Serving (?) Two Masters.
By W. N. G.
A minister who preached for two weeks to the soldiers at Camp Cuba Libre, Fla., reports that 435 men have publicly declared that they have “surrendered themselves to Christ.” Can a man be said to have surrendered to Christ who still retains his carnal weapons and longs for a chance to use them against his fellow-men? Christ says to those who surrender to Him, “Put up again thy sword into his place.” Matt. 26:52. Then the sword’s place is not in the hands of a disciple of Christ. A special ambassador of Christ tells us that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.” 2 Cor. 10:4. Why not?—Because “we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” Eph. 6:12. When one has surrendered to Christ, he enters the service of Christ; he must therefore use the armor which his Commander prescribes. In the verses just following the text last cited is a complete specification of the “whole armor of God,” and there is not a carnal weapon mentioned. Has any one heard of 435 men at Camp Cuba Libre laying down their carnal weapons and taking up “the whole armor of God” instead? This is just what they must needs do if they “surrendered to Christ.” If they had done so, we would have seen it heralded in bold head-lines in the newspapers that 435 men had been tried by court-martial, and — by this “Christian nation.” A public declaration of surrender to Christ while still wielding the carnal weapons of the world, is simply trying to serve two masters; and this is just what the soldiers are taught in most of the preaching they hear. Such teaching is the mission of the chaplain service.