Here is a hint for the home missionary5 who goes forth6 to sow spiritual seed. If he expects to get a crop of Congregationalists, he will often lament7 over poor returns. Often the missionary finds himself in a miscellaneous gathering8, like that[278] of Pentecost in its variety, and no mere9 "ism" will crystallize them. One is of Paul, another of Apollos or Cephas, and he must "determine not to know anything among them save Christ and him crucified." He must drop minor10 points, and adopt that plan on which all can agree.
Here is a bit of experience. In a community of seven hundred souls, the following denominations11 were represented: Baptists, three kinds; Presbyterians, two kinds; Methodists, four kinds; Christians13, "Church of God," Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Seventh-day Adventists, Lutherans of all branches, Quakers, and Congregationalists. One day I found three married women making ready to keep house in what had been a large store, the only vacant place in which to live; their husbands were working and living in camp. I said, "I am glad to see you. I suppose you are all Christians?"
To my surprise, they all cheerfully responded, "Yes."
[279]"Well, that is good news," I said. "And to what church do you belong?"
"Church of God," was their answer.
"Good; so do I. Have you brought your letters?"
"No."
"But do you really belong to the 'Church of God'?" said one. "Well, I am glad to think we should find a 'Church of God' minister way up here!"
This she said addressing the other women.
"Oh, well," said one, "he means that every church is a church of God!"
"Oh!" was the answer, with a shade of disappointment on her face.
"Well, well," I said, "is not that true?"
"Y-a-as; but it is not like ourn."
"What do you believe different from me?"
"Well, we believe in feet-washing for one thing, and in immersion14."
"Oh, well, I think Christians should wash their feet too."
"Now, Elder, that ain't right to be[280] making fun of Scripter; for Christ told his disciples15 to wash one another's feet, and said, 'Happy are ye if ye do these things.'"
I explained what I thought was the meaning of the lesson, but she shook her head.
I said, "Are you happy?"
"Not very. I feel lonesome here."
"But is not Christ here too?"
"Oh, yes; but it is not home."
"Well, I am glad you belong to Christ, and hope you will unite with us in fighting the common foe16. Will you come to church, and bring the children to our Sabbath-school?"
"Well, we shall do that."
As I was leaving one of them said, "There is a new-comer across the street. She belongs to some church outside." By "outside" she meant the old, settled parts. "You better call on her."
I did so, and said that I was the home missionary. I asked her how she liked her new home?
[281]"Not much. It is a dreadfully wicked place."
"Yes, that is true; and I hope you will lend a hand in the good work. You are a Christian12, I believe?"
"Yes; but I don't belong to your church."
"What church are you now a member of?"
"Well, there is only one of my kind in the State that I know of."
"You must feel lonesome at times; but in what do you differ from us?"
"Well, we believe in being immersed three times in succession, face downwards17. I intend doing what I can."
After giving her a cordial invitation to attend the church, I left the good woman, saying I hoped I could depend on her being at church. But, alas18! trade became so brisk that the good sister had to work Sundays. She felt very sorry, she said, but it did seem as if it was impossible to live a Christian life in such a wicked place; and she had concluded not to give her[282] letter to the church until she could get into a better community, where she would not have to work Sundays. I told her I was surprised that one who had been so thoroughly19 cleansed20 should have fallen away so quickly.
"Yes; but it is such a wicked place."
"I know; but you have only to be just a small Christian here to pass for a first-class saint!"
She smiled sadly, and said she guessed she would wait.
A man that must have a "New England element" to work in will feel depressed21 in such a field. But if, like Wesley, his field is the world, or, like Paul, he can say to the people, "called to be saints," then he can thrust in the sickle22 and begin harvesting. We must not only sow beside all waters, but reap too. Do not harvest the weeds and the darnel, nor reject the barley23 because it is not wheat. Often in the new settlements there are enough Christians to form the nucleus24 of one church; whereas, if we wait to have a[283] church for each sect25, it means waste of money and waste of men.
In one small town of less than three hundred people, where there were many denominations represented, the company that owned nearly all the land gave a lot and the lumber26 for a church. Most of the Christians united, and a minister was secured. Some, however, would not join with their brethren, but waited on the superintendent27 to get a lot for themselves. He said, "Yes, we will give you all a lot and help you build. Just as soon as this church becomes self-supporting we will give the next strongest a lot, and so on to the end."
This is level-headed Christian business. If we want to reap the harvest, we must "receive him that is weak in the faith." Hidden away in trunks are hundreds of church letters that should be coaxed28 out. Faithful preaching, teaching, and visiting, will bring a glorious "Harvest Home." A goodly sight it is to see, under one roof, all these different branches of the[284] Lord's army worshipping the same Master, rejoicing in the same hope, and realizing in a small degree that there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, but that all are one in Christ Jesus.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
toil
|
|
| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
fattening
|
|
| adj.（食物）要使人发胖的v.喂肥( fatten的现在分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
orchard
|
|
| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
missionary
|
|
| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
lament
|
|
| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
denominations
|
|
| n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
Christians
|
|
| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
immersion
|
|
| n.沉浸；专心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
disciples
|
|
| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
downwards
|
|
| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
cleansed
|
|
| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
depressed
|
|
| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
sickle
|
|
| n.镰刀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
barley
|
|
| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
nucleus
|
|
| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
sect
|
|
| n.派别，宗教，学派，派系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
lumber
|
|
| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
superintendent
|
|
| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
coaxed
|
|
| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |