Life and Conduct Part 8

CHAPTER XV.

CHURCH.[1]

The word church is derived from the Greek word _Kuriakon_, the Lord's (from _Kurios_, the Lord), and it has various significations. (_a_) Sometimes it means the whole body of believers on earth--"the company of the faithful throughout the world"--"the number of the elect that have been, are, and shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body and the fulness of Him that filleth all in all." [2] (_b_) Sometimes it is applied to a body of Christians differing from the rest in their const.i.tution, doctrines, and usages; as, for example, the Church of Rome, the Greek Church, the Reformed Church. (_c_) Sometimes it refers to the Christian community of a country or its established religion, as when we speak of the Gallican Church, the Swiss Church, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland. (_d_) It is used in a still more limited sense to represent a particular congregation of Christians who a.s.sociate together and partic.i.p.ate in the ordinances of Christianity, with their proper pastors or ministers. (_e_) It is applied also to the building in which the public ministrations of religion are conducted, as when we speak of the church in such a street, St. James' church, St. Peter's church, etc.

In this chapter we use the word church in the fourth sense, as representing a particular congregation of Christians. To such a community every young man should belong, and in connection with it he is called to discharge certain special duties. There are four aspects in which the life of the Church, in this sense, may be regarded.

I. It represents Christian wors.h.i.+p.--(_a_) Public wors.h.i.+p seems essential to the very existence of religion. At least, every religion the world has seen has had its meetings for public rites and ceremonies. Faith unsupported by sympathy, as a rule, languishes and dies out in a community. Were our churches to be shut Sunday after Sunday, and men never to meet together as religious beings, it would be as though the reservoir that supplies a great city with water suddenly ran dry. Here and there a few might draw water from their own wells, but the general result would be appalling. (_b_) Public wors.h.i.+p also strengthens and deepens religious feeling. A man can pray alone and praise G.o.d alone; but he is, beyond all doubt, helped when he does so in the company of others. He is helped by the conditions of time and place; and the presence and sympathy of his fellow-wors.h.i.+ppers have upon him a mighty uplifting influence. (_c_) Above all, public wors.h.i.+p is the channel through which we receive special blessings from G.o.d.

There is communion in the sanctuary between us and Him. "The true wors.h.i.+ppers shall wors.h.i.+p the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father _seeketh_ such to wors.h.i.+p him." G.o.d desires our wors.h.i.+p, and blesses it to us. That He does so has been the experience of Christians in all ages. They have found in the house and wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d a strength and power that supported and blessed their life. They have realized that the promise of Christ is still fulfilled, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. xviii. 20.)

II. The Church represents Christian teaching.--In the congregation the Word of G.o.d is read and preached. (_a_) Preaching has always formed part of the service of the Christian Church from the very earliest times. In the second century Justin Martyr says: "On the day called Sunday, all who live in the cities or in the country gather into one place, and the memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read as time permits; then when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs and exhorts to the imitation of these good things." This description of an early Christian service is applicable still. Wherever the Church meets there is religious teaching. (_b_) And it is the only such teaching that mult.i.tudes receive. Without it they would be left to grope their way alone. (_c_) Whenever, therefore, there has been a revival of life in the Church, great stress has been laid upon the preaching of the Word of G.o.d, and G.o.d has specially blessed it to the conversion of sinners and the edification of His people.

III. The Church represents Christian fellows.h.i.+p.--(_a_) It keeps up the idea of brotherhood in the world. It brings people of different ranks and cla.s.ses together, and that under most favorable circ.u.mstances. Whatever a man is in the world, in the Church he is made to feel that in the eye of G.o.d he is a member of one family, having the same weaknesses, the same sorrows, the same needs, the same destiny before him as those around him. In the Church "the rich and poor meet together" in equality before the same G.o.d, who is the Maker of them all. (_b_) But especially in its wors.h.i.+p is the Church a common bond between _believers_. On one day of the week men of all nations, kindreds, peoples and tongues, a mult.i.tude whom no man can number, unite in spirit together. Their prayers and praises ascend in unison to the Throne of Grace. They enter into the "communion of saints." They belong to one holy fellows.h.i.+p. (_c_) At the table of the Lord they take their places as partakers of one life--as one in Christ. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Cor. x. 16, 17.)

IV. The Church represents Christian Work.--It is not merely a society for instruction or for the cultivation of devout feelings. It is an aggressive society. Every congregation of believers is a branch of the great army which is warring against the kingdom of darkness. Every individual is called upon to be a "fellow-laborer with Christ," and not merely to work out his own salvation, but to work for the salvation of others. The motto of every true Christian Church should be, "Work for everybody, and everybody at work." Those who may be able to do little as isolated individuals may do much by combining their efforts with those of others. The Church gives them the power and the opportunity.

