A CONFEDERACY by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 2, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 34.

A CONFEDERACY.

By Editor

Dr. Carroll, editor of the New York Independent, suggests that the young people's societies of the different denominations unite. He gives the numbers of the societies as follows: “Christian Endeavor, 40 denominations, 2,162,000; Epworth League, M. E. Church, 1,500,000; Epworth League, M. E. Church South, 150,000; Baptist Young People's Union, 400,000; Young People's Christian Union, United Brethren, 75,000; Lutheran League, 60,000; Young People's Christian Union, United Presbyterian, 35,146; Young People's Christian Union, Associate Reformed, 2,223; Young People's Christian Alliance, Evangelical Association, 30,407; total, 4,414,776. The Westminster League would swell the total to 4,500,000.” The worst thing about all this is that these societies, especially the greater ones, are being turned into political lines. Among their chief topics are “Christian Citizenship,” which means political methods and work, and Sunday laws. These young people are taught that the hope of the country is in making it what it never can be made, politically Christian; that unless the Sunday sabbath is preserved by law, the nation is ruined, and that the hope of this is a great confederacy or federation, by which the religio-political forces of the country may be used to sweep away all opposition to “Christian government;” and thus will the reign of Christ be brought in by politics and the ballot.

But all hope based upon political measures and political unions will prove futile. Thus the Lord speaks to his people of such work: “Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.” Well, what is a Christian to do in the face of this rising, engulfing tide of evils?—“Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself [“in your hearts,” 1 Peter 3:15]; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary.” Isa. 8:12-14. The only true union is union in the truth as it is in God's Word through Jesus Christ. Such union will not build political bridges of confederation over cold, dead creeds, but leave “traditions” and “vested interests,” and follow Christ. The U. S. Senate in 1829 spake truly: “Extensive religious combinations to effect a political object . . . are always dangerous. . . . All religious despotism commences by combination and influence; and when that influence begins to operate upon the political institutions of a country, the civil power soon bends under it, and the catastrophe of other nations furnishes an awful warning of the consequence.” We repeat, True union is union in the truth as it is in the Word through Christ.