Christian Patriotism by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 9, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 41.

Christian Patriotism

By Editor

Special on Missions.—Work is progressing rapidly on the double number Missions Special that we have promised for this fall. Editors, artists, and typesetters are a busy throng these days in pushing forward the work of preparing that important number of our paper. It will have many features in it that will make it one of the most important documents that has ever been published on missions and their meaning to this generation of men. A full description of the Missions Special will be found on pages twelve and thirteen, and the prices will be found on this page.

Civil government has no right to enter the domain of conscience, to define sin, or to punish sin. Every attempt to do this has always resulted disastrously to the government which has attempted it, and in the persecution of its most conscientious and devoted citizens. This is what Rome tried to do during the twelve hundred years of her triumph, and it resulted in the death of fifty million of the saints of God. This is what the Jews attempted to do, to define sin, and they condemned the Lord's Christ, and by threats compelled the Roman governor to execute Him. In thus doing, civil governments usurp the place of God and become rebels to His authority.

A great many subscriptions will expire with the next two issues. We have taken pains to advertise quite fully what the paper will contain during the next six months, and we trust that all our patrons will be awake to the importance of the matter, and that they will not let their renewing be overlooked. Conference and church officers should be very active during the next few weeks in seeing that all have the importance of continuing to circulate this paper properly set before them. The mighty movements in the world in the fulfilment of prophecy, the proximity to the end of time, and the second coming of Christ, are themes that should thrill our souls to the most devoted and earnest action. The responsibility rests with our devoted and wide-awake patrons to keep the importance of spreading the message that this paper contains constantly and vigorously before the world.

Vegetarianism is becoming more and more popular. A few days since it was announced by the press that the society people of England had taken it up. And now comes the further announcement that the athletes of the great Chicago University have adopted a vegetarian diet. And why should not every one adopt it? It has been demonstrated over and over again that a vegetarian diet, intelligently chosen and adhered to, gives greater strength to the body than a meat diet, and then it has the advantage of not communicating to the human family the diseases that are in the meat that is eaten.

Christian Patriotism.

THE man who is a Christian will be a good citizen and the best of patriots. That is, he will have a love for his country which will lead him to do nothing to her injury, but all for her good. He will give his life, if need be, to save the souls of those who dwell therein. But, as a Christian, he can not give his allegiance to principles of injustice, intolerance, or iniquity in any form. And if the government under which he is a citizen becomes a party to intolerance, his higher allegiance to Christ will demand that he shall protest against it. Love of country and people will demand it. And yet this very stand for righteousness and truth is ever in great crises misunderstood, and the hero is condemned. Jesus Christ loved Judea and Jerusalem as none other ever did, but He was condemned as her enemy. Elijah was the truest patriot in Israel, but he was called a troubler. Roger Williams breathed the pure principles of the liberty of the Gospel, and would have made a most earnest patriot had he been permitted a home in Massachusetts, but he was driven hence by that people, who considered themselves to be the only patriots and only Christians, but who knew neither patriotism nor Christianity as taught in the religion of Christ.

Reader, do not be deceived. The patriotism of the world is not Christianity, nor will it save a soul. Christianity is not the patriotism of the world; it is much more. It places Christ first, and all things earthly secondary and subsidiary; but it will labor more earnestly, and make greater sacrifices for mankind, yea, even its own enemies, than the most ardent patriotism ever knew. It is not Patriotism, Protestantism, Christianity, nor is it Protestantism, Patriotism, Christianity, but it is Christianity, Protestantism, Patriotism; and both of the latter, in the truest sense, are found in the former.

The desperate lengths to which revolutionists will go in trying to accomplish their ends is strikingly illustrated thru the Russian girl that recently was arrested for making of herself a walking bomb. There was a certain police headquarters that had become infamous for its cruelties, and the revolutionists marked it for destruction. To accomplish it, the girl volunteered to dress herself as a gendarme officer, load her clothing with gun-cotton, and walk into the police station when it was the most crowded with officers, and set off the explosive. While she would have been destroyed herself, yet she expected to annihilate the place and kill all the men that would be present. She was arrested, however, before being able to accomplish the end. It is a great joy that the Lord is soon coming to put an end to the oppression that leads people to resort to such work in order to obtain their rightful freedom.

The next issue of this paper will be on the subject of Spiritual Gifts. Christ bestowed certain gifts on His church; what are these gifts, and what is their purpose? There are both gifts and talents; what is the difference? These gifts are not of human choice, but are bestowed according to God's choice, and by His will, upon those who are fitted to receive them. And what is the effect that these gifts are to have upon the church? These are the leading features to be considered next week, and the theme is surely an inviting one. There is much sentiment upon this subject in the world that can hardly be dignified with the title of belief. Just what the Scriptures themselves say is very essential for all Christians to know.

Oklahoma has ratified her constitution with a prohibition plank in it. Prohibition carried by a majority of from 25,000 to 40,000, the reports not being fully counted as yet, and so the exact figure can not be given. It is claimed that prohibition does not absolutely prohibit, and we frankly admit it; but prohibition is the best thing we know of in the realm of civil law to hinder, obstruct, and retard the liquor traffic. And in view of the sorrow, misery, and crime that is unquestioningly traced to the use of strong drink, all good people should do everything in their power to obstruct the business that debauches and destroys. May Oklahoma ever be able to hold the good ground she has taken on temperance.

Not Enticing.—Professor Edgar Larkin is quoted recently as saying: "Throw religion out of your churches and teach scientific truths instead." "The highest wisdom and the most hideous error stand side by side in the Bible." Yet it was not many moons ago that this same scientific gentleman confessed, to his shame, over his own signature, that after studying science for fifty years he was certain of nothing save pure mathematics. Which of Professor Larkin's cold uncertainties does he wish to substitute for the religion of the Bible? Surely it is not an enticing substitute.

Thirty persons were drowned and a hundred houses burned on September 17, near Kotaru, Japan. A fire started in the mining works located there, and thru the attempt to save the mine the water reservoir was broken, flooding a portion of the village. Women and children were among the victims.

The Standard Oil Company has earned over $490,000,000 in the last eight years, or an average of over $61,000,000 a year. How literally true is the description of the prophet-apostle of the heaping together of treasure for the last days, and how strikingly is the prophecy being fulfilled.