Keeping the State Out of God’s Way
Lord Shaftsbury is accredited with the remark that true statesmanship lies in finding out the direction in which God is moving, and then getting out of His way. The so-called Christian Citizenship movement would have the people recognize the way of the National Reformers as God’s way, and have the state put the Declaration of Independence and the Federal Constitution and the doctrines of Protestantism in religion and Republicanism in politics all out of the way for a full sweep of church and state union in the United States. So long as the state keeps in its allotted place as a protector of the natural rights of men, the Gospel ship will have fairly smooth sailing, as the devil’s most effective work ever has been through the medium of the state’s getting in the way with its man-made religion enforcing the traditions and dogmas of human origin. That is indeed true statesmanship that will keep the state out of the way of the Lord’s work for the salvation of souls.