The development of a true Christian life in the church depends much on
the social influences which, like an atmosphere, pervade and envelop
it. These, therefore, the pastor should seek to inspire and control. As
far as possible, the membership should find their society within the
church--not in a spirit of clannish exclusiveness, but on the principle
that the higher bond of spiritual affinity, which binds them as a
church to one another and to Christ, involves, as a natural
consequence, the lower bond of social affinity, so that the church is
the natural sphere of the soul's activities, social as well as
spiritual. To make the social life of the church strong, healthful,
enriching, such as render it a magnet to attract other souls, is of
primary moment in a pastor's work. I suggest two ways in which this may
be done.
1. Personal effort to promote mutual acquaintance in the congregation
by introducing strangers, and by securing for them those attentions
which will naturally draw them to the church as a home. See that they
meet a cordial welcome at the public meeting, and also socially by the
calling of members at their homes, and by extending to them social
courtesies and kindnesses. A watchful pastor may do much to secure this
by personal suggestion.
2. Social gatherings in the church, in which the people shall have
opportunity for acquaintance and for the exercise of the social
feelings. These differ in plan. (1.) They are sometimes purely social,
in which the object is conversation, music, and such forms of
recreation as may be innocent and healthful. The tact of the pastor
will here be required to give the right tone and spirit to the
gathering, to promote general acquaintance and sociability, and to
guard against doubtful forms of amusement. (2.) They sometimes add to
the social the literary element, and a part of the time is occupied
with readings, recitations, essays, poems, and the discussion of
subjects in history, biography, general literature, and science. These,
when carefully managed, are often of great value in advancing the
general culture and intelligence, and in calling out, especially in the
young, talents which would otherwise be undeveloped. The successful
working of such an organization of course presupposes broad
intelligence in the pastor and not a little careful thought and labor.
(3.) Sometimes the object is not only social and literary, but also
missionary, and the exercises consist in part of reports on missionary
work, home and foreign, correspondence with missionaries, and essays on
the lives of eminent missionary characters and topics relating to the
missionary enterprise. The organization might also engage in different
forms of actual mission work, such as mission Sunday-schools, religious
meetings at destitute points, and personal labor, young men among young
men, young women among young women, to bring them to church and
otherwise help them in entering and prosecuting a Christian life.
The social element is so mighty a force that no pastor can afford to
ignore it; nor should he imagine that it will take care of itself, for,
left unguided, it will almost certainly take a false direction and
destroy much of his work. His true position is as its inspiring leader,
thus linking its power to those forces which shall ensure his success.
_Hints._--1. The pastor, I think, should ordinarily hold no official
position in these organizations, but should stand related to them
simply as pastor, and as thus the general head of all church
organization; and he should be felt not so much (if at all) in the
assertion of his authority as in the way of quiet suggestion and
inspiration. 2. In all social life there will necessarily be different
social centers, caused by naturally differing social affinities, and it
is unwise to attempt to break this up. But care should be taken that
these social centers do not take on the exclusiveness of cliques with
party spirit and jealousies, and that the aristocratic element does not
develop itself to the discomfort or exclusion of the poorer classes.
These tendencies, always present, should be carefully held in check.
3. Every house of worship should have a church parlor, or some room
which can readily be converted into one. This should be furnished
attractively, and supplied with musical instruments, pictures, and
other means of culture. If a reading-room and library can also be
connected, it adds much value in the increase of intelligence among the
people. A church will readily furnish funds for this purpose if
properly instructed; for parents, aside from the advantage they
personally derive from such an arrangement, will feel the advantage to
their families of a church social life so strong and attractive as to
draw and hold the children to the associations of the church in
preference to the associations of the world.
+SECTION X.+