We may now glance at some of the special duties inc.u.mbent upon those who are connected with the Church, and particularly upon young men.

1. We should be regular in availing ourselves of the means of grace which the Church affords. If it be the home of wors.h.i.+p, of teaching, of fellows.h.i.+p, and of work, it is a home from which we should not make ourselves strangers. There is a blessing to be found there, and we are remiss if we do not seek it. Every young man should be a regular attendant on the ministrations of religion. He should be so (_a_) for his own sake, and (_b_) for the sake of others. He may perhaps have at times the feeling, I can get my wors.h.i.+p in the fields and my teaching from my books; I can get along without the Church. But surely he undervalues the promised blessing to those who "forsake not the a.s.sembling of (themselves) together." Surely he undervalues the power, and strength, and comfort, that come from a.s.sociation with believers.

But even if he could get on without the Church, is he not bound to consider others? Has any man in a world like ours, where all are bound together and are dependent on one another, any right to consider as to whether he can get on alone? Is he not bound to consider those around him? We must all feel that it would be a great calamity to a nation were public wors.h.i.+p given up, churches closed, and Sunday made a day of recreation. But those who absent themselves from public wors.h.i.+p are undoubtedly using their influence in that direction. If it be right for them to absent themselves, it must be right also for others to imitate them, and it is easy to see how disastrous generally such imitation would be.

Especially should every young man become _a communicant_ at the table of the Lord. Besides the many spiritual benefits of which the sacrament is the channel to every devout believer, it is an ordinance which is particularly helpful to the young. It leads them to make a decision, and decision gives strength. From the moment they deliberately and solemnly make their choice, there is a power imparted to their life that it had not before. In the life of the well-known Scotsman, Adam Black, it is said that shortly after he went up to London he became a communicant in the Church to which he belonged. "I found," he says, "this step gave a stability to my character, and proved a defence from follies and vices, especially as a young man in London, entirely my own master, with no one to guide or check me."

2. We should take each of us our full share in the work of our Church.

It is a poor sign of a church when all the work done is by the minister, or by the office-bearers alone, and it is a still poorer sign of those who belong to it. It is a sign that they have not felt the power of that grace which ever leads the soul to put the question, "What wilt thou have me to do?" There are none who cannot do something. The writer read lately of a church in England, the grounds of which were regularly tended and made beautiful by the young men belonging to it. That may seem a small service, but it was something.

It showed a good spirit. If we are to get the most out of the Church, we must help it to do its work--charitable, missionary, Sunday School, Young Men's Guild. If the best heart and talent of young men were put into these and other agencies, the power of the Church for good would be increased immeasurably, and not the least of the advantage would come to the workers themselves. Let each do his own part. There is one way, we need scarcely say, in which we can all help the Church's work: by giving to it "as the Lord hath prospered us." Under the Old Testament dispensation every one was under strict obligation to give a fixed proportion of his substance for religious purposes. Surely we should not be less liberal when the proportion is left to our own sense of duty. Freely we have received. Let us also freely give.

3. While loyal to our own Church, we should cherish towards all Christians feelings of charity and good-will. Many of us, probably most of us, belong to the Church to which our parents belonged; and so long as we feel it ministers to our spiritual benefit we should keep by it and work with it. There is little good obtained by running from church to church, and those who sever themselves from their early religious a.s.sociations are often anything but gainers. But while we are loyal to our own regiment in the Christian army, and proud, so far as a Christian may be so, of its traditions and achievements, let us ever feel that the army itself is greater than our own regiment, and not only cherish good-will and brotherly love towards those who fight in that army, but be ready at all times to co-operate with them, and to fight with them against the common enemy. It is well to be a good churchman, it is infinitely better to be a good Christian. It is best when one is both; for indeed he is the best Christian who is the best churchman, and he is the best churchman who is the best Christian.

[1] The subject of "The Church, Ministry and Sacraments" is to be fully dealt with in a Guild text-book by the Rev. Norman Macleod, D. D. We only refer in this chapter to those phases of Church life that are more immediately connected with Life and Conduct.

[2] _Confession of Faith_.

CHAPTER XVI.

CITIZENs.h.i.+P.

Citizens.h.i.+p is derived from the Latin word _civitas_, the state, and comprehends the duties that are binding upon us as members of the state. The first question then that arises in considering these is, What do we mean by the state?

