A Flag of “Christian Conquest”
By L. A. S.
A new flag, purporting to be the emblem of Christianity, has recently come into existence. It is the adopted standard of the “Christian Conquest Movement,” which is enlisting Sunday-schools and other religious organizations for a world-conquest of all that is opposed to Christianity. The flag shows a cross on a white background, and on a dark background the accompanying words, “By this sign conquer.” It is thus seen to be borrowed from the idea of the Emperor Constantine, who claimed to have seen in the heavens a vision of a cross with the words, “In hoc signo vinces.” In the Union Signal of February 18 the Rev. S. M. Johnson, the “originator and director of the Christian Conquest Movement,” says of this flag:— It came into being in the hour of our national grief as the body of President McKinley was borne down the aisle of the Canton church. There was silence on earth for the space of five minutes. During that holy calm all Christians drew closer to God, and gave themselves anew to God’s work. Anarchy had struck down the flag, but instantly there arose its defenders in the Christian people who declared for a flag of their own,6that when any foe should again strike at the life of our country, they could place their flag beside our national emblem, and give battle in the name of Christ and our country. This is very suggestive of a union of the church with a worldly power, though perhaps no such idea is contemplated in this movement. The flag of a civil government is not an emblem of Christianity, but a sign of political power and authority. The flag of the United States stands—or should stand—for justice, for enforced conformity to laws made to preserve the rights of the people. As such it is not opposed to Christianity, so long as it keeps out of the sphere of religion. But in the sphere of religion civil force is opposed to Christianity. The gospel is carried forward by no such agency. The weapons of Christian warfare are of a totally different character. Christianity is a system which combines justice with mercy, providing always for the pardon of the transgressor. Civil government knows no such provision, and could not exist were it to try to carry such a provision into effect. The distinction between the sphere of civil government and of religion needs to be much better and more generally understood than it is at the present. There is a mingling of the divine and the worldly, the sacred and the secular, which can only lead to acts done in the name of Christianity which are anything but Christian in character. History is full of admonitions on this point. The intention may be of the best, but it is the result that must be considered in the end. The talk of joining this “Christian” flag with the flag that floats over armies and navies, of joining the forces of the church with the civil power, to fight anarchy, appears to us to be wholly foreign to the commission of the Christian church as given by her divine Head at the hour of his ascension to the throne of heavenly power. “The Conquest Flag,” says the Rev. Mr. Johnson, “has been adopted by fourteen State Sunday-school associations, and also by Christian organizations numbering many millions of members. This flag is in use on all the continents and among all denominations, and will be seen upon all occasions when the interests and demands of the Christian religion are being advanced.” This “Christian Conquest Movement” has adopted this banner, we are further told, “as an emblem of the Christian religion.” It is to be “used as a means of cultivating and expressing Christian unity, and as a summons to Christian conquest. Associated with the national flag, it becomes an appropriate emblem of all work that appeals to the blended sentiments of patriotism and religion. Although the various churches have not yet united in one vast organization, they have united in declaring their essential unity by adopting and using a common flag.” We wish this movement all success in its work for the promotion of temperance. We believe a Christian movement can attain the highest success, however,—the only real success,—by the use of Christian agencies alone. These are fully provided in the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the heavenly intelligences who unite with the followers of Christ for the upbuilding of his kingdom in the earth. The only truly Christian flag is a blood-stained banner that has been through every battle between the hosts of sin and of righteousness since the fall of man. Under that banner are marshaled the forces of Christ to-day. The Christian conquers not through any outward sign, but by faith and the sword of the Spirit. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” In this long-established Christian conquest movement we fully believe. It is the only one, we think, of which the world has need.