The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-03
Christ in Norfuln.
Norfolk. Va, Feb. 90

that there arc no sectari1n preiudices
nor personal feelings involved in this
discussion. but all good will and only
uesIre 10 serve truth and right from
eVery standpoint which must be
pleasant duty to every good citizen. I
ASK your forbearance that ! may fur
ther serve very important points ut
! issue.
l. The writer, feeling more interest in
the general principles In question than
In the inferior matteR of local politics
would not have thought OF ring" had
IL not been first mentioned so signiti-
cantly by the reverend gentleman OF the
other side.
would, therefore, let that matter rest
according to the will and pleasure of
the good citizens.
2. The language / used In The Vir-
sinian of February eth Is as follows.
verbatim: 1T is my duty us Christian
10 desire TO correct moral evil by resort
10 law and force of arms. and so coerce
men from Sin to righteousness. Never"
New Tor this charge to be brought
against me as follows: Jeremiah de-
clarcs 1t is not the Christians duty to
correct moral evil by resort to law, etc :"
places me where my language does not
warrant u. =. b." in so doing. I now
emphasize what ] then wrote, the Chris
tan should not desire" to correct moral
evil by resort to law But to define
l
must now draw certain essential dis
tinctions that my position in the pre-
misses may be clearly understood
Now. to begin. l ann under necessity
to say ! WAS in love provoked to this
discussion by what u p. b." first wrote:
Norfolk needs Christ and needs Him
very much" From what has already
h@en ELECTED from him in our CORE
spondence. IL Is now clearly apparent
thlt he had respect as much to religion.
politics and municipal regulation as to
special church work in the salvation of
the lost. Here are the great distinctions
III truth which must dictate the Chris
tian's relation and duty
The Chu.ch is on" thing the State Is
another: Church pohty is one thing. citi-
ZenS protection another. The Christ is
one thing. the civil magstrate Is an
otner. The Christian is one thing and
the citizen another; otherwise all c.ti-
| zens We're Christians.
should |. as a Christian. desire Christ
10 visit the city TO purify the State, to
nave the city ordinance enforced and to
see that violations OF the civil code are
dealt with to the fun extent OF the law?
Nay, verify. Were Christ to appear on
earth as he was here nineteen centuries
ago II is presumably rather that He
would proceed to the temple, pertains
with whip OF small cords. etc" rather
than 10 the forum or the police head
quarters 10 start reform On the one
| hand know that every Christian ex-
ofllcio must desire that the State b.
pure II is not necessary that he wear
Il badge to indicate it, or sign a pledge
| to convince the public Of the fact. or vote
certain ticket 10 prove il. Eut the
greatest concern of the Christian is not
political party, law and States, but rath-
er Inc church and truth and grace
which came by Jesus Christ" Isirst
tiies' on the part of the ministry and
church would do more to elevate scnti-
ment and promote purity in society
ana State than political campaigns and
proscriptive measures lead by the ecc,c-
siastic red tape" Church development
| is the great work OF the Christian, but
| II Will never rome to pass in this world
| that the government OF church. under
which the Christian is reasonably sun
posed 10 be contented and happy can
he lcSiiimately transferred TO the state
| thereby 10 give to all citizens the con-
! tentment and happiness OF Christians
| 1t is. however, the duty of the Christian
to make all his fellow citizens Christians
| If he can.
| 3. Whisky Is now brought forward
| in this discussion and it should be CON
| fessed that the abuse of this article is
| more obnoxious than the thing itself.
The moral evil" of selling it seems to
moral evil Of buying it, How must
| the moral evil of the husband and
| father" be convicted? | say by truth
and grace which came by Jesus Christ"
| You say by "reso;ting TO the power Of
the law" that is. stop the liquor seller
| by law and destroy liquor by law. You
then. by law, make all parties moral
men? Is not this logical? This is re-
| form on the inferior principle of destruc-
tioniam. If the world is to be made
| righteous on the principle Of destruc-
| tionism and the States purified on this
principle, what use of grace and truth
| for the sinner?
Liberty. free agency and grace are
thus discounted by the processes of law
| and coercion.
In the realm OF divine truth and
economy OF salvation there must be no
discrimination. Avarice is n moral evil
| How shall it be corrected? Destroy
money. Murder is n moral evil. How
shall II he corrected? Destroy the wea-
pom, or rather. instrument OF death, and
| so on al intinitum. On the principle of
correction OF moral evil bv destroying
| the object of abuse. the race Of mankind
would be annihlatcd.
| There would be no need Of the PRAYER
| the Christian dialy prayer."Lead us not
into temptation. but deliver US frcm
| evil" l would not encourage wrong by
| advocating correct principles for deal
| ing with wrong. but l would magnify
| frce-agency, liberty, faith ana grace in
the onward progress OF Christian civili-
cation. "JEREMIAH."