The Church of Tomorrow (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1911 Excerpt: ... IV. ITS WORSHIP: THE FRUITFUL NESS OF PRAYER TOPICS THE ANTIQUITY OF PRAYER--WORSHIP AND THE ARTS--THE ETHICAL IMPORTANCE OF REVERENCE--MODERN DIFFICULTIES ABOUT PRAYER--THE EXAMPLES OF PAUL AND JESUS--THE PROBLEM STATED--WHAT PRAYER CANNOT DO--MISTAKES ABOUT THE REIGN OF LAW--MAN MORE THAN PHYSICAL ORGANISM--UNSCIENTIFIC SCIENCE--DIVINE SONSHIP NECESSITATES PRAYER--THE MANY FUNCTIONS OF WORSHIP--ITS PLACE IN THE CHURCH SERVICE--IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORSHIP--WILL THE COMING MAN PRAY?--MICROSCOPE AND PRAYER-BOOK--HELPFULNESS DURING THEOLOGICAL TRANSITION--YOUNG PEOPLE AND WORSHIP--SUGGESTIONS RESPECTING THE CONDUCT OF WORSHIP--CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP: "COMMON PRAYER"--THE DIVINE CONTRIBUTIONS TO LIFE. IV. ITS WORSHIP: THE FRUITFULNESS OF PRAYER RAYER is the oldest element in religion. It is the spark that was struck out of the human soul by its first conscious contact with the universe. When the primitive man began to think about the powers in nature ever active around him, he also began not only to wonder, but to worship. He sought by varied offerings and torturing rites to secure the friendship of those mysterious beings in whose presence he felt utterly helpless and before whose activities he bowed, often more in terror than in love. He, however, acted up to the level of his intelligence and conscience. His prayers were obviously superstitious, but they were genuine. Before we harshly condemn him for the errors in his actions let us remember that we are still engaged in the same quest--adjustment to our environment; and let us also remember that much in our more scientific actions will seem exceedingly foolish to our distant descendants. His worship was crude, chiefly an expression of fear, but a sense of mystery worked in his breast; and that far-off serv...