IS IT CHRISTIAN? by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 3, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 22.

IS IT CHRISTIAN?

By Editor

THE San Francisco Sunday Examiner of May 23 prints on its editorial page, in regular editorial style, type, and measure, a communication entitled “The Cross and the Crescent,” signed by John P. Newman, Bishop of the California Methodist Episcopal Diocese.

The article presents the general sentiment of so-called “Christian” thought, a sentiment which does not have its root in Turkish atrocities, nor in Spanish massacres in Cuba, but which exists pent up in the hearts and souls of seemingly the majority of professed Christians to-day. Turkey and Spain merely furnish the incidents which serve to give it publicity. Here are some of Bishop Newman’s utterances:—

“Were Christian Europe united, then would come the end of the Turkish Empire; but there are too many conflicting interests in Europe to hope for union. Russia covets Jerusalem and Constantinople; England demands Egypt as her highway to India, while France dreams of Greece, and Germany of Asia Minor. And it is no small factor in the problem that European capitalists hold nearly a billion of Turkish securities. The easiest and quickest way to improve the Turk is to pay his debts; then English, Russian, German, French, and Italian bondholders would shout, ‘Down with the Turk!’ Here is a missionary enterprise worthy of all Christendom.”

“Down with the crescent and up with the cross, and plenty and happiness would cause untold millions to clap their hands for joy.”

That is to say, let Christendom pay the debts of Turkey to the “Christian” bondholders of “Christian” England, Russia, Germany, France, and Italy, then these “Christian” powers would in their righteous “Christian” indignation rise up and shout, “Down with the Turk!” and wipe him from the face of the earth. And herein “is a missionary enterprise worthy of all Christendom”! Therefore “down with the crescent and up with the cross,” etc., which means the political extermination of Turkey, with war and all its concomitants.

Now, however the non-existence of Turkish rule may in justice be devoutly wished, we submit that Bishop Newman’s way, which is the way of thousands more, is not the Christian way. In the article from which the above is quoted, the writer says: “The Turk is a stranger to pity. His is the religion of hate and blood.” And therefore is it the duty of Christians to return hate for hate and blood for blood! For “Christendom” to rise up and crush out the Turk would not give him any love for the Christ whom “Christian” Europe is supposed to represent in this struggle. Rather it would make more bitter his hatred. He might be subdued by the force of armed might, but he would neither be charmed nor won by the greater power of right.

The only power in genuine Christianity is the life of love. Every man by nature is the same as the Turk is by nature. “For we ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:3-5. And modern Christianity would do well to apply to itself the language used by the apostle in comparing the Jew and Gentile, nineteen centuries ago. After telling the fearful sins of the pagan world, he says: “What then? are we better than they? No, in nowise; for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Rom. 3:9, 10.

The only hope of mankind is in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. This is alike the hope of Jew and Greek, Turk and American. And that soul who knows God’s mercy in Christ will be merciful to others, even his most inveterate enemies. In him will be demonstrated the living power of the Sermon on the Mount: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:44, 45. These are the words of Christ; and this is Christianity. And he who does not show mercy has no right to expect it of God, be he Moslem or “Christian.” James 2:13.