A CRUSADE AGAINST VICE AND CRIME.
THE Christian Endeavor Societies in an Eastern city have been making a crusade in their locality against vice and crime. A crusade against vice and crime is something that all Christians should be engaged in at all times. But it should be clear to those who study their Bibles that— "Tho we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor. 10:3-5. And again the Word tells us:— "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Eph. 6:11-18. How clearly do the foregoing texts say that the Christian does not war "after the flesh," even tho he walks "in the flesh;" and "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds"! And we are exhorted to put on the "whole armor of God." Mark it! Not the armor of men, but the "armor of God." The Lord provides His own strong armor for His faithful soldiers. And He does not leave us in doubt as to what that armor is. The first thing is to have the loins girded with "truth;" and we are to have on "the breastplate of righteousness;" the feet are to be shod "with the preparation of the Gospel of peace" (not of war and strife); then comes the mighty shield of "faith," and the "helmet of salvation," and the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." What a perfect and powerful armor this is! There is no carnal power in it. Carnal power can not fight in such armor. Only the power of God can use it. But he who will yield himself to be clothed with God's armor will find that he is not left to the weakness of the fitful power of men, for the Lord gives His own almighty power to accompany His divine armor. We are sorry that our Christian Endeavor young friends who are making the crusade alluded to, should have overlooked this armor and power of God in their work, and should have leaned rather upon the power of mere human, civil law. The chairman of the Endeavor meeting said:— "During our investigations we have come upon a shocking and startling state of affairs. The ——— Club, situated in the ——— building, in which one of our prominent public officers has his place of business, was found to be a resort of the very worst kind, a veritable hell on earth. Our investigation disclosed the fact that its proprietor was selling liquors to all comers, without a license; that it was frequented by colored men and women, and white men and women, and that the utmost freedom of conduct was allowed. Both sexes, white and black, drank together, danced together, and became drunk together. Swearing, fighting, filthy conversation and actions, gambling, and other vices were fully indulged in. Worse, if possible, could be charged, but out of respect to you I refrain. And all this within a stone's throw of our city hall, and in the same building in which our mayor has his business office. Further, it was apparent that, as this place was used for political purposes, it felt safe in its traffic." This statement from the chairman's speech certainly discloses a very bad state of things. But it is not for "Christian" Endeavorers to attack evil by the aid of policemen's clubs, and jails and fines and imprisonments. The Christian is left in this world to do as Christ did. And we have no record of His starting any crusade by the aid of the police. To even faintly imagine Christ doing such a thing as that is repulsive and repugnant to any one who has known Him only as a character in history, and much more should it be so to the person who professes to be a follower of the Prince of Peace. When the Endeavorers, or any other body of professing Christians, attack vice and crime with the police force at their back, in the very nature of things, they make bitter enemies out of the vicious and criminal classes. These poor, besotted devotees of vice find themselves confronted by professing Christians who are in the attitude of assaulting enemies. And the spirit that is stirred up within them is that of determined resistance. And where is there a possible hope of one such person being converted under such circumstances? Missions in the midst of these vile people are the barracks and forts that true Christians will be building. And their armor will be that of heaven, and not of earth. And their power will be that of God, and not of men. All who are truly seeking to follow Christ will surely see these principles, for they are revealed in the Word of God with the most unmistakable clearness. Let us study the Bible for God's own plans of work, and then we need not be swamped by a lot of mere human expedients.