Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 98, 14 July 1944, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatnne Ministers' Association)

A POOR SERMON

It happened just as a congregation was leaving the place of worship —at a time when criticism should surely have given place to appreciation; but then there are those who lack sufficient soul to have appreciation for a gospel message un-4 less it has given them some pleasure akin to a popular programme. And as the two:. men neared the door one remarked to the other: "A very poor sermon, this morning" "Beg pardon," said the other (really to make sure, that he had heard the remark properly). "A very poor sermon," was repeated . "Now I think that is one of the most impudent remarks 1J have ever heard." And by then they had reached the door, and the. conversation was continued with full liberty and freedom of opinion. It wo* now the second man's turn to ask a question, which was: "Why did you make such a remark about the sermon?" "Because it made no appeal to me at all. It was a poor sermon." And, like many another who has made such remarks, he stuck to his opinion, thinking "dourness" is a virtue. "Were there no others in the congregation. but you?" "Oh. certainly. There were many; and they are entitled to their opinion as well as I am. But it was a' poor sermon—emphasising the adjective. ' ~- "But why would their opinion be different to yours?" persisted the other, who had 'follow-up' in his system. "I suppose you will say! it is because, they like that sort of thing: but we should not come to church just to get what we like, but rather to get what we 'need.' I am told that this minister is a very good pastor, and his visiting where there is sickness or trouble i.s " "Oh r I grant that may all ibe -true: but it was a poor sermon!, a— —" "A most impudent remark," the other retorted; you are not in , a position to pass an opinion. Do you think that minister would Ho out among his people week after week and not learn something of what they needed? T take it that he was

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

not speaking to himself, hut trying to ininiftter to tlio.se whose nee.'ls lie hsul learned. Neither you nor I ;».r > in his congregation, so we don't know their needs. He has evidently been meeting with those who want to know things; tfyfy have been asking him questions, and he was replying to them; I could not help noticing how closely a couple near me were listening." They had reached the, corner where they parted, and the '"accuser" compromised to this extent: "Well, I grant it may have helped some people-" "Very well- let it. go at that. It is a grand thing to help some people every day., as the Boy Scouts do; perhaps that was a lesson lor us. this morning." THE LAYMAN Leave it to the ministers, and soon the Church will die. Leave it to the womenfolk—the young will pass it by. For the Church is all that lifts us. from the coarse and selfish mob. And the Church that is to prosper, needs the layman on the job. Now, a layman has his business, and a layman has his joys, But he also lias the training of his little girls and boys,. And I winder how he'd like it, if there were no Churches here, And he had to raise his children in a godless atmosphere? It's the Churches special function to uphold the finer things, 'To teach that way of living from which all that's noble springs. But the Minister can't do it,, single 1 handed and alone. For the laymen of the country are the Church's cornerstone. When you sae a Church that's empty, though it's doors are open wide, lit is not the Church that's dying— it's the laymen who have died. For it's not by song or sermon that the Church's work is done. It's the laymen of the country, who for God must carry on. (By Edgar A. Guest in "Michigan Christian Advocate").