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Editorial
December 30, 1852
Watchman And Observer
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial quotes Dr. Olin contrasting a materially powerful but spiritually empty church, which cannot shine or convert souls, with a poor, prayerful church that radiates God's light and advances Christ's kingdom.
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A Strong Church.
The following fine passage is from the works of Dr. Olin:
"A church may be what the world calls a strong church in point of numbers and influence. A church may be made up of men of wealth, men of intellect, men of power, high born men and men of rank and fashion; and being so composed, may be in a worldly sense, a very strong church. There are many things that such a church can do. It can launch ships and endow seminaries. It can diffuse intelligence, can uphold the cause of benevolence, can maintain an imposing array of forms and religious activities. It can build splendid temples, can rear a magnificent pile, and adorn its front with sculptures, and lay stone upon stone, and heap ornament upon ornament, till the costliness of the altar shall keep any poor man from entering the portal. But, my brethren, I will tell you one thing it cannot do—it cannot shine. It may glitter and blaze, like an iceberg in the sun, but without inward holiness it cannot shine. Of all that is formal and material in Christianity, it may make a splendid manifestation, but it cannot shine. It may turn almost everything into gold at its touch; but it cannot touch the heart. It may lift up its marble front, and pile tower upon tower, and mountain upon mountain; but it cannot touch the mountains, and they shall smoke; it cannot do Christ's work in man's conversion. It is dark in itself, and cannot diffuse light. It is cold at heart, and has no overflowing and subduing influences to pour out upon the lost. And with all its strength, that church is weak, and for Christ's peculiar work worthless. And with all its glitter of gorgeous array, it is a dark church—it cannot shine.
"On the contrary, show me a church, poor, illiterate, obscure, unknown, but composed of praying people, they shall be men of neither power, nor wealth, nor influence; they shall be families that do not know one week where they are to get their bread for the next; but with them is the hiding of God's power, and their influence is felt for eternity, and their light shines and is watched, and wherever they go there is a fountain of light, and Christ in them is glorified, and his kingdom advanced."
The following fine passage is from the works of Dr. Olin:
"A church may be what the world calls a strong church in point of numbers and influence. A church may be made up of men of wealth, men of intellect, men of power, high born men and men of rank and fashion; and being so composed, may be in a worldly sense, a very strong church. There are many things that such a church can do. It can launch ships and endow seminaries. It can diffuse intelligence, can uphold the cause of benevolence, can maintain an imposing array of forms and religious activities. It can build splendid temples, can rear a magnificent pile, and adorn its front with sculptures, and lay stone upon stone, and heap ornament upon ornament, till the costliness of the altar shall keep any poor man from entering the portal. But, my brethren, I will tell you one thing it cannot do—it cannot shine. It may glitter and blaze, like an iceberg in the sun, but without inward holiness it cannot shine. Of all that is formal and material in Christianity, it may make a splendid manifestation, but it cannot shine. It may turn almost everything into gold at its touch; but it cannot touch the heart. It may lift up its marble front, and pile tower upon tower, and mountain upon mountain; but it cannot touch the mountains, and they shall smoke; it cannot do Christ's work in man's conversion. It is dark in itself, and cannot diffuse light. It is cold at heart, and has no overflowing and subduing influences to pour out upon the lost. And with all its strength, that church is weak, and for Christ's peculiar work worthless. And with all its glitter of gorgeous array, it is a dark church—it cannot shine.
"On the contrary, show me a church, poor, illiterate, obscure, unknown, but composed of praying people, they shall be men of neither power, nor wealth, nor influence; they shall be families that do not know one week where they are to get their bread for the next; but with them is the hiding of God's power, and their influence is felt for eternity, and their light shines and is watched, and wherever they go there is a fountain of light, and Christ in them is glorified, and his kingdom advanced."
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Church Strength
Spiritual Holiness
Materialism In Religion
Prayerful Faith
Christian Conversion
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Olin
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
True Strength Of The Church Through Spiritual Rather Than Worldly Power
Stance / Tone
Exhortative Advocacy For Inward Holiness Over Material Splendor
Key Figures
Dr. Olin
Key Arguments
A Worldly Strong Church Of Wealth And Influence Can Build Temples And Support Causes But Cannot Shine With Spiritual Light Or Convert Hearts
Such A Church Is Dark And Cold Despite Its Glitter And Cannot Perform Christ's Work Of Conversion
A Poor, Praying Church, Though Obscure, Possesses God's Power, Influences Eternity, And Shines As A Fountain Of Light Glorifying Christ