Article March 20, 1909 Issue

For hundreds of years the church has been its own worst...

Dallas County (Adel, Ia.) News

For hundreds of years the church has been its own worst enemy and has neutralized its efforts by its own blindness. Denominations have fought each other harder than they have fought the devil. They have delighted more in undoing each other than in doing good. Fortunately those days are passing and "truth" begins to reveal itself as something that incites charity; that breeds brotherly love; that recognizes the liberty of conscience; that ceases to sit in judgment; that wishes no evil, but wishes universal good; that rejoices to see men made better and lifted higher. Men are beginning to rejoice to see these things, and to admit that a man may be a brother Christian though each may see a different side of "truth" and have a different conception of what it is. Charity, which is the highest expression of real religion, is casting its mantle over men's minds, and men can see good where once they saw only evil. The "truth" that will finally prevail will be broad enough for men to grasp it, even though each only comprehends a fragment of its true essence. And this is what is making the world better and religion more vitally true. The real Christian of today is more known for open-handed charity than for long prayers, more clearly recognized in brotherly love and charity than in bigoted zeal born of hate.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

For hundreds of years the church has been its own worst...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access