Politics and Principles
By Editor
POLITICS is defined by Webster as (1) "the science of government," (2) "the management of a political party." By the Standard the term is defined: (1) "the branch of civics that treats of the principles of civil government and the conduct of State affairs," (2) "political affairs in a party sense; party intrigues; political contrivance and management," (3) "a person's political sentiments, party preference, etc." The term is rarely used in the first sense nowadays. The better term for that is "science of government" or "statecraft." The ordinary politician is clearly distinguished from the statesman. The latter is wise in councils of State, sagacious, prudent, and just, and strong in right principles of government. The politician is one who can manage men and events for the sole purpose of success. Politics with him, as with most men at the present time, is the art of getting there and staying in power after one has succeeded. Buying, selling, trading, pawning (it could be written equally true with an initial f), abuse, falsehoods, vituperation, bribery,—these and more of the same origin, enter into the schemes and intrigues of the successful politicians. Such means it is sad to know are used to elect good men. The city boss and the chairman of the great central party committees in times of party crises are not chosen for their immaculate honor or probity, but solely for their ability to win. Sometimes a politician becomes so notoriously corrupt that his reputation becomes an incubus too heavy for party success; but when set aside he is usually placated if possible, or caught up by an opposite party as a "reformer." It is extremely sad to see the same principles brought into the election of men to responsible positions in religious bodies. A Christian should have no part in such politics, as a participant, as a beneficiary, or as one who by a policy of silence acquiesces in such methods. His presence will not change the political potpourri; rather he himself will become poisoned. If he be a strong man, he may suppress for a time the most outrageous things, but they are only suppressed; the principles remain dominant in the party, and sooner or later he is affected. The Christian should be molded and characterized by unswerving fidelity to the principles of truth, righteousness, and purity which he finds in God. That is God's purpose for him. Jesus Christ came to this world, lived, and died, that He might win man to a character like that of His Father who sent Him, and that the man thus transformed might be a witness to that Love and Power which could make men righteous and keep them so. That is the business of the Christian here; all else should be subsidiary to that. Jesus Christ, his Master, did not come to save this world by molding its politics. He might have won a prominent place in the party of Pharisee or Sadducee. He might have gathered around Him the common people who desired to make Him king. Not one of these entered into His plans. He was offered the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them if He would compromise principle, as His professed followers have often done since; but He scorned the offer. He is "not of this world." His kingdom is "not of this world." His true followers, His children, "are not of this world." They have been "born from above." Their "commonwealth is in heaven." Here they are "strangers and pilgrims." They are sent out into this world by Jesus Christ as He was sent of the Father to save men "out of this world." All these things the Word abundantly declares. There can be no blending, no intermixture of the policy, the expediency, of politics and the principles of eternal truth and righteousness. What then of the orators in our great religious conventions who are pleading with the Christian to enter politics? Would God that they might see, and the Christian whom they would convince might see, that these persuasions are of the same kind that the devil used in order that he might turn aside from His holy mission the Son of God. He resisted then, that His followers might successfully resist in all time to come. In every compromise with the world or worldly principles, or worldly methods, the Christian and the Christian church are the loser. Better the Garden of Gethsemane, the crown of thorns, the cross of Calvary, and the triumphant resurrection.