p. 8 | A Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 10, 1914

“A Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved”

By W. A. S.

We may well know that Christian believers living in lands torn and shaken with war cling yet more closely to the blessed hope of “a kingdom which cannot be moved,” eternal in the heavens. Beyond all the strife and the suffering and the loss, that kingdom remains secure. And the gospel of the kingdom still speaks in the same spirit to people of all nations, inviting sinners to be reconciled to God.

In his appeal for civic neutrality on the part of citizens of this country in relation to the European conflict, President Wilson suggested the desirability of refraining from public discussion of the merits of the claims of contending nations, with all of which this country is at peace. Of course he had his mind upon the fact that, with the millions of European-born persons now citizens in this country, no little feeling might be aroused by acrimonious discussion. There are ten million people living in the United States who were born in countries now at war, to say nothing of the many millions of children of parents foreign born. For civic peace and harmony the president spoke his word of caution.

The ground of humanitarian neutrality is still broader. Speaking for the Red Cross movement, the Washington Post said recently:—

The Red Cross is the spirit of peace that hovers even over the battle field. It is visible evidence of the better part of human nature that cannot be quenched even in blood. It is the holiness of home, carrying to feverish lips the freshness of peaceful waters, and wafting frenzied brains back to a time when war was not.

German, Belgian, Frenchman, Austrian, Serb, Russian — all are one when stricken down, and the Red Cross knows not one from another. It sees only the agony to be relieved. It is deaf to cannon, blind to searchlights, immune to bullets. It knows no enemy, no boundary line, no politics, no quarrel. It knows only humanity. Intrigue cannot involve it, corruption cannot come near it, censorship cannot silence it, officialism cannot thwart it.

All honor to the nurses, surgeons, and helpers who make up the international army of the Red Cross! It is they, and not the helmeted soldiers, who are winning glory on the battle fields. It is they who are fighting for humanity.

This humanitarian movement keeps itself on this high plane in order that it may help all in times of need.

Surely Christians may learn good lessons from all these endeavors to minister to the cause of peace and helpfulness. Christian neutrality is on a yet higher plane. With all that must be said concerning the progress of fulfilling prophecy in current events, we certainly need to be guarded in speech, both in public discussion and in our press, and watchful that in our own hearts there shall be maintained the spirit of the kingdom, with none of the spirit of this world’s prejudices and preferences and rivalries. Pledged for the carrying of Heaven’s gospel of salvation “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” it surely is not within the gospel commission to deal with the relative merits of political issues for which contending peoples may stand.

Questions that might harmlessly be discussed in the abstract in quiet times, may in times of war become inappropriate and inexpedient topics for discussion by the gospel messenger. The representative of the everlasting gospel is equally at home in delivering the saving message in any part of the world, among any people, under any form of government. Wherever he may be, he is bound to “fear God” and “honor the king,” “to be subject to principalities and powers,” and to pray for the peace of that city or country whose soil his feet may press as he goes with the message from Heaven.

In any time it must certainly be in harmony with the spirit of the heavenly kingdom that the church shall not copy the world’s attitude toward any people. At a conference of representatives of the great missionary societies, not long ago, no little discussion was given to the great hindrances to mission work in Turkey, created by the constant appearance in the European and American press of slighting remarks regarding the non-Christian people of that country, certain of these ungodly political phrases often creeping into the religious press. The missionary representatives from that land protested against it very earnestly.

The world’s rivalries, racial and commercial, are always the same through all the ages, friendship turning to enmity and enmity to friendship, whichever way the current of self-interest moves. All the time, and above all the clashing of worldly interests, the voice of the Lord is calling men to prepare for heaven. So long as Christians live in the world they must suffer with it, and be directly involved personally in the storm and the stress; but amid it all, they may keep heaven’s spirit and the hope of the eternal kingdom in their hearts.

The more stormy the times get in this world, it is apparent that the greater care will be needed in discussing international affairs in the light of divine prophecy. The “sure word of prophecy” bears its message to all alike. It grants no basis for ministering to national pride or national ambitions. It foretells general conditions in order that men of all nationalities may read the signs of the times and know that the Lord, who created all and who loves all, is quickly coming again to save those who put their trust in him and keep themselves unspotted from the world.

W. A. S.