Article September 6, 1919 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from W. H. Hopkins

[San Jose (Calif.) Mercury-Herald]

There is a growing inclination among the people to demand that the church address itself more to ministering to the needs and welfare of the people in this world and less to the contemplation of the blessings to the experienced in the world to come; to demand proof of the change in the life of one who joins himself to the church, and evidence of an increase of ability to minister to the needs of men as Jesus ministered by those who profess to be his followers.

Churchman cannot ignore the demands being made upon them for proof of the possession of a religious quality different from that possessed by the non-churchman if they expect to attract those who now profess no religious belief. The church must give evidence of being something more than a temperance society, civic federation, or association for human elevation and betterment if it is to justify its claim that it is the representative of the teachings, ministration, life, and divine power of Christ Jesus. If the church differs from other organizations of men, it is because it stands for spiritual ministration, for divine power, for a quality of helpfulness that is not human but divine.

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