Henderson Daily Dispatch

BIG CONGREGATION AT UNION SERVICE
Rev. James A. Jones Preaches Sermon on "Religion and Nationalism"

A series of summer Sunday evening union services cooperated in by five churches was inaugurated last night at the First Methodist church, with the sermon by Rev. James A. Jones, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. He spoke on "Religion and Nationalism."
The entire series will consist of a study of religion as applied to modern-day conditions.
The services will rotate between the five cooperating churches, which are, the First Methodist, First Baptist, First Presbyterian, First Christian and First Methodist Protestant. On next Sunday evening the services will be at the First Baptist with Rev S. E. Madren, pastor of the Christian church, preaching the sermon.
The series will continue through the months of July and August. That is the vacation period for the preachers, and all of them will have their time off during that period.
A very much enlarged choir, drawn from the several cooperating churches took part in the service last night, supplying an anthem.
Dr. J. M. Culbreth, pastor of the host church, led in the prayer. Rev. Mr. Jones preached the sermon and the benediction was by Rev. Mr. Madren.
A large congregation attended.
In his sermon, Mr. Jones, using Matthew 22:37 as a text, said in part:
"Whereas religion ordinarily confines itself to generalities, so far as its preaching is concerned, our subject brings us to grips with a specific problem that should be a real consideration to every Christian. We are thinking so much about our nation and our world that the subject is exceedingly timely, and we have a right to ask, Does the religion of Jesus have anything to say definitely to an individual as a citizen, and to the state of which he is a citizen? Is there any relationship between Nationalism and Faith? On the one hand Nationalism insists that a man respect no sovereignty greater than the state. Religion demands that a man have no fealty greater than his obedience to his God. Is there a conflict between these two? Russian and India and Central European States give evidence to the fact that there is a conflict in some parts of the world.
"But is this true in America? The Supreme Court of the United States has said that this nation demands that a citizen to be naturalized shall take oath that he will bear arms, if necessary, in defense of the Constitution and Laws of this Government. And if the petitioner be not willing to take this oath because of conscientious objections to war that he feels morally unjustified his petition for naturalization is to be denied. This, obviously, is putting the laws of state above the dictates of a man's conscience and his interpretation of the commands of Christ.
"Religion insists that a man shall have no loyalty above his allegiance to God; no passion deeper than his love for Christ; no authority more commanding than the precepts of his faith. If this nation, or any other, prohibits these things then either the religion of the citizen or his state is abrogated. It is up to us which it shall be. A great patriot once said, 'A nation under God, with a government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth'; and while we are remembering so much of the people's part, we seem to be forgetting God's share in the business. A greater patriot declared: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. Upon these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.' When the laws of God and the laws of man conflict then nationalism and religion present themselves as alternatives between which every man must choose for himself."