The state may be defined as the larger family.--The family is the origin of the state. (_a_) In early times government was of the simple kind that prevails in a family. The father was the head of the household and ruled over his children. As these grew up and had families of their own, they naturally looked to the aged head of the family, listened to his counsels, and were guided by his wisdom. Hence the first form of the state was the tribe or clan, and the first form of government was _patriarchal_. The head of the family governed the tribe. (_b_) On the death of the patriarch it was necessary that a successor should be appointed. Sometimes he was the son of the patriarch or his nearest descendant. Sometimes he was chosen by the tribe as the strongest and bravest man and most competent to lead them against their enemies. Often tribes combined for mutual protection.

Thus nations were formed, and the government pa.s.sed from the patriarchal to the _monarchical_ form. The head was called the _king_, which literally means the "father of a people." We trace this growth in government in the history of the Israelites. First, we have the family of Israel in immediate relation with the patriarchs. As the Israelites grew and multiplied, they came under the leaders.h.i.+p of Moses, who governed the tribes. Finally, when they settled in the land of Canaan, they became a nation, and were governed by a king. The kingdom was the expansion of the family. (_c_) In modern times there has been a further development. Government by a king or monarch was in the first instance _despotic_. It is so in some cases--as in Russia at the present day. The will of the sovereign is the law by which the people are ruled. But just as a wise father relaxes his control over his full-grown sons, and admits them to a share in the government of the household with himself, so the people have in modern times been permitted to exercise power in the state. The head of the state remains, but the main power of government lies with the people. This form of government is called _const.i.tutional_. In Great Britain we have a _limited monarchy_; the power of the sovereign is controlled by the will of the people, who have a large share in making the laws. In the United States of America, in France, and in other countries, we have _republics_, where the voice of the people is supreme, though at the head of the state is a president, elected by the people, and bound to carry out their wishes.

As the state is the larger family, the duties of those who compose it correspond with those belonging to the members of a household.

1. There is the duty of loyalty or patriotism. The first duty of the member of a family is love of home and of those who belong to it.

However poor or humble it may be, he feels bound to it by no ordinary ties. He defends its interests. Above all other households, he loves his own the best. The first duty of the citizen is of the same kind.

He loves his land; his own country is dearer to him than any other on earth. He is ready to defend it even with his life. The words of Sir Walter Scott, as of many another poet, express this patriotic feeling:

Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land, Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned, As home his footsteps he hath turned, From wandering on a foreign strand.

Many have died for their country's sake, and in all ages this has been thought a specially n.o.ble death. History records with affection the names of such men as Wallace, Bruce, William Tell, and Garibaldi, who sacrificed very much for the land they loved. And as "peace has its victories no less renowned than those of war," it has been the pride of others to serve their country by guarding its liberties, increasing its happiness, diminis.h.i.+ng its evils, reforming its laws. The _flag_ of a country is the symbol, to those who belong to it, of their common inheritance. Brave men will follow it through the shot and sh.e.l.l of battle. Men have wrapt it round their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and have dyed its folds with their heart's blood to save it from the hands of the enemy; and wherever it waves it calls forth feelings of loyalty and allegiance.

2. Another primary duty of citizens.h.i.+p is obedience to the law. Here again we have the rule of the family extended to the state. The child is bound to obey his parents unless they bid him do what his conscience clearly tells him is wrong; so, a good citizen will obey the laws of his country, unless these laws are so evidently unjust that the good of all demands that they should be resisted. Whatever the law is, he will endeavor to respect and obey it. If he believes it to be an unjust or unrighteous law, he will do his best to get it amended or abolished.

It is only in an extreme case, though this opens a subject on which we cannot enter, that he can be justified in refusing obedience. "Let every soul," says Scripture, "be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of G.o.d: the powers that be are ordained of G.o.d.

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of G.o.d; and they that resist shall receive to themselves condemnation.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. . . .

Wherefore, ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake."

3. It is a duty of citizens.h.i.+p to see that the laws are reasonable and just. In a family, the grown-up members will use their legitimate influence to promote the wise regulation of the household, that there may be peace and harmony. The same desire will animate the members of the state. (_a_) This is specially inc.u.mbent upon those who, like ourselves, live under const.i.tutional government. With us, government is not the prerogative of the Crown, or of a few families; or of men of rank or wealth. It is not _despotic_, or _aristocratic_, or _plutocratic_, but _democratic_--that is to say, it is in the hands of the people, or of those of the people to whom it has been entrusted, and who form a large proportion of the male inhabitants of the country; on them devolves the making of the laws by which the country is governed. They are bound to do their best to see that these laws are what they should be--equitable and righteous, and for the interest of the whole community. (_b_) This they can only do through their representatives. We could conceive of a state so small that each of its members could take a direct part in its government. That is not the case with us, and the people can only exercise their control through those they authorise to represent them. These they elect, and in electing them are bound to see that they are men who are worthy of the trust committed to them, who will make laws good for every cla.s.s.

