THE DESIGN OF CHRISTIANITY.
By C. P. B.
It is related that when Frederick the Great asked the Abbot Steinmetz to give him in a few striking words a proof of the truth of Christianity, the latter replied, "Your majesty, the Jews," meaning, of course, that the separate existence and unhappy condition of that people is an evidence of the truth of that which they rejected. Commenting upon this fact, the Jewish Exponent says:— "Not by the evidences of wondrous achievements in its own votaries is the truth of Christianity to be established, not by the exhibition of its benign effects in preventing bloody conflicts could the abbot prove the efficiency of his faith to the war-like king, not by the test suggested by Lessing, viz., the love which it displays towards its brother faiths and which it gains from them, no—but by the supposed afflictions of a whole people were the truths of Christianity to be established." The idea expressed in this that Christianity should "prevent bloody conflicts" and bring all elements together in harmony, is one that has obtained to a great extent not only among Jews but among Christians as well; but why, we cannot imagine. Certain it is that the Scriptures do not teach any such thing. Says the Saviour: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." And the apostle John says: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Again we have the words of the Master: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." True Christianity, instead of making peace with other elements, makes division, because it is diametrically opposed to everything outside of truth. The only peace, the only unity, promised by Christianity, is among its own votaries. Speaking of the disciples, the Saviour said: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Again we are assured by the apostle that "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Persecution is not the result of union but of disunion. Christianity was never designed to cement men to the world, but rather to cut them loose from the world, and transfer their affections from the things of the world to the kingdom of God; to separate them from worldly things. The error of supposing that Christianity must not antagonize anything, must not oppose anything, that it must be on good terms with everything, is a fit companion-piece for the theory that it is to convert the world. And the fact that this doctrine is taught as Bible doctrine is responsible for a vast amount of infidelity which is in the world to-day. Men teach that Christianity was designed to transform the world into a second garden of Eden, that it is to bring all into willing obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is plain to be seen that it is not accomplishing this result. True, the gospel has been sent to all lands, it has been preached in the most remote parts of the earth, and has its disciples everywhere, but, according to the best authorities, it is scarcely keeping pace with the increase of population, even counting all who make a profession of Christianity as true converts. But when we come to consider the fact that very many who profess to accept Christ have really no part nor lot in the matter, it is to be feared that Christianity is not really accomplishing as much as might be supposed. Skeptics are not slow to see this, and, taking it for granted that those who profess Christianity, and those who profess to teach the gospel, are correct in saying that it is designed to convert the world, they conclude that its Author must have been mistaken, and therefore could not be divine. The truth, however, is that Christianity was never designed to convert the world. It is to be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; it is to call out a people who shall be saved in the kingdom of God; but, according to the words of the Saviour himself, few, comparatively, will be saved. Some from every kindred, tribe, and nation will enter the kingdom of God, but not all of any people. Christianity is too often wounded by misrepresentation in the house of its friends.