A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1929, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

WHICH CHURQH? Ik .von wore a minister, and had a church, would you prefer that church to he known as the most exclusive.’’ or the most “ inclusive,” church in the whole country ? Before you answer, consider. An “exclusive” church would he easier to run than an “inclusive” church. Its congregation would he wealthier and more complacent; its problems, would he fewer and less difficult. An “exclusive” church has nothing to do with the manifestly, and avowedly sinful and immoral, and very little to do with the ill-clad, ill-bred, or ill-fed. If you were its minister you would probably after a few years die spiritually, but you woidd at least have the assurance that your congregation "would never notice that—and you would be more popular after you were dead, anyway. An “ exclusive ” church excludes so many of the living it" is inclusive only of the spiritually dead. An “ inclusive ” church, on the other hand, would include rich and poor, good and bad. upright and fallen, well-bred and ill-bred, well-clad and dlclad, the well-fed and the hungry. An “inclusive” church would “include ” and share the sorrows, burdens, problems, needs of all its members, and anyone might be a member. An “ inclusive ” church would never have enough money for its plans. If you were its minister you would always he begging and struggling for money enough to relieve the pressing necessities ol someone upon whom the shadow of want or care had fallen. Yes. it would he much more difficult to run an “ inclusive ” church than an “exclusive” one, and you could not die spiritually in an “inclusive church without the fact being noted by the congregation. For an “ exclusive” church includes interest in the whole realm of human endeavour, interest in every living creature, interest in the great ana common daily currents of lide. An “ inclusive ” church implies service, sympathy, sacrifice; it implies, too. aggression against social evils, moral iniquities, national wrongs, and you could not he the minister of the most j “ inclusive ” church in the whole conn- j trv and be spiritually dead. | Ecclesiastical robes and symbols may , lie retained long after the spiiitunl flame is extinguished ; but he in whom the spirit shines forth needs neither robes nor symbols to distinguish one who excludes no living creature from his ministry. The true ideal of the Church is “ inclusive.” not “exclusive.” The lowly Gallilean excluded none—not even the most debased—ifrom His care. M. PRESTON STANLEY.