THE CHURCH MILITANT by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 7, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 14.

THE CHURCH MILITANT.

By T.

THE term “church militant” is intended to convey the thought of the church, panoplied in the true spiritual armor of heaven, and engaged in warfare against sin. And “the weapons of our warfare,” says the apostle (2 Cor. 10:4), “are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” And in another place the same apostle says:—

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we 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, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Eph. 6:10–20.

Thus the scriptures are abundant in showing that the weapons of the Christian are not “carnal,” and that the armor of God is truth, righteousness, faith, the hope of salvation, and the gospel of peace. Clad in such an armor, the disciple of Christ goes forth with the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,” to do effectual work for his Master. There is no warrant in Scripture for him to lay aside this heavenly armor and in its place take the sword and musket, and sally forth to shed the blood of his fellow-men in carnal combat.

Then how painful to the heavenly host of angels must be the scene when the professed ambassador for Christ advocates the use of the carnal sword and the slaughter of his fellow-men. He may think he is inspired by patriotism in doing it, but what has become of his loyalty and patriotism to the Prince of Peace.

The San Francisco Call makes editorial mention of a number of leading ministers, both here and in Spain, who have some very harsh things to say in connection with the present controversy between Spain and the United States. One minister in this country grew so warm that he said, according to the Call:—

I thought of writing to those patriots to say that my services in leading a regiment will be always at their command, and that I will do all in my power with them to make Spanish the prevailing language of hell.

Commenting on these clerical statements the Call says:—

Verily these followers of the Prince of Peace are “hot stuff.” . . . Officers of the army and navy are cool and circumspect. President and Prime Minister proceed along the formal and polite lines of diplomacy. Even the people plant and sow and delve and dig as usual, and wait in grim patience for the long roll of the war drums. But these of the clergy, meantime, are standing on the picket line exchanging challenges and avowing a gory thirst that seems hardly in keeping with their cloth.

Who will say that the criticisms of the Call are too severe? And who can be so deluded as to believe that we are already in the era of peace, and war forever a thing of the past, when even the professed ministers of Christ in large numbers are not educated beyond the point of clamoring for war?

Make no mistake at this time. The Bible has plainly told us that the last days are to be a time of war and not peace. And the same Word has also told us that, notwithstanding the prevailing war spirit, men in the very midst of its angry clamors will undertake to assure us that it is only “peace.” So be sure to have on the armor of God at all times, and by no means let it be exchanged for the carnal weapons, lest we be deceived and eternally ruined.