Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-06-06


condition in life. Christ never taught tn
world into two divisions. or two classes-relig
GUS and secular. There never was a more CT
roneous idea advanced by man. The very op
posite is true in Christ's teachings. s.Tha
whether man eat or drink. or whatever h
doeth, let it ali be done to the glory of God,
and IL 1t is possible. and who doubts it, TO
man to eat and drink to the glory OF God, thel
1t is possible for him to take part in all the DO
itical Affairs of this life to the glory of God.
Christianity has but one whole standard 70,
a mans whole life, and in each and every par
ticular of 1t. That standard is Supreme love Il
God and man, in heart. in mind, IN soul. BODY
and strength, and any man who lives ND Il
that Supreme standard must carry it into ev
cry detail of his life and in every moment OF
his life, both political. moral and religious
| AS Christ knew no difference in all the rela.
lions of life, it is all embra ,ed In tho grand
and sublime thought-"Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
The divisions of life into religious and secular
was the invention of man and are false and
contrary 10 the Christ idea, and yet, this false
idea has grown and taken such deep root in
the religious world and churches that many OF
the professec followers Of Christ even smile
and smile smile of derision at the preacher
who would dare to stand up in the pulpit and
denounc7 the Wilson bill or the free silver bill
as contrary to the best interest of the iaboring
classes or praise those measures as being for
the best interest of the country and some
would almost go into fits il they should hear
me from the pulpit denounce the president for
the false statement he made when he SAID the
pension roll was honeyoombed with hundreds
OF fraudulent pensions in every ueighborhood
In the land, and yet IL Gods will is ever done
on earth as it is In heaven, pure politics and
honest government and truthfulAess in presi-
dents, cabinets, congress, the judge on the
bench Will be an exception to the rule and be
denounced from the pulpit and applauded by
an intelligent and christian people. Pure poll
tics should be advocated from pulpit-the
prayer meeting and Sunday school as well as
vital plety. for 1t is q part of piety,. and re-
ceive hearty smen, for Gods will and Gods
love knows no bounds. Christ said You can
not serve two masters" You cannot serve
Christ and the world, you will either hate the
one and love the other. And again He said
He that is not for me is against me-. In pol
itics we are either for Christ or for the world,
and II We are for the world in politics, we are
Tor the world in religion. Life is all of one
web aud of one wool. 1t all goes together,
either all for Christ or all tor the devil.
A man can't be christian on Sunday and
sinner ON week day. He cannot serve God in
the prayer meeting and the devil In the con-
vention or at the polls. His life must be con-
slant prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as it
is In heaven. 1t is this false idea of religion
that says to the preacher, "hands of off," you
preach Christ and Him crucifed. Let the
world alone. Attend to your church and pull
p1t and let politics alone. Is it possible that
Christ taught nothing as to how the world is to
geverned-as to how men make their money?
Has the preacher no right to demand as pure
q life in Office and the methods of getting of
nee, as In the church-in the prayer meeting
or the Sunday school. Away with all such
ideas of the teaching of Christ as that, and 1t
Will be done away as soon as the Twill of God
10 done on earth as 1t is in heaven" Don't I'M
derStand me to say that preachers should be
come active politicians, Office seekers and Of
fee holders, and yet there is nothing in the
teaching of Christ against 1t. Preachers
should be well posted In the political history
OF the country-of political parties-of men
and measures, and thus be enabled to give
sound advice In politics as well as religion.
The greatest ruler-the purest politician and
the most perfect statesman the world ever
saw, was the man David, who at all times
walked upright before God. He mixed his
politics with His religion, until His religion
controlled all His political actions. To say tina {
q preacher should have nothing to do with
politics is to make religion a weak, silly, sick
ly useless thing and contrary to the entire
teaching of Christ. If the christianity of Christ
does not have something of Importance to say
about the politics of the day it is useless ap-
pendage: IF the Christianity OF Christ has
nothing to say about the election of men to Of
nee. and how they shall conduct themselves in
office, and the whole machinery of the govern
ment, then for one have mistaken its mean
lnR. If christianity is a simple device to
teach men how to die, then feel like renounc-
ing it. 1t is not how to die that care SO much
about; but the great question of life with me
In, how to live, that may attain eternal life.
The man who lives right is the one who dies
right. Death will take care of ITSELF If Christ's
teachings are not me ant for the politician just
as much as for me, then q fearful injustice
has been perpetuated, in compelling me to live
30 much better and a more self denying life
than my neighbor. If the commands of Christ
do not embrace the system of life to all men
alike. then the thing is worthless, and / will
proclaim from the pulpit-"Eat. drink and be
merry for tomorrow you may die But there
is no question in my mind concerning the
peace of Christ in the world, He is at the cen
ter OF it-at the circumference and permeates
the whole Of it. He taught a pure life, and
taught every point of 1t, He did not leave out
or excuse anyone. The politician and the Of
fee holder SHOULD do the will of God az we'll as
the preacher. Tue Apostle Peter said: "Sub-
init yourselves to every ordinance of man, for
the Lords sake. whether it be to the king as
supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that
are sent by Him for the punishment of evil
doors, and for the praise of them that do well.
For 80 1t il the will of God, that with well do
ing ye may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men. Honor all men, love the
brotherhood, fear God, honor the king" Pet
or 2. 1877. Again-"Thc Lord knoweth how to
deliver the Cody out of temptations and to
resist the unjust unto the day of Judgment to
be punished But chiefly them that walk after
the flesh in the lust of unceaness, and despise
government. Prescriptions are they, self
willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of
dig mites" Officers, bankers, politician
should all be subject to- the will OF God To
say that any man or any set of men are ex-
empt from the will of God, or exempt from the
teaching of Christ, or the preacher in pulpit,
is to knock the bottom out OF the teaching of
Christ. and to make a mockery OF religion.
and making daily conduct thing of selfish
choice, and piacinga great gulf between the
affairs Of men as individuals. 1t is to set up
two standards of life. for action. to let in all
the wicked brood of hypoerisies which befoul
our churches and OWL and political life. and
to separate with arbitrary action life into two
parts. one TO God and one to the devil. THE
teaching of Christ belongs to the affairs of
state of as well az to the church. The
Affairs Of state are conducted by human be-
ings, who cannot act well their part without
entering the realms Of moral and religious con-
duct. and therefore the teachings of Jesus
pust have az to DO With the affairs Of state
when properIy administered, as the pulpit"
GO ntiued next week.
a