p. 7 | The True Remedy by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1903

The True Remedy

By L. A. S.

SPEAKING on “The Remedy for an Epidemic of Crime,” the Rev. Polemus H. Swift, a Methodist clergyman of Chicago, said in a recent discourse:—

I am not a pessimist, but I am compelled to believe that an epidemic of crime is now prevalent in our country. The graft commission is bringing to light a condition of corruption and rottenness that is far from cheering. The public press is filled with the story of crimes of every magnitude and description. A recent morning paper contained fifty-two such narratives in a single issue.

During the first six months of the present year there were no fewer than forty-five lynchings in the United States. Those who have sworn to enforce the law have winked at its violation, or even helped it on. We are shocked by crimes against womanhood and purity, while in some quarters youth seem driven to madness. We are familiar with the story of daring robberies, daylight and midnight holdups, horrible murders, frequent suicides, juvenile crimes, political corruption, police protection of crime and lawlessness, city hall grafts, the appropriation of trust funds, scandals in church circles, betrayal of public confidence, the outrages of great corporations, the alarming increase of divorce and open violation of law, such as unite to paint a picture that is far from comforting.

After enumerating what he regarded as the chief causes of this deplorable “epidemic,” Mr. Swift said that as a remedy there must be a “revival of civic righteousness.” He also said:—

Good men must take an active part in politics. The pulpit must speak out in the interest of a new earth as well as a new heaven. Good men must be elected regardless of party affiliations. What sort of a city government can you build on such a sub-consciousness of unrighteousness as now exists?

There must be a revival of enforcement of law. Violators of law must be speedily punished. Lynchers must be treated as murderers. There must be a great revival of spiritual religion. A revival of spiritual religion always means a revival of individuality, the coronation of conscience, respect for the Bible, reverence for the truth, obedience to law. There must be a union of effort. The church of Jesus Christ must not be wanting in the conflict.

The call for a revival of “civic righteousness” has long been heard, but while the situation has been growing steadily worse for years, the much-sought revival has failed to come. Never were law and good government and society so shaken at their very foundations as we see them to-day. To say that we “must have” such a revival does not suffice to bring it into realization. It is easy to see many things that ought to be, but it is quite another thing to find the power to bring about the desired results.

While the papers are filled with the reports of what men say must be done to stay the rising tide of evil, we would endeavor to point those who are concerned over the situation to the counsel that is given in the Word of God. God sent a message to the world in the early days of this generation which, if it had been heeded, would have saved the church from a great mistake which is being made at this time. That message was, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” It was a message proclaiming that we had reached the time of the end, and that soon the rightful Sovereign of the earth would come to his own, and the kingdom of this world would become “the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ.” The great work of the Christian church from that time forward was to prepare the world for his glorious appearing. But the church, turning aside from the light of the message from God, has missed the straight pathway of his providence, and has been wandering in the dark, seeking how it might save the state and suppress iniquity in the world by means of the power of the world. Instead of proclaiming the righteousness of God for the salvation of the individual from sin, the cry is for “civic righteousness” to save the state. But Christ gave his church no instruction about saving the state, nor did he commend any other righteousness than that which he came to manifest for the salvation of the world, which was the very righteousness of God. “Civic righteousness” is a delusive term.

The true remedy for crime is to be found in the remedy for sin. Never will the world become better, save as its people are individually saved from sin, and never can this be through the exercise of any political or legislative power, but only through the power of God received through faith. Never can any plans of men, however carefully devised or energetically pushed forward, take the place of the great reforming message God has sent to the world for this time. Never can the efforts of the church be wisely directed in any other channel but that of the proclamation of this message. The hope of the world lies in the soon coming of her righteous King.

L. A. S.