches smart to permit secu
lar controversies in their pulpits.
If capital and labor must keep fighting over
the closed and shop, If vets and drys
fight prohibition, let them do their fighting out
side the churches. Then after fighting six days
let them rest Sunday and go to church to hear
preaching that will make them feel like Christian
brothers instead of like capitalists and aborers
If all the children of God and the church is
Gods temple, then for Gods sake, keep the temple
place where all men may gather brothers for
get the fool differences and distinctions some
believe they better than others because they
have clothing automobiles, bigger houses
and richer food. u M
When preachers learn that when they can't fill
their there IS something the matter with them
and the Christianity of their particular churches they
begin to set their houses in order for there is
When hungry souls go to church for bread they don't
want stone And they won't feel comfortable or
much at home If they find the money changers sosh-
ing all the place.
-Next-Business is Business.