There is no body of people who are so glorious in the sight of God and man as the Church of the Redeemer. They were foreknown in eternity, purchased by the blood of Christ, regenerated and sealed, by the Holy Spirit, and destined to an inheritance which the Mediator has gone to prepare. The Church is represented as the bride of Christ, as his body, and the house of God. Being the place where the Holy Spirit abides, it is adorned with the Savior's righteousness.Possessed of such a glorious character, and left here on earth, some important walk is assigned it to perform. We cannot conceive of so much divine labor performed In behalf of the Church without fixing upon some important mission to be fulfilled by it. Each one is chosen in Christ, bought with a price, brought into the fellowship of saints so as to form one body, and then are kept by the power of God until Christ calls them home. What then is its sphere of labor?
Assuming that the above is the true character of the Church we can easily define the position it should occupy.
I. It is the duty of the Church to assemble every Sabbath day in its own house of worship for instruction and the praise of God.
The natural objections to this position is there is not a sufficient supply of ministers, and if there were, each of the Churches could not sustain one. But it is not necessary to have an ordained minister present at all times in order to make a meeting profitable. There are gifts in every Church which would add greatly to its interests if they employed: Were Churches to meet every Sabbath ministeria1 gifts would increase. Such gifts are at the disposition of Christ, and he would bestow more of them if they were needed.That Churches should meet on every Sabbath, is seen in the fact that we have a Sabbath. He that set the day apart for worship, designed that his people should observe it thus.
The spiritual wants of the Church demand a seventh part of the time spent in spiritual culture. Worldly cares and labor diminish our spiritual enjoyment and fellowship. We may have the Bible and may carefully read it at home, yet assembling on the Sabbath increases our stock of knowledge and love of divine things much faster than if our efforts were confined at home. Where three-fourths of our Sabbaths are spent in reading the Bible at home, or in attending other meetings, the majority of the Church becomes listless, lose spiritual enjoyment, and oftentimes become infected with false doctrines, and fall back from the fellowship of the Church. Nothing can correct these evils while our churches assemble in their houses of worship but one Sabbath in a month.
II. The Church should cultivate the talents of each of its members.
This assumes that every member has a talent. The use of it the Savior requires. It is the duty of the older and more experienced members to set such an example of activity, that they may have influence in directing the talents of the younger. No man or woman should come into the Church without expecting that there is something for them to do. "Go work to-day in my vineyard," is the command, and "ye are laborers together with God," the fulfillment. There ought to be meetings for prayer and conference, in which all should participate. Every member ought to be arranged in Bible classes. Where it is practicable each, member ought to be in the Sabbath School, either as a teacher or as a scholar. There are gifts for exhortation in every church which ought to be employed. There are minds fitted to visit the sick, and afflicted, to encourage and instruct the mourners; others who have a large share of the dove-like spirit, who can heal divisions and promote harmony. There are others peculiarly adapted to attend to the temporal wants of the Church. All these gifts ought to be constantly kept at work. By this means the body would be efficient and the light would so shine that others would see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.III. The Church ought to promote the know1edge of God in the community in which it is located.
There is no other body of people responsible for this work. Correct views of God promote man's salvation. This is done by the gospel ministry and the conversation of the membership. Well selected books and papers, and Sabbath School Libraries are among the most efficient means of accomplishing this end. An intelligent public sentiment renders a church strong, as all the knowledge a man possesses is sanctified when he is converted.IV. The church should labor for the suppression of every species of vice in the community.
The holiness of the Christian is averse to all sin. He cannot be indifferent to the existence of evil without contracting habits of evil. He must fight against sin, or sinful indulgence will prove his overthrow. The only motives that prompt him to contend against existing evils should be drawn from the gospel. The Church are regenerated persons. God never brought any others into it. In addressing sinners on the subject of their salvation, we must expose their sinful ways. Thus the church through the presentation of gospel truth reforms the community. Hence no christian should forsake the Church and join himself to the enemies of Christianity under the specious pretext of doing good to society.V. The chief object of the church should be to labor for the conversion of the world.
Christ came to redeem mankind. All the redeemed are laborers with him. There is no enjoyment aside from this. Engaged in this work we are successful and comforted. No body of people can or will seek the salvation of man except the church. All other engagements are carnal and of but small importance compared with this. There is a certainty that sinners will be saved if the church will only work. The work is great -- co-extensive with the whole family of man. There is a proffered redemption. The knowledge of it the church possesses and it should communicate it. No other engagements should conflict with this important work. It ought to be the first and constant thought of the mind how to gain access to the human heart and bring the sinner home to Christ.The above items constitute a great portion of the work of Jesus Christ. Assembling each Sabbath day in their own house for instruction and the praise of God -- the cultivation of all the talents of its membership -- the promotion of the knowledge of God in the community -- the suppression of vice -- the conversion of the world. It is a high and glorious mission -- it is a fearful responsibility. To meet it requires much grace. To fail of meeting it involves us in terrible guilt and darkness. When effort is put forth the blessing of God is insured and success certain. Who that reads this will shrink from making the effort? A glorious reward is held to view. The Church or the Church member who enters into the service will assuredly receive the reward. How glorious would such a Church be and how happy in the love of God.
ELD. P. H. EVANS. =============== [From the Union (IN) Baptist Association Minutes, 1865, pp. 10-13. Originals at Franklin (IN) College Library, Special Collections. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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