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THE GREAT WAR SPIRIT

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 2.

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THE GREAT WAR SPIRIT.

THE attention of the whole civilized world is still riveted upon China, because of the warlike demonstrations that are centering around the old empire. The complications are such that all the leading nations of Europe, and Japan as well, are involved in the quarrel. And even the United States is seriously asking herself the question, “What part am I to act if war shall ensue?”
This great military outburst is all occasioned by two missionaries from one of the churches of Germany being killed by a body of recognized Chinese banditti in the province of Shantung, China. The situation as a whole is an exceedingly serious as well as ludicrous caricature on the sentiment that has been voiced by so many that we are just entering a great era of peace—a millennium of joy. There stands “poor benighted heathen China,” with the “great civilized and Christian nations” of Europe letting the war-dogs loose into her defenseless and benighted territory to tear her in pieces. And the “great Christian nation” of the United States sees no special reason why she should interfere unless perchance her commercial interests should be jeopardized, and in that case she will have to “step in and assert her rights.”
Before Peter was converted he had a very warlike nature. And when this fighting man, who was afterward to be the subdued and tender apostle, drew his sword, the great Head of the Christian church said to him, “Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:52. Could one of the great foundation principles of the church be made clearer than this scripture states it? And since the Master would not recognize the use of the carnal sword when drawn to defend His own person, will He accept its use any sooner in behalf of any one of His followers?
Then are the “great powers” acting in harmony with the instruction of Christ, the Head of the church? And in all this clamoring for bloodshed is there any possible right to the title of “Christian”? Our Master, the tender, loving, gentle, and pitying Christ, is not the prince of war, but the Prince of peace. Then let our influence ever be to try to enlighten and win over those who are masquerading under that sacred name of Christian, while perhaps they do not even know that they are being fed on by the spirits of demons in their awful clamors for war.