As Jesus Would

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

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

“As Jesus Would.”—John G. Woolley, in his comments on “Christian Endeavor and Good Citizenship” topic—Rom. 8: 1-18—says:—

“‘Have we—the Christian Citizenship—the Spirit of Christ?’ or, in other words, Do we, in our citizen capacity, behave as Jesus would if he were here? Did we in the last national campaign prefer ‘dollars and cents’ to bodies and souls? Would Jesus? Did we postpone righteousness to expediency? Would Jesus? Did we agree with saloon-keepers to compass the lesser good? Would Jesus? Did we vote for a professional office-seeker who had the rental of two saloons in his pocket? Would Jesus? Did we vote for a man who was openly opposed to Prohibition? Would Jesus? Did we waive our convictions in order to be ‘in’ with the probable winners? Would Jesus? Did we accept the leadership of Platt, Quay, Brayton, Cox, Tanner? Would Jesus? In other words, did we act with our ballot, bravely, patiently, obediently, to God, or did we ‘observe the wind’?”

It seems too bad to see such talents as John G. Woolley possesses prostituted to such a fallacy as “Christian” politics. Politics is politic. The very science is based on expediency. When “Christian” politics become popular by becoming strong, every time-server and hypocrite among the old politicians will at once become “Christians” and “Christian citizens,” and when they say, “I repent,” John G. Woolley, and other good Christians, will be bound by the law of Christ to forgive and accept them as good citizens; for how can he or they read the heart and discriminate between the genuine wool and the shoddy? No; those who attempt to reform society by ballot or who practise the science of politics on the ground floor of expediency did not in the last national campaign “behave as Jesus would if he were here.” If he were here, he would do now as he did when he walked upon earth. “My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight [politically and otherwise], that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.” “They [My disciples] are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” True Christian citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3: 20, R. V.), and that is the citizenship Jesus knew and lived. That citizenship knew nothing of the “politics” of this world, and all the politics in this world are the politics of this world. The Christian citizenship of Christ Jesus is based upon and controlled by the eternal principles of righteousness, and every one who will be “born from above,” and has these implanted in the heart, is a citizen of that better land, the realm of King Jesus.