Pure Christianity and Civilization
By Eliza H. Morton
PURE Christianity is vastly different from the civilization of the masses in so-called enlightened lands. Civilization has been well called a veneer, or polish, which tends to cover the natural depravity of human hearts. That civilization is not true Christianity is well illustrated by the events of the present world-wide war. The faith of many converts to Christianity in heathen lands has been shaken and confused by the awful struggle now in progress, involving as it does a large portion of the civilized world. The following letter, signed by six educated Japanese students, and forwarded to a leading missionary society in America, is typical of this feeling: TOUCHING PLEA FROM JAPANESE CHRISTIANS
“Japanese Christians are very sorry to see such a war among European countries which we are accustomed to think of as Christian nations. Does Christianity have no power to control the nations that are known as Christians? Is it possible to make peace by uniting Christian hearts throughout the world? Is it not a reproach to Christianity that it has no power to avoid the present war? Under present conditions, there seems to be no one to say, ‘Put up thy sword into thy sheath, for they that take the sword shall perish by the sword.’ We are eagerly hoping that some demonstration or some movement may be started in Europe or America on the part of Christians to remove this condition of international war. We Christians cannot stand still and see such barbarous murder of other Christians in this Christian country. We ask your consideration of this with earnest prayers.” This war demonstrates that true Christianity deals with individual hearts, and that nations, as such, are never converted. God’s true people are always designated as a “little flock.” Their kingdom is not of this world. The devil works through the nations, and is drawing the whole world into his crucible; but his career will be interrupted. Everything indicates that there is soon to be a new order of things,—not a second probation during a thousand years, but the utter extinction of sin and sinners after the second resurrection, at the end of the thousand years. Rev. 20: 5, 9. The beginning of the thousand years is marked by the second appearing of Christ, not “in the secret chambers,” nor “in the desert,” but in the clouds of heaven, with all the holy angels. Matt. 24: 26, 30. This coming is to be preceded by a time of trouble upon the world at large, such as has never been known in past ages. Dan. 12: 1. God’s people will be tried and tempted and tested and persecuted just before this great time of trouble, but during it they will be shielded or covered by God’s Spirit. No evil shall befall them. Psalm 91. They will reign with Christ during the thousand years, and at its close find everlasting habitations in the new earth. Rev. 20: 6; 21: 1-5. The veneer of civilization will soon be swept away, and true Christianity will shine forth from those who are “all glorious within.”