Our Great Christian Nations
THE world has taught itself to believe that the great aggressive and progressive part of it is made up of strong Christian nations. We may all affirm the truth that Christianity has had a strong molding influence upon the leading nations of the day; but the wars, the strifes, and the iniquities in general, that are in progress, ought to disabuse the mind of the candid individual in regard to there being any Christian nations in fact. We have millions of people, in all these leading nations, who make a profession of Christianity; but very few of them comparatively know, from a practical experience, what Christianity really is. For a nation to adhere to some particular form of religion is one thing, and for the individuals composing that nation to be true Christians is quite a different thing. For instance, the “Christian nations” that are now in war in Europe would not be engaged in this barbarous strife if they had heeded the words of Christ, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Neither would they be fighting if they had obeyed His instruction, “Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” The very fact that these nations are engaged in the most barbarous war the world has ever seen, ought to convince any one that, regardless of their professions, they are not Christian nations. There are many Christians in those countries, and Christianity has exerted its mighty influence there; but it has not converted any one of these nations as a whole. When Christ was here in person, nineteen hundred years ago, the Jewish nation claimed the distinction of being the true church of the living God. It was the “Christian nation” of that time; and yet that great “Christian nation,” with all its splendid history, and with all its memories of prophets and priests who had been devoted to the service of God, and who had given us the Scriptures of the Old Testament, nevertheless crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. The popular clamors of professors of religion in that time were, “Away with Him! Crucify Him!” The great majority of the people in that “Christian nation” were deceived. They made an awful mistake. Looking back through the light of history, we can see and sense the delusion that misguided them. But why can we not see that the pretended and boasted Christianity of this time, in so far as our “Christian nations” are concerned, is just as much of a sham as that which appeared in the time of Christ’s first advent! We may consistently ask the question, Is not Satan preparing, through the pretensions and the formalities of so-called Christian nations, to have the world suffering under a gigantic delusion, in order that they may not see the clear prophecies that point to the second coming of Christ as an event for the immediate future? Indeed, was not the apostle Paul inspired to tell us that the last days would be made perilous because men would have the “form of godliness” but would deny its power? 2 Tim. 3:5. We should heed these warnings that are in the Word, and not allow our eyes to be blinded to real truth by popular sentiment and popular teaching.