“‘Church of the Revolution’ is a contradiction in terms unless the revolution has already taken place, for the reason that only past revolutions are orthodox and respectable. The object of a church is to spread the doctrine of the righteousness of what is, because it has been so ordained by a higher power. A church is nothing if not orthodox and staid, and if it does not preach contentment and humble conformity with one’s lot, whatsoever that lot may be. No, no! Let Mr. White go ahead and start a new church if he will, or let him get up a stirring revolution, but let him not try to do the two things at once.”
As it applies to what are known as churches, in distinction to “the church,” this has more than a grain of truth in it. But really Christianity is the most revolutionary force in the world to-day, and its holders are the greatest revolutionists. This has been so ever since there has been any Christianity. Really a Church of England is more anomalous than a Church of the Revolution; for Christianity pertains to no particular form of government or nationality, but regards all alike as tools for human service, which God has guided in making, and which are also, by His decree, to be changed continually for the better as men become wiser in their use, and able to change them.
Christianity, however, rests its confidence in the power of truth, which God has assured will ultimately triumph. It is not the place of the Christian to seek to lead the armed forces of the revolutionary. He will be more true to his character as a quiet worker for the practical principles of justice, brotherhood, and patience.
The reason why Christianity is not seen more on the surface as a mover of improvement in the world, is that whenever a principle has attained a certain degree of acceptance by peaceful methods, some misguided or designing zealot makes it a battle cry, and starts in to force conformity with it upon those who are not yet prepared to see it and accept it. He, rather than the one who first saw it, gets the credit when at last the change is complete. Yet his work and the bloodshed were unnecessary.
So long as free speech and free discussion were permitted, the change would come peaceably sooner or later; and it would be more nearly unanimous, and advantage would be more easily taken of it, when so brought about. The prevalence of such Christianity in this world would make unnecessary the coming of the Lord to deliver His people from oppression of earthly powers. But we know, from human nature as shown in history, as well as from prophecy given in the Bible, that Christianity will not thus prevail. A revolution by the arm of divine vengeance is promised in the end, for cleansing the earth of the tyranny of those who resist truth by stilling the voices that speak it, giving final proof of the ability of the darkness of sin to shut out the clearest light.
