The exceeding worth of joining the church . in law to intend all the natural con-sequences of his acts. Not to believe onChrist is a sowing that bears a whole harvestof iniquities, just as intemperance carrieswith it responsibility for all that enormity ofevil fruitage which intemperance bears. Fitness for church-membership, it needhardly be said, is not agreement with allothers in doctrine. The Church is rather abrotherhood in service. It has one Lord, ithas one faith in Him, it has one baptism ordoor of entrance into His body. Its bond islove — that partnership in work which is thedoing good
The exceeding worth of joining the church . in law to intend all the natural con-sequences of his acts. Not to believe onChrist is a sowing that bears a whole harvestof iniquities, just as intemperance carrieswith it responsibility for all that enormity ofevil fruitage which intemperance bears. Fitness for church-membership, it needhardly be said, is not agreement with allothers in doctrine. The Church is rather abrotherhood in service. It has one Lord, ithas one faith in Him, it has one baptism ordoor of entrance into His body. Its bond islove — that partnership in work which is thedoing good to all men. He who wants towork for Christ and His Kingdom, is by thatpurpose qualified for admission into theChurch. That presupposes loyalty, the bestkind of faith. It is better than a knowledgethat is without passion for service and feelsno sense of the worlds need. For onesfaith is in what he works for and puts his [ 48 J Who Are Fit for Church-Membership money into. There may be, reader, somethings you do not believe. Here is some-. The drunkard in getting drunk, became guilty of the murder he committed when drunk. In the failure to begin rightly was already the failure of his end. thing- you want to help to do. And that isbetter than a passionless agreement withothers on points of doctrine. In the Churchyou work with others under the leadershipof Christ. 49 The Exceeding Worth of Joining the Church CHAPTER VIII SAINTS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH In considering the claims of the Church, onemay find himself reflecting- that he outsideof it, is as good as many another within that may be true. And it may seem tohim to be reason for continuance in his pres-ent way. But may be he ought to be better thanthese others are. They have come up out ofan evil past, or it may be that they, after all,are earnest persons who beginning at a lowpoint, are, in spite of their stumbling, goingin the right direction. God does not judgeus one by another, which one can see wouldbe no more fair i
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