Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-15
WARNS CHURCHMEN
OF DUTY TO WORLD
International Conference of
Disciples of Christ Addressed
by Its President.

The opening session of the Interna-
tional Convention of the Disciples
of Christ was conducted under aus
piciouS circumstances last night, and
the keynote was sounded in the presi-
Dental address of Robert A. Long, dis
tinguished lay churchnan of Kansas
City and prominent business man, who
solemnly warned that the church must
persist in the unwavering teaching of
the gospel Of Christ If it is to endure.
THE conflict is no longer between the
church and the world Mr.. Long said.
ut is between the church and church.
less Christianity. The church, as other
specialists do, must indicate it's right to
be an authority in faith and morals" he
reminded the delegates, and it must
not deviate from the gospel of Jesus
in favor of the ideas of man, If the gates
Of hell are not to prevail against it."
Stresses Responsibility.
Mr.. Long took as his subject 1.-THE
Great Responsibility of the Church"
THE acceptance of responsibility" he
said, land the fulfllment of it is mans
greatest function. It distinguishes him,
for it demands all of the God-given
graces with which it is endowed. 1t in
wolves good judgment, hard work, fine
feeling, strong character and great SYM
pathy. 1t calls for sacrifice and un-
selfshness. 1t demands all these and
makes for all these. What individual is
not strengthened morally and mentally
by responsibilities"
Continuing. he said:
IF this is true of man, how much
more Is it true of the church, founded
for no other reason than to fulfill the
greatest of all responsibilities. the obli-
cation to perpetuate the gospel of Jesus
Christ Savior IF tho T0rId -
There is need for less selfish Chris
tianity within the church and a greater
stability in the stand taken by the
church, Mr.. Long said.
Hits Fear Of Authority.
1--WE are too fearful of the word 'au-
thority' as applied to the church. 1t
seems to me the church must indicate
It's right to be an authority in faith and
morals. We accept the teachings of
others in the specialized fields in which
they have become experts. The church
today is inclined to turn over to other
organizations matters which belong par
ticularly to it and to undertake matters
foreign to its purpose and mission. The
forum for discussion is substituted for
the school of faith and life.
Mr.. Long quoted Herman Waldeck,
vice president of the Continental uli-
need for the church to regain its once
dominant influence on affairs of the
home, the church and the school, and
continued:
I'VE must return to the idea that the
church represents Christ-not the
changing thought of man. It has one
business and that is to witness for
through which He does His work. 1t
seems to me there is no reason for the
church except to proclaim the news of
God as revealed in Christ. If 1t has
no more to say than others can say-it
has no place. And this, to my mind,
applies to all organizations which bear
Christ's name, whether church, or col
lege, or missionary and benevolent
agency If it is Christian. let 1t do
what is distinctly Christian"
Christ and Church Disassociated.
Christ and the church are no longer
associated may be mistaken, but to
my recollection this is the first time in
history that people have claimed to be
Christian and denied any connection
with the church. The separation OF
Christ from the church is an expert
ment which fills the ordinary Christian
with fear. 1t contradicts all his under
standings of the teaching OF the New
Testament concerning Christ's relation
ship to His church.
This Is not the first time men have
criticized the church and condemned 1t
for it's faults and failures in faith and
life. No one can look at it today with
out bitter sorrow for its divisions, its
worldliness, its selfshness and its sloth.
But it is one thing to condemn the
church and seek its reformation, and
another to abandon it and thereby
bring about its death. 1t is one thing
to cry Back to Christ within the
church, but another thing to cry For
ward to Christ without the church"