The Matter of War

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 14, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 49.

The Matter of War.

It seems to us from the foregoing, and from many scriptures of the same import, that Christ calls us to peace, to proclaim that peace to others, and that, therefore, the Christian may not use carnal weapons. He is what is called a non-combatant. But if it is his duty to exercise his right (so far as man is concerned) of franchise, in order to carry out what seem to be beneficial political measures, is it not his duty to pursue it logically to the end? The ballot often means the bullet. The exercise of suffrage is often followed by the use of the sword. The latter may be the logical sequence of the former. This was the case in our Civil War. Is the Christian prepared to carry out this line of “duty” to the end? How can he consent to yield up his blood-bought talents, time, ability, and strength to the control and manipulation of partisan politicians? We are aware that “Christian citizens” and “Christian patriots,” and professional politicians will say that such religion is impracticable, looking to the future wholly instead of to the present. But it is not impracticable. It is the most powerful and practical thing in the world. It brings the life of God and heaven down to earth. Received, it makes of the receivers better fathers and mothers, better husbands and wives, better sons and daughters, better neighbors and friends, better men and women. By indirect influence through these, it uplifts even those who do not receive it, and all the betterment the world has ever received is by the means directly or indirectly of Christianity, not through force, but through faith.