THE NEW CIVILIZATION by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 14, 1889

"THE NEW CIVILIZATION."

By M. C. W.

Such is the title of a series of articles by Rev. Thos. K. Davis, D. D., of Wooster University, Ohio, in the Christian Statesman, the third of which appeared in that paper of November 15. We wonder how a man who seems to see the needs of the day can turn his plea into one of National Reform. The following is what is called for by him:—

"Strange as the statement may appear to some, it is nevertheless true, that before the new civilization can be realized, Christianity must be applied to our religion. . . . For neither our faith nor our practice has been lifted up into harmony with the tone of the holy Scriptures, and there is very great need of Christianizing our Christianity. With the large part of the Christian world, religion is a thing of rites and ceremonies. . . . Even in our Protestant communities, how frequently does membership in the church serve as a substitute for personal piety. . . . Indeed, is it not true that many of the sayings and precepts of Christ are utterly disregarded by apparently sincere Christians? . . . Oh! how much has been lost by the substitution of churchianity for Christianity! Christianity—pure, simple, evangelical, spiritual, and practical—must take the place of ecclesiasticism. Christianity, of which Jesus, the Son of God, and Saviour of the world, is the center; of which the Holy Spirit is the life-giving and wonder-working power; Christianity, which aims at and labors for the regeneration of men, and the reconstruction of the world; Christianity, which is never satisfied with mere profession, or with mere outward morality, but which scrutinizes the motives and desires of the heart, demands a pure and sound moral character, and a life beautiful in spirit, and abounding in good works; Christianity, which commends itself to all men as the wisdom of God, and the power of God. . . . If only Christians would adopt it, practice it, and apply its practical principles to the pulling down of the strongholds of sin and Satan!"

All the above as regards the condition of the church, is true, too sadly true. The world and the great professed church of Christ are sick, as saith the prophet: "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores. They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment." Isa. 1:6. And what is the remedy which Mr. Davis proposes? Christianity; and the Christianity of Christ, such as portrayed by Mr. Davis, is the only power that can heal. But this is not all that he proposes. He unites with, or fastens upon, that Christianity a malignant cancer which will destroy its vitality and power. In short, Mr. Davis needs to have his Christianity Christianized. For, according to the same article, the work of ministering this healing power, of dispensing this divine remedy, must not be left to the church of Christ; but the State must bear a hand. Christians are not to win their conquests by divine weapons which "are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;" but they must, in order to be successful, unite with the world, use "carnal weapons," and then victory is sure! That this is contemplated is evident from the following words from the same article (italics ours):—

"Let the new civilization triumph, and the moral law—the law of God—will be supreme. The Lord Jesus Christ will be acknowledged as King. The golden rule will prevail. Mutual sympathy and helpfulness will take the place of emulations, strifes, wrath, and bitterness. Religion and politics will be as closely allied as twin sisters. Government will be a simple agency of the people, ordained by the all-wise God, for their benefit, especially for the benefit of the poor. It will be a terror to evil-doers, and an encouragement to all that do well."

As to how it is to be accomplished, he says:—

"But to accomplish that, Christians must not leave the great interests of human society in the hands of bad men. This earth is the inheritance of the saints. The divine Redeemer purchased it for them. They are to judge, that is, govern, the world by their moral influence. The kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the Most High. Christians have been too slow to claim their rights, and enter upon their heritage. If they are to reign with Christ over the earth, they must work for the privilege. They must throw their Heaven-born wisdom and energy into politics, and legislation, and trade, and commerce, and education, and literature."

"If only the good people, who love the truth and the right, and hate the false and the evil, would unite; if the honest and true, of all churches, and of all parties, would only stand together, uniting their efforts and their votes, and be faithful to Christ in the conflict which is raging, and which will rage more and more as the day of the Lord approaches, then He who is Governor among the nations will usher this world, purified by its trials, into scenes of life and beauty surpassing all the romance of fable or of song."

Oh, what a medley! Why apply texts of Scripture like Daniel 7:27; Matt. 19:28, and others, which refer to the future personal reign of Christ over immortalized beings, to this earth in its present state? Such a time will come as foretold by prophecy, but that will be when Christ takes to himself his great power and reigns, the wicked all having been slain, and his people "all righteous" (Isa. 60:21), not through the power of law, but the power of the gospel.

But notice the means by which Dr. Davis is to have this brought about. It is by a union of all churches and of all parties; it is through their votes; the Heaven-born energies of Christians are to be thrown into the filthy pool of politics and legislation; they "must work for the privilege" of office. But all churches include the Roman Catholic; and National Reformers are on record as willing and anxious to co-operate with that church. The Dark Ages reveal to us Rome's idea of the kingdom of Christ, and how his law should be administered. All parties would certainly include the corrupt political organizations of the day. Oh, but these are to "be faithful to Christ"! But who is to judge of their faithfulness? The corruptest men will profess Christ in order to secure votes. Who is to judge of their sincerity? There is absolutely nothing to prevent all the hypocrisy manifested in the halcyon days of Rome and the days of the English Commonwealth. And corrupt politicians will accept of the "votes" of all classes, and the same secret corruptions will be as prevalent in the name of Christ as are in existence now. The scheming politicians of the world will dominate then as now, and faithfulness to Christ will be in name and not in heart.

Christianity, the Christianity of Christ, does not recognize the temporal rule of Christians in this present world. Said Jesus, "My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence." John 18:36. His kingdom is not to be built up through scheming politicians or weapons that are "carnal." He has not bidden his servants to strive for the privilege of ruling, but the privilege of serving. "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you; let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." Matt. 20:25-28. Here is the divine rule and the divine example. Spiritual, not temporal, power (Eph. 3:16-21); spiritual armor, not carnal weapons (Eph. 6:13-17); prayers of faith, not votes or political intrigue (Eph. 6:18; 1 John 5:4), are the divinely ordained means God has given his servants whereby they may prevail over all the powers of darkness. On the other hand, uniting with the world separates from God, and while petitions may be heard by legislative powers, they are unheard by the Throne of Grace. James 4:1-4. May God help those blinded by such principles to realize that they are blind; and may he help the honest in heart to still abide in the liberty granted us by our forefathers and vouchsafed us by the gospel of Christ.