ATJ
IF a state religion is bad, a United States religion is forty-four times worse. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.1
WHEN Christianity is mixed with politics, the mixture is good for political uses only. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.2
EVERY law in “support” or for the “protection” of religious dogmas or institutions, is an effort to induce people to have faith in the state, instead of faith in God. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.3
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN is credited with saying, “Where liberty is, there is my country.” And such is the sentiment of the Christian’s heart, as he looks by faith to that country where alone is true liberty. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.4
TO his followers Jesus said (and still says): “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19. Christianity means separation from the world; and Christian citizenship cannot possibly mean anything else. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.5
AN example in theological mathematics: Given, 1 rest day following 6 days of work, 1 commandment to keep holy “the seventh day,” and 0 Scripture statements commanding the observance of any other day, to find 1 or more proofs that Sunday is the true Sabbath and ought to be made obligatory upon all persons by law. To solve this problem so as to obtain this result is the test of your orthodoxy. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.6
THE harvest that is being sown by the preaching of the principles of “Christian citizenship”—the union of religion with the state—will certainly be reaped. We are on the eve of mightier and more startling developments betokening a union of church and state in this country, than have ever appeared in the past. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.7
ATJ
ONE of the speakers at a Christian Endeavor convention held recently in Lynn, Mass., was the Rev. C. P. Mills, who, in defining the relation of Christian Endeavor to citizenship, said this:— AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.1
“Christianity is essentially political. The church as such does not go into politics, but it makes politics go.” AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.2
It is such doctrine as this that the Christian Endeavor youth of the country are imbibing from their clerical instructors. Both by precept and example on the part of the latter these youth are being taught that Christianity is essentially political, and that the chief mission of the church is to make politics “go.” The only result of such training that can possibly follow, will be the setting up in the great Christian Endeavor society of a union of religion with politics, which can mean nothing else than a union of church and state. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.3
It would certainly be very much in order if the Rev. Mr. Mills would explain how it is that the church is to make politics “go” without going into politics. Politicians find it necessary to go into politics to the fullest extent of their powers, if they succeed in making politics “go” in a manner to suit them; and even then they do not always succeed in their efforts. To think of making politics “go” without going into politics at all, would be scouted by any politician as the most visionary idea that could be mentioned. And yet we are gravely assured that the church is going to accomplish this very thing. It is strange that those giving such an assurance can successfully appeal to such an extent to the credulity of intelligent people. AMS November 18, 1897, page 705.4
No; the church will certainly go into politics when she makes politics “go.” And why should she not, if Christianity itself is “essentially political”? History tells us over and over again just how the church will proceed in such a matter. She will proceed as she has done in historical instances of gaining control of the civil power, and the result will be just what it was on those occasions. AMS November 18, 1897, page 706.1