National Reform Convention by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 5, 1907

National Reform Convention

By C. M. S.

FROM the beginning to the end of the Christian Citizenship Institute at Winona Lake, Ind., a series of studies was conducted by R. C. Wylie, D. D., on the basic theme of The Kingdom, divided into the following subtopics: The Kingdom in Old Testament History, The Kingdom in Old Testament Prophecy, The Kingdom in the Gospels, The Kingdom in the Epistles, and The Kingdom in the Apocalypse.

The doctor ignored the idea of the future setting up of the kingdom of God in the earth, and made no reference whatever to the great work of God in cleansing the earth from the defilements of sin and sinners through the fires of the last day. On the other hand; he sought to inculcate the idea that Christ has already received his kingdom, and is now the real ruler of this world in every line of its multifarious activities; and that because of this fact it was the duty of all Christians to bring the legislation of the various countries into harmony with the divine will. This nation is, of course, out of harmony with the divine will as long as the name of God is put in its Constitution, and “Christian laws, rules, and usages” are not placed “on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.” As long as that condition exists, the idea was advanced that this nation was a rebellious nation, unwilling to recognize the sovereignty of its rightful ruler.

Dr. Wylie went so far as to declare that Dan. 7:13, 14, was fulfilled when Christ ascended on high, utterly ignoring all that must be fulfilled, as brought out in that same chapter, before that wonderful scene could be enacted at the Father’s throne. Never was text of Scripture more thoughtlessly used than was this wonderful text at that time to prove Christ the present ruler of “all the peoples, nations, and languages.”

Dr. Wylie declared that “Christ is this world’s king,” and he called upon the nation to recognize its allegiance to him. It reminded the writer of the clamorings of Christ’s disciples and of the people that he should be their king. They would indeed have taken him and made him king; but he declared,—and still does declare,—“My kingdom is not of this world.” In direct opposition to this declaration of our risen Lord, the National Reformers place their declaration that “Christ is this world’s king.” No plainer contradiction of the words of our Saviour have we ever seen than this by those who profess to do him honor. We prefer to believe our Lord’s words, and to believe that he understood the nature of his kingdom and the time of its establishment better than do those who are seeking to make him king over a realm still reeking with sin and flooded with sorrow. Nay, verily, the day of the “perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7) must first come; the fires that are to cleanse the world of sin (verses 10-13) and to burn up sin, root and branch (Mal. 4:1), must first come; the reception of the righteous subjects into the mansions prepared for them (1 Thess. 4:16, 17) must precede the setting up of the kingdom of our Lord upon this earth once defiled by sin. A thorough study of the theme of the second coming of Christ will prove a defense against such a misconception of the nature and establishment of the kingdom of Christ.

Viewing the matter from the standpoint taken by the National Reformers, that Christ is now this world’s king, and that the only way our King’s will can be

accomplished is through the enactment and enforcement of “moral legislation,” we see at once arising the necessity for that strong right arm of a legal church, the Inquisition. For to make men moral by law, as the National Reformers are proposing to do, we must have some apparatus that can go down into the souls of men and draw up to the light the hidden thoughts, the secret motives, the feelings and purposes of men. The courts of to-day can not be sure of testimony that is sworn to on the Bible. No such loophole can be permitted where religion and morals are to be enforced by law.

Dr. Smiley in one of his lectures at this institute had much to say of the great crime of treason against government, and the justice of the death penalty for that crime. Dr. Wylie used an illustration on the same day which seemed to fit in very aptly with Dr. Smiley’s observations upon treason. Dr. Wylie’s illustration was this: Somewhere in Colorado there was a very steep railway up a mountainside. At certain places there were derailing switches where “wild” trains might be derailed against the mountainside or hurled down the mountain to prevent their wrecking some other train. This was done on the theory that it was better to wreck one train than two. It will be remembered that a similar argument was used to justify the execution of our Lord.

From Dr. Smiley’s observations on treason and Dr. Wylie’s forceful and peculiar illustration, the writer could draw no other conclusion than that when their program for this nation had been carried out, there would again be occasion for men to witness with their lives for the truths they hold. The writer therefore asked Dr. Wylie what in his mind would constitute treason against this government when they had succeeded in getting God in the Constitution, and all the “Christian laws, rules, and usages of the nation on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.” The doctor was unwilling to commit himself, and could not be induced to make any statement whatever in reference to the matter. Nothing that the writer could suggest seemed to constitute treason against such a government. A crime that had occupied a large portion of an eloquent sermon had evanesced into an intangible something that could not be defined, located, or handled.

Nevertheless, knowing from the Word of God the kind of power that is to arise—is even now arising—in this country, and the work that it is to do in compelling the consciences of men, we do not need a statement from the National Reform Association in order to know what will be denominated treason under that form of government. Neither do we need such a statement in order to know that that power will pronounce the death penalty upon those who stand for God and his truth against the federated powers of darkness. The issue is clear, and everything points to an exact fulfilment of Rev. 13:11-18. A definite campaign has been entered upon by the National Reform Association to educate the people to a point where they will demand the legislation that will bring that thing to pass. C. M. S.