"IS THE WORLD GROWING BETTER?"
By Editor
"Ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?" Luke 12:56, A. R. V. These are the words of our Saviour to the religionists of His day. There were among them the wise theologians and doctors of the law. The conservative element was strongly represented in the Pharisaic sect. The liberal, rationalistic element was found among the Sadducees, the "higher critics" of their day. Deeply versed were these men in their various systems of theology and philosophy. The ordinary operations of nature were well understood. Certain indications foretokened storm. Certain other signs were indicative of fair weather. But, while they could read the physical signs and interpret the meaning of the face of the earth and sky, with all their profound philosophy, all their ancient traditions, all their religious erudition, they could not tell the meaning of their own time. They could see no evidences of the disintegration of their nation, no signs of spiritual decay, no manifestations of the great flood of infidelity sweeping over the "chosen people" to their destruction. They scoffed and laughed at the solemn warnings. They prided themselves on their progress and liberality. They said, "If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets." Yet that very people and those very teachers, who considered themselves the most enlightened of earth, rejected the Lord of life and glory, put to death the Perfect Man, who pointed out their sins that He might save them. The prophets had foretold it all, but they could not see the simple truth. It did not accord with their philosophy and tradition. We are now living in an age of great enlightenment. In physics, in demonstrative science, in mechanics, in letters, in inventive genius, the world has made wonderful strides. In all moral standards it is far above the Dark Ages. Owing to the influence of Christianity many evil laws have been repealed, and many better laws have taken their place. In civil freedom the time clock of the world struck broad day at the birth of the American nation. It struck high noon when the emancipation5proclamation broke the fetters from three million enslaved human beings. But since that time, in the great nation of earth,—and others are following in her frothy wake,—decline and deterioration have increased in geometrical progression, till now what candid, thoughtful person is not alarmed at the future of his country and the world? for upon America's doom hang the destinies of all the world. The condition of the religious world is sufficiently set forth in our Outlook department and elsewhere. The shimmering sheen of higher criticism, which has blinded the world and robbed them of a Guide and Saviour, hides but thinly the pall-cloth of death. The great tidal wave of infidelity is engulfing all Christendom. And yet we hear the siren song, "The world is growing better." The contrast, reader, is not between the idolatry of heathenism and the civilization of to-day, but between the zeal of primal Protestantism and the Protestantism pandering to the Papacy; between the devotion and piety of threescore years ago in connection with limited advantages, and the awfully-rapid decline since then under far greater light. Upon the civil world in professedly-Christian lands like this, is the reflection of the powerlessness of the church and the message she preaches. But what is the condition of the civil, the political, world? This is answered by such articles as those of Mr. Ray Stannard Baker, Mr. Lincoln Steffens, and Ida Tarbell, by the investigations in St. Louis by Folk, by the investigations of the postal frauds, the Ship-building Trust, the land frauds, and the revelations of Mr. Thomas W. Lawson,—involving in their wholesale bribery, grafting, peculations, gambling, dishonor, crime of all sorts, municipal officers, state legislators, judges, and grave senators, most of whom are members of churches "in good standing." What can save a nation in such an appalling condition? What but the power of the Gospel of God in Christ Jesus. But the preaching of this Gospel God has committed to His church, "the light of the world," "the salt of the earth." But the light unfed by the oil of His Word and Spirit has gone out. The salt has lost its savor; and the mass of growing corruption will soon involve the whole structure. And yet, O the pity of it! souls will not see the peril. They will not see the growing lawlessness and sin in church and state. God has writ it large in His blessed Word; He has abundantly forewarned of the evils; He has given the remedy in "the everlasting Gospel" of an impending judgment and soon-coming kingdom; but the church and the world slumber spiritually, rush on mentally in the mad race of pleasure and gain. Call us alarmists if you will; but God's message for this time is: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of Jehovah cometh, for it is nigh at hand." Joel 2:1. "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and declare unto My people their transgressions." Isa. 58:1. May God help our readers to heed His messages of warning and mercy.