Another sect insists upon having a communion every Sunday because the
Bible says, "As often as you do this," etc. To be literal in the matter
of communion, the Lord's Supper should be served at night, as the
original was, and it should be supper and not a few pieces of broken
crackers.
The sect that insists on following the Scriptures in the matter of
baptism by immersion fails to follow the Scriptures in the matter of
washing the feet or anointing the head.
Many years ago, churches considered it a sacrilege to use an organ.
To-day they have orchestras and hire operatic singers.
So it seems that the church is broadening out. Thinking men refuse to
believe that religion should any longer be a matter of self-chastisement
and worry, sobs and misery. Because so much of this sort of teaching is
prevalent, the church is not making the gains it should. The church is
largely supported by nice little women--many of them maiden ladies who
have little to do and know little of the great problems of the busy
world.
[Sidenote: A Live Religion.]
I am thoroughly convinced that the church must recognize that a great
evolution is taking place--that we must be more charitable, more broad
in our views, less technical in our tenets and more practical in our
work. We will have to cut down the fences between the sects and get
together in the great field for a common cause, rather than try to
maintain little independent vineyards.
Religion must teach smiles and joy, courage and brotherly love, instead
of frowns, dejection, fear and worry.
It must teach us how to be and how to get good out of our to-day on
earth. If we are good and do good here, we certainly need have no fear
for our future prospects.
[Sidenote: The Universal Church.]
Day by day we are progressing from narrowness, bigotry, selfishness and
envy, to broadness, reason, brotherly love and contentment, and we shall
progress from the narrow confines of obstinate orthodoxy or
bulldogmatics, by breaking down sect and cult barriers until we are
joined together in a universal church in which all can put their hearts
and beliefs--in which all can find full range for their spiritual belief
and expression. That big, broad, right church will be in harmony with
God's purpose.
The Creator made all men, and He doesn't confine His love or His
interest to any one little man-made, narrow sect or creed.
"God is love." "Love thy neighbor." "Help the weak; cheer the grief
stricken." Those are the commands and purposes we find everywhere in the
Scriptures.
"He that believeth in me shall be saved." That's a definite promise, and
it is not qualified by a lot of creed paragraphs and beliefs. That
promise doesn't have any "buts" or "ifs." It doesn't say we shall be
saved if we be Methodists or Catholics, Baptists or Presbyterians. Those
names are man-made, and the creeds of those churches are man-made, too.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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