THE CHRISTIAN TO THE SOCIALIST.
By H. B. Chatterton
SOCIALISTS sometimes wonder why Christians do not take up and work for Socialism instead of souls. They say it is applied, practical Christianity. Socialist workers are fervent and zealous, but for what? What do they expect? What is the most they hope to accomplish or receive in return? If man could live a hundred years in the full enjoyment of his highest expectations, what is that but dust? A moment of commonplace in contrast with eternity—the life God has promised to those who love and work for Him. What is the most that can be given in this life anyway compared to the great beyond—limitless eternity? Do not stop to pick up such pebbles and forget to look up at the stars, diamonds, and rubies beyond! If we could ever hope to dodge death, if Socialism could hope to bring in an elixir of eternal life, then might we begin to compare notes. People are dying all about us, they have the same flesh and life, or souls as we—mothers, sisters, brothers. Why should we mortals, who know we must shortly pass to the great beyond, spend all our life in seeking for things that never come, or, at most, not till we are ready to die? If there is anything the ages prove, anything man's history shows, what is plainer than that men's earthly ambitions are never realized—mere phantoms? But there is one awful result those chimeras have accomplished. Those ambitious to work out things for this life have blinded souls to the great, the eternal life, till countless numbers have gone down to the grave without God and without hope. True Christianity does not claim to bring heaven into this life, only as it is grasped by faith in the future. It does, however, bring a heavenly influence, a blessed experience, into the lives of those who yield to the will and ways of God. Christ said, "My kingdom is not of this world," and true heaven can never come until "He come whose right it is" to reign. He is coming soon at most; therefore, this precious time must be used saving souls instead of chasing a phantom. At most, you do not and can not promise eternal life, and we expect to die in a moment, or, at most, in a few years, and soon take up the eternal promise by God and Jesus Christ, His Son. Yes, "we are playing for big stakes," but it costs no more than you are putting up. But you answer, "Socialism is not a chimera, it is a fact—eight million voters now in Germany, etc." Very well, even admitted it is here. You die to-morrow—or I? Shall I spend ten years advocating this, instead of saving ten souls to enjoy eternal bliss? You admit, then, that eternal life would be preferable, and that you would give all you have, or all Socialism promises, if you could have eternal life. Now the hardest thing for human minds, accustomed to seeing big results only from big efforts, is to grasp a simple statement of a promise, a simple truth. Jesus Christ, the admittedly best Man the world has ever seen, promises you eternal life. Now, will you accept it and believe Him? That is the only condition. But your belief must be seen in your life.