A DOUBTFUL COMPLIMENT by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 10, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 50.

A DOUBTFUL COMPLIMENT.

By G.

In this city recently the Y. M. C. A. managers gave a banquet to business men for the purpose of eliciting their material support of the proposed new building enterprise of the association. Among the speakers was U. S. Senator Perkins, and a striking sentiment of his address was the following:—

Commodore Jack Phillips was a Y. M. C. A. man. His record needs no words of praise. He said that men turned out from the Young Men’s Christian Association made the best fighters. He himself was a proof of that assertion.

Making “the best fighters,” from the standpoint of a naval officer, hardly comports with the inspired idea of Christian qualification. We should hope that such is not the ideal of the Y. M. C. A. The Word of God says: “We [Christians] wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day.” Eph. 6:12, 13. The armor of God is designated as the “breastplate of righteousness,” “feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” (not a “preparation” for war), “the shield of faith,” “the helmet of salvation,” “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,” and these supplemented by persistent prayer. In addition to this positive designation, we have the emphasis of the negative side: “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” 2 Cor. 10:4. This refers to spiritual strongholds, as we learn from the fact above stated that we wrestle with “spiritual wickedness.”

Yes, it is a doubtful compliment to a “Christian” association to say that it makes “the best fighters” in the world’s battles, the most expert participants in the work of destroying the lives of men whom Christ gave His own life to save. Luke 9:56, Can it be true that the so-called “Christian nations” are looking to “Christian” associations for recruits in the work of destroying life in these times when universal war is becoming more and more imminent, and that they are looking to these sources of supply because they “make the best fighters”? God forbid! Can it be true that the fighting officials of the government are correct in this estimate of men who receive their training in “Christian” associations? If this be true, is there not something wrong with the professed Christianity of the times? Surely here is something for Christians to think about. G.