Christianity as a Means of Salvation
*The following golden words are from the Advance.* Study them till their vital principle shall be truly discerned, and shall live in you:— The Christian religion is in danger of being discredited by its friends. The attempt to make it responsible for government, for industrial affairs, for economic relations, and all social conditions threatens to bring it into disrepute. It is putting too much upon it. Those who are changing Christianity from a means of redemption to a means of reform are trying to use the Christian religion in a way that does not secure its best results. Paul said that he was not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Those who refuse to use it as a means of salvation miss its power. They not only lose its intense and direct appeal to the individual, but they fail to command the promised blessing and power of the Holy Spirit. They leave untouched both the spiritual depth of the human soul and the fountains of divine grace. Used in this way, the Christian religion is sure to be discredited; because its advocates will be defeated and discouraged. Had the early disciples started out with the announced purpose of reforming the government of the Roman Empire, righting the relations of the classes, and changing social conditions, Christianity would have died before it was fairly born, crushed by the overwhelming forces arrayed against it. But they preached a gospel of redemption, of salvation to believers; and by this gospel they wrought at once upon individual character and all human relations. We shall still best preserve the good name and power of Christianity by proclaiming it as a message of redemption. How a redeemed man should live in the world is very essential; but the first essential is to redeem him. For this kind of man, alone, does Christianity really stand responsible.