“Churchianity or Christianity.”

Northland Age, Volume 27, Issue 23, 26 August 1927, Page 6

“Churchianity or Christianity.”

Curiosity of Mankind. A Striking Address By The Rev Grice On the occasion of his last service in Kaitaia, the Rev Mr Grice Methodist minister, preached to a large congregation. His subject was “Church Member or Christian ?” He took as his text: “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15th chapter. There are at .least two points concerning which, the curiosity of mankind must be satisfied before interest is awakened and admiration is won—what a thing is, and what that thing does? Now what is Christianity and what does Christianiiy do ?

If only we can satisfy men and women upon these two points, without laying too much emphasis upon the particular doctrines and dogmas of any one section of.the universal church, we can safely leave them to discover by experience, just how much theology each individual requires in order to fulfill the obligations of religion in his or her own life; while on the other hand, if we insist upon forcing theology before them in the very first instance, we shall almost certainly lose their attention, before we have aroused and secured even their interest in the real things of religion. If a child asks us “What is religion?” we do not answer in cold complicated theological terms which we know that the child cannot possibly understand, but we say quite simply and truly, “Religion is something which helps us to realise our truer nobler selves and inspires us to live' better lives.” And this is pot only the most convenient answer to make to such a question, but it is also the truest conception that we can have of the religion which we call Christianity, for undoubtedly Christianity does help men and women to live better lives.

Christianity is really a method of living. It is an attitude of the mind. It is a direction of the will but far above all this, it is a desire of the soul to be more like Jesus Christ.

The supreme purpose of Christianity is the salvation of humanity.

And what is meant by salvation. Just what the word itself implies—preservation from danger, calamity’s destruction. Not preservation from a hell burning with fire and brimstone, but preservation from the power of sin. Sin is dangerous to soul and body. We find that even in this present visible world, sin can be not only dangerous, not only calamitous, but actually destructive in soul and body. Christ came down to earth so that we, though weak in ourselves can, through this strength overcome this destructive power of sin, and thus have salvation. Let us see what is Christ’s teaching concerning this central purpose:

Firstly it is a method of living. We are told not to think ot ourselves only, but of other people as well. We are to escape from ourselves by spending our powers in helping others. We are to love our fellowmen.

Christ’s method of living is to think only of other people. The world’s method of living is to think only of one’s self. Secondly it is an attitude of the mind. We are told to consider how foolish it is to toil for the things of this world, which will sooner or later either pall upon us or drop away from us at a time when we need |them most. We are to judge of everything in this life by its effect upon our character. _ To be continued.