This applies not only to the election of members of Parliament, but wherever the representative principle is carried out, as in the case of councils, school boards, and other forms of local government. Wherever a man exercises the privilege of choosing a representative, he is bound to do so conscientiously, and with an earnest desire to perform what is right. It is a maxim in law that what we do by another we do ourselves. We are responsible for those whom we choose to make our laws, and if we help to choose unworthy men we cannot be held blameless of the consequences that may follow. (_c_) As it is our duty to exercise this privilege of citizens.h.i.+p rightly, we are also bound not to refrain from exercising it. We hear people say sometimes that they have nothing to do with politics. But by keeping altogether aloof they cannot rid themselves of their responsibility. By abstaining they may do almost as much to further the views they disapprove of as by taking an active part in promoting them. If there are evils in connection with government, the best way to get rid of them is for good men to take a part in public life, and try to bring about a better state of things. In a free country no man can shake off his obligations by refraining from taking part in public affairs. The talent that is entrusted to us we are bound to use for the glory of G.o.d and the good of man. Our political power, however small, is such a talent, and we are responsible for its proper employment.

4. It is a duty of citizens.h.i.+p to take direct part in all that we believe is for the good of the state. We say a direct part, as distinguished from the indirect part we take in government through representatives. A man's duty as citizen does not end with the ballot-box, or with the election of members either to the national or local council. A great part of the business of the nation is carried on by the voluntary efforts of its members. There are men and women that have no part in representative government, who yet can discharge n.o.bly the duties of citizens.h.i.+p. (_a_) All can take a part in forming a healthy public opinion. This is done in all free countries in various ways: through the press, through public meetings, and by means of the speech and communications of everyday life. If our views are those of a minority, we may help, by our influence, our example, the fearless expression of our convictions, to turn the minority into a majority; and in a democratic country the views of the majority will ultimately prevail. (_b_) We can also take direct part in promoting objects that tend to the well-being of society. Much is left by the state to voluntary effort by its members. The state undertakes the defence of the country by the army and navy, the relief of the poor, and the elementary education of the people; but beyond these and other instances of direct state action there is much left to be done by the people themselves, and for themselves. The Volunteer movement, in which men take part of their own free will, and which has been of so much benefit to the country; the erection and support of hospitals, libraries, art galleries, colleges and universities; the furnis.h.i.+ng of the people with amus.e.m.e.nt and recreation--are ill.u.s.trations of what may be done by members of the community directly. All such efforts tend to the welfare of the state. All its members reap benefit from them. He who does not help and encourage them is as mean as the man who would go to an hotel and take its entertainment, and then sneak away without paying the reckoning. Whatever we can do to benefit society benefits ourselves, and in throwing ourselves heart and soul into any of those enterprises that benefit society we are discharging in a very special way the duties of good citizens.h.i.+p.

It only remains to say in a word that our citizens.h.i.+p should be the outcome of our religion. Without that, citizens.h.i.+p loses its high position. He who fears G.o.d will honor the king, and he who "renders to G.o.d the things that are G.o.d's" will "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's." He will give "to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." Religion thus becomes the strength of the state, and "righteousness exalteth a nation."

LIST OF WORKS.

The following is a list of works upon topics treated in this text-book, which have been consulted in its preparation, and which may be useful to students:

_Self-Culture_, by John Stuart Blackie. Edinburgh: David Douglas.

Twentieth edition. 1892.

_Plain Living and High Thinking, or Practical Self-Culture--Moral, Mental and Physical_, by W. H. Davenport Adams. London: John Hogg, Paternoster Row. 1880.

_The Secret of Success_, by W. H. Davenport Adams. London: John Hogg, Paternoster Row. 1880.

_The Threshold of Life_, by W. H. Davenport Adams. T. Nelson & Sons, Paternoster Row. 1876.

_On the Threshold_, by Theodore T. Munger. London: Ward, Lock & Co.

1888.

_Beginning Life_, by John Tulloch, D.D. London: Chas. Burnet & Co.

1883.

_Life: a Book for Young Men_, by J. Cunninghame Geikie. London: Strahan & Co. 1870.

_The Gentle Life_, by J. Hain Friswell. London: Sampson Low & Marston.

1870.