Political Christianity

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 18, 1908

Political Christianity

An effort was made to secure the recognition of Jesus Christ as “our leader” at a State prohibition convention recently held in Washington State. After creating considerable stir the proposition was voted down. In its comment on this incident the Chicago Israelite said:—

The ministers who opposed the insertion of the acceptance of Jesus Christ in the prohibition platform of Seattle were right when they declared that it would arouse the hostility of the Jews, but not on the ground that they put it. Jews and all other good citizens of this country should oppose the recognition of any distinct religion in any platform. It has no place there. The Jew objects to it not on the ground that he is a Jew, but on the ground that he is a citizen of this country, and it is one of the fundamental principles of this country that church and state should be kept separate. To drag the name of Jesus into a political platform is a reflection on Jesus as well as on the platform.

The misrepresentations of Christianity ought not to be charged up to the account of Christianity, although it is almost inevitable that it will be done. Any attempt to unite church and state is a repudiation of one of the fundamental principles of Christianity, and it is a pity that Jews should be compelled to maintain this principle against the aggressions of professed Christians. To the average Jew Christianity stands for a false sabbath, a false diet, and a false idea of the sphere of civil government; it is therefore no wonder that few Jews are converted to Christianity. Genuine Christianity stands for the true Sabbath, the true diet, and the true idea of the sphere of civil government. The Jew ought to have this kind of Christianity presented to him.