The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-03-24
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY.
What is Christianity

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a diviner civilization" and being to
this end devoted to the betterment Of
mundane affairs, some might suppose
that such an inquiry as this out Of its
line. This l think would be mistake.
When a person knows what he is
looking for he is apt to make discov-
cries that will surprise him, even 10 the
old familiar scenes where his life has
been spent. Something like that has
happened to me during the past year.
If the record of the Gospels is to be
depended on lat all, Christianity is
sociology. According to Matthew,
Mark and Luke. the message of Jesus,
which was, however, first proclaimed by
John the Baptist, was the good news
that the kingdom of heaven was at
hand. This, with directions in regard
to the morals and conduct necessary to
usher in the kingdom of heaven, con-
stituted the teachings of Jesus and the
teachings of Jesus constitute Chris
tianity, or ought to be SO allowed.
Matthew's Gospel refers to the king
dom of heaven from BEGINNING to end.
Mark agrees, changing the term king
dom of God so does Luke. All three,
like the children of childish age that
they were, overwhelm the teachings
with their story of the phenomena
which accompanied them, but Matthew
gives us enough of the teachings to
make their character plain. Mark tells
his story like witness who heard but
little of the teachings and was not
aware that they were Of any conse-
ouence. nevertheless he confirms what
Matthew had told of them. Luke in
telling his story gives more attention to
the teachings than Mark does, but with
less regard to the order of sequence
than Matthew. Aud all three are
agreed.
What, then, according to these wit
nesses, was the kingdom of heaven that
Jesus proclaimed? An order of society
in which, in the first place, it should
not be necessary for any one to give
any attention to his personal needs for
the future, and in which devotion to the
pursuit of private wealth was forbidden.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures
on earth" ''Ye cannot serve God and
mammon." "Theretore take no
thought what ye shall eat, or what ye
shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be
clothed, but seek ye first the kingdom
Of heaven and its righteousness, and all
these things shall be added unto you"
An order of society that reversed the
worlds maxim, every one for himself,
etc. "Whatsoeyer ye would that men
should do unto you do ye even so to
them" Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as myself" That is, you shall endeavor
to make your neighbours condition and
circumstances as good as your own, and
whatever benefits or advantages you
seek yourself you shall seek for your
neighbor also.
An order of society in which the
wealth of al! should be equal. st is
easier for camel to 60 through the eye
of needle than for rich man to enter
the kingdom of heaven'-apd this line
of teaching is dwelt on with particular
stress. How then shall any be saved?"
asked the disciples. "With God all
things are possible" The man may
enter the kingdom of heaven, but when
he does so he will no longer be rich
beyond his neighbors.
An order of society in which honor
shall be awarded according to services
rendered. eye know that the rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them, and
their great ones exercise authority over
them. Not SO shall it be among you
but whosoevcr would become great
among you shall be your minister and
whosoever would be first among you
shall be your servant"
An order of society in which trade
for profit shall be regarded as robbery
and Of course excluded, And Jesus
entered into the temple of God and cast
out all them that sold and bought IL
the temple, and overthrow the tables OF
the money changers and the seats of
them that sold doves. And he saith
unto them, it is written my house shall
be called a house of prayer; but ye
make it a den of robbers" No one OF
our three witnesses omits this incident,
and all are agreed as to the term
applied den of robbers, but no mere
sacrilege could justify this term unless
the business carried on there were itsel