CAPT. WALTER F. HENRY
Commanding Officer fi D R K
CDR. WESLEY E. SKILL r i j M
Acting Executive Officer C) U IN
Published each Monday for all personnel
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at no cost to the government. Articles
contained herein are not to be construed
as representing the official opinion of
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an official publication,
EDITING STAFF
FRED J, EGGLESTON CHARLES NICKS
490-J OR Q36-W_ 204
CHAPLAIN'S CORNPR ' Vi
CHAPLAIN
. v; * T ROBERTS
I'MA CHRISTIAN HUT DON’T GO TO CHURCH
What’s all this business about "going
to church"? Can’t I be a good Christian
without going to church?
To begin with, let us admit honestly
that the Church is less than perfect-in
many'ways. Being composed of people, it
falls heir to all the various faults of
which human beings are guilty. There is
selfishness within the Church, and .h&rppw
cricy. Why then, isn’t "individual Chri
stianity" enough?
First,Christians 41nd that their lives
are strengthened by worshiping,and work-,
ing together——and as they worship, and
work- together they find they are eaohh
encouraged by the other’s faith and-tfyat
God Himself strengthens * and undergirds
them and what they do.
Second, as. a matter of historic fact,
Christianity _ has moved by means of the
Church and it could not- long survive
without the Church to proclaim and prac
tice it, -Wherever the name of Christ is
acknowledged, today, it is „ because the
Church has been.there, Christianity came
to you .thr.ough the Church, you surely
ought to* help pas.s it on to others by
attending and supporting the Church*:,.
Third, Christianity is a religion ,of
community—a religion in which Ood est
ablishes a relationship between Himself
and the community of people. This com
munity is the Church and when you bec
come a Christian you become a part of
that community—not an ’’individual Chr
istian”. People who say,”! am a Christ
ian”, but don’t go to church, at worse
are not really Christians at all, or at
best betray the fact that they haven’t
the foggiest notion of what Christian
ity is all about. (How could they—they
don't go to church to find out!)
It is difficult to see, therefore,how
anyone with a sincere and intelligent
Christian faith could wish to avoid
going to church. On the contrary, the
true Christian will naturally feel a
strong compulsion to worship God in the
company of others who are of his faith.
Sure, you can see God in a sunset or a
trout stream, but do you? And are you
being instructed, and are you swerving—
both of Which are a necessary •■jpatft of
the Christian faith——or are you -just
really worshiping Someone vague like
"Mother Nature”? We preachers are the
first to. say that our sermons aren’t
the greatest! But the Hymns,Scriptures,
and Prayers are! SEE YOU IN CHRUCHJ
editorial
Travel is broadening, we are told.But
to travel without knowing something
about the place . we will visit is akin
to a non-swimmer plunging into waters
over his head...when he could have used
a lifejacketl .
National Library Week, April 3-9,
points out a means whereby one can
travel inexpensively and frequently more
thoroughly' through the medium of the
written word* Books often take you be
hind the scenes and along little-travel
led roads and paths. Through -them you
meet people with, whom you probably would
never come into contact with, such as
political leaders and the little man in
the street.Books were never intended to
replace travelling,nor should they.They
can prevent-youv. from wasting time and
money when you dp. travel.
Take advantage . of National Library
Week and multiply it by the £2 weeks of
the‘year* Between the covers of. a book
another world of your choosing'lies.