ANOTHER PROPOSED CRUSADE.
A NEW "crusade" to the so-called "Holy Land" is being urged by one Arthur Smedley Green, who is appealing to Christians to buy Palestine. He claims to have considerable means behind his project. His optimistic appeal is printed in Everybody’s Magazine for June, from which we take these specimen extracts, with his italics:— It must be a crusade of money, contributed by the Christian peoples of the world for the purchase of the Holy Land. A combination of Christian men and women for this purpose, regardless of creed or dogma, could raise out of the chaos, caused by backward looking and unprogressive fanaticism, a republic in honor of Christ; could restore the famous cities of the Bible to more than their former grandeur, and regenerate the whole country by the infusion of our Western Christian civilization. With the construction of a much-needed safe harbor at Jaffa, by making good roads through the country, and by the thorough development of the marvelous natural resources, Palestine would become a land "flowing with milk and honey," and one restful place in all the world for the pilgrim tired in mind and body. When the society is formed, the chances of success seem not at all chimerical. Turkey is poor. Christendom is fabulously rich. In Christendom money flows like water for any worthy cause, and, without a doubt, when once the Christians of the world are thoroughly awakened to the necessity and duty of bringing under Christian influence the gloriously fair lands of Palestine, money will flow in abundance into the treasuries of the society. When we speak of the purchase and control of the Holy Land by the Christians, it must not be inferred by people of other religious beliefs that this is a movement to exclude them. It is not. The Christians have simply the first and strongest claim; but any laws made under Christian rule could not, and would not, admit of intolerance. The aim of Christendom will be to restore Palestine to its former greatness and prosperity, and to enfold the birthplace of Christ with the mantle of brotherly love. This is another effort to forestall Christ which is equal in enthusiasm, if not in territorial extent, to the famous proposition to make Him King of the United States "through the gateway of politics." A "crusade of money" to buy a "republic in honor of Christ" is getting about as far from His Gospel plan as it is possible to go. After having set the example Himself, He commissioned His disciples to go out and preach the Gospel as a means of preparing a people for His kingdom. His was not a "crusade of money," for He purchased not only Palestine, but the whole earth, with His blood. An attempt to "restore the famous cities of the Bible" would be a vain endeavor to restore that on which Christ pronounced the most denunciatory "woe." And to imbue them with the spirit of "our Western Christian civilization" would be a lowering of the Gospel standard to a degree considerably below par. This fact is emphasized by Mr. Green’s own statement that "Christendom is fabulously rich." This was not the case in the days when "Christendom" followed Christ. Nor is it true today of the individual that follows Christ. A very suspicious feature of this proposed "crusade of money" (or, rather, crusade for money) is the inducement that when Christians become thoroughly awakened to their duty in the matter, "money will flow in abundance into the treasuries of the society." This is made all the more suspicious when the project is not to be confined to Christians; people of other religious beliefs are not to be excluded. A republic would be a government by the people, and as the present inhabitants of Palestine would not be excluded, it would require considerable politics to secure the election of "Christian" officers. That, however, might be wherein "our Western Christian civilization" could demonstrate its superiority most effectively. These chimerical schemes for restoring the "Holy Land" to its former greatness, will all prove as futile as did the many efforts to restore Babylon after the Lord put His denunciation upon it; and the money crusade will fall as far short of Christianizing the country as did the crusade with carnal weapons. Such delusions would hardly be worth the time and space to notice them, were it not that these are times of delusions, and so many well-meaning people are duped by them. The press gives notoriety and standing to them; men of wealth, and some who are not wealthy, give money to further them; and men who are supposed to know the Scriptures give them countenance.9 It is because of the extensive ignorance of true Gospel method, of the principles of the cause and kingdom of Christ, and of the nearness of His personal advent, that men are carried away by such untenable schemes. Hence, in warning the church and the world of the allurements of the adversary, in calling attention to the signs of the times, such deceptions must be given at least passing notice. The Lord has told us that He Himself will stand on Mount Olivet, and before Him that whole land will become a vast plain, on which will stand the New Jerusalem when it shall descend from heaven. Zech. 14:3-11; Rev. 21:1-4, 15, 16. When the Lord comes down upon Palestine, He will make it a "Holy Land" indeed, and its restoration will be far beyond any of its former greatness. The true Gospel crusader will be content to labor on in the lines laid down by the Master, and trust the restoring of greatness and glory in the earth to Him. It is all in His plan, and the disciple's place is to walk humbly before Him, preparing the way of the Lord by teaching men to "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."