Article December 31, 1904 Issue

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with contributions from H. F. Moulton

A serious indictment of the religion of the average church member is that it is too largely a church religion. This is not said with any purpose of disparaging loyalty to the church, for there is all too little of that, but the church is a means, not an end. The church exists to aid the religious life and not as a substitute for religion. Too many assume that if they are members of a church, contribute to its support, attend its services, they are therefore religious. While these are natural expressions of the religious life they may and do exist apart from it. They are not religion, neither are they religious save as they spring from a distinct purpose centering in God. It is easy to content ourselves with functions and observances while we refuse to give God any real place in our hearts and know little or nothing of him by experience.—The Standard.

Rev. W. R. Huntington, D.D., of Grace Church, New York, preaching recently on "The Widow's Mite," and the force of the parable to-day, said, "The doctrine that I am laying down is this, that, if we would be acceptable givers, we must pass the whole of this living of ours into the treasury of God. Make your living, with all that it contains and includes, accomplish the very utmost that it is capable of for the betterment of this world in which you find your temporary residence. That is your duty. You complain that this teaching is too severe? Heroes are not made by lowering standards. Jesus Christ demands of men nothing less than the consecration of the entire life, with all its powers, faculties, and abilities, to the service of the Almighty God.

Most people believe that the period of investigating and challenging the historic Christian creeds is passing away, and that the time is ripe for reconstructing a system of theology. Some beliefs long held precious, some of them regarded by many as essential, have not stood the test of scrutiny in the light of newly discovered truths of history and experience. It has been found necessary to modify the forms of expression of other beliefs, and there are still others emerging into view which have not yet been positively stated. The process of reconstruction must begin with simple, fundamental statements, drawn from the study of the New Testament in accordance with the results of recent scholarship.—The Congregationalist.

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