p. 16 | Not Force but Love

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 5, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 18.

Not Force but Love

Not Force but Love.—Just now the professed Christian world is putting forth strenuous efforts to make the world Christian by law. The kingdom of Christ, say these reformers, must “enter the realm of law through the gateway of politics.” But this is not Christ’s way. He could have obtained the kingdoms of the world in this way; at least, he was so offered them, but, in the words of Geikie: “Deliberately rejecting the thought of basing his empire on force, with a lofty grandeur of soul he chose to found it on love, rather than on the fears or compelled submission of mankind. Having come not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them, he would use his miraculous power only for good to man, and for the glory of his Father, trusting himself to Him, without other defense or care than His unfailing wisdom and love.”—Life of Christ, chap. 27. Are we Christ’s followers?—we will never seek to support or promote his cause by physical or legal force or power.