The Application of Principles
By L. A. S.
THE Pan-American Conference of Protestant Episcopal bishops, in a session in this city, October 24, adopted the following resolution:— That it be commended to all bishops and other clergy first to familiarize themselves with the great political and economic questions which to-day in all lands are dividing men; and then to point out how their solution can be found, not so much in organization or legislation as in the application to daily life of the principles and the example of Jesus Christ. It is true that “the application to daily life of the principles and the example of Jesus Christ” would solve the problems which trouble society and the state, but the application must be made by each individual to his own life. It can not be made by act of any organization, political or religious. Each individual can make the application for himself, but he can do this only by the means and in the way which God has provided. That is, he can by faith receive the gift of God, Jesus Christ, and so live the Christian life, which is the life of Christ. There is no life which can be an improvement on simple Christianity. The trouble with the world to-day is that so few of its inhabitants are Christians. The trouble is not that men do not know enough, but that they do not do as well as they know; not that they do not know what is right, but they are controlled by a power which leads them contrary to the admonitions of their consciences. The trouble is that men trust in themselves, and do not lay hold on the power of God. It is the duty of every person to do what he can to make the world better; but it is not clear that the study of political and economic problems will do anything to supply the power which is lacking in the life of the individual who is a trouble to society and the state. God’s plan for the betterment of the world is that his followers should go everywhere through the world preaching and practising Christianity. We can find nothing in the great gospel commission of Jesus to his disciples, or in the instruction of Christ to his church, which will warrant ministers of the gospel in giving their time to the study of political and economic questions; but on the other hand, everything to warrant them in devoting their whole time and energies in pointing men to the divine sacrifice for sin, and proclaiming the power of God unto salvation.