The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-10-05
TRUTHS COMMON TO ALL FAITHS
Has Christianity a Right
to Interfere?
Missionary Effort Viewed in the
Light Of Its Ultimate
Results

On Sunday, September 10, Rev. Sid
ney L. Gulick, who sailed on the Gaze
lie to return to his mission work in
Japan, delivered the following sermon
in the Central Union Church:
Il came not to destroy, but to full
fE'-Matthew, v. IL.
The immediate context shows that
these words have reference to the re-
lation of our Lord to the old Jewish
religion. In this connection their
meaning is well known to us all, and
need not detain us.
But what, we may we'll ask, was
Christ's thought about his relation to
the other great religions? The fulfiller
of the Hebrew faith, did Jesus con-
ceive himself to be the destroyer of
the Gentle religions? Were he today
missionary in India or China or
Japan, would he please himself in un-
compromising hostility to the religions
Of those lands? This is question Of
considerable Importance for you and
for me, and for every true church of
Christ, engaged as it is or should be
in the foreign missionary work. For
Christ's command to preach the Cos
pei to every creature has no ambigu-
GUS meaning. Especially vital is this
question in these closing years of this
18th century. The days Of our ignor-
ance of other lands and their religions
are passing rapidly away. We are
coming to see that ethical truth and
noble aspiration are to be found in no
small degree in other than Christian
lands. A broad acquaintance with the
ancient religions of the Greek and Ro-
man worlds is teaching us that there is
much in ChristendOm and even in the
Christian church, both of ceremony
and of belief that is not of distinctively
Christian origin. Early Christianity
borrowed and adopted much from the
faiths it displaced. With broader
knowledge we are becoming more lib
eral, more tolerant. And with this
growing tolerance and appreciation of
the good and the true wherever it is
found, even in non-Christian faithss
not few are beginning to think that
missionary work among the great ma
lions of the Orient at least is an i'm
pertinence, an insult to the mighty re-
ligions of those lands. Not once nor
twice since my return from Japan
men who count themselves earnest
Christians, and l have. no reason to
question the reality of their personal
piety, have in all seriousness put to
me the question whether after all it is
not mistake to try to ChriStianize the
Oriental nations. Africa, and the isles
of the Pacific, cursed with ignorance
and superstition and brutal savagery,
beyond doubt need the gospel, and are
a fair field for the missionary enter
prise. But have not the native relig-
ions of the East great deal of gen
uine moral truth? And are there not
many noble characters among their
better and more cultured classes, who
have lofty aspirations which We must
admit to be genuine? And still further,
say they, does not the gospel enter
those lands as a disturber and de-
strOyer? Does it not inevitably under
mine their social structure? What
duty, nay, what right have we, then,
to force on them our faith?
These questions demand serious
consideration, for they are the earnest
questions of serious and brOad-minded
men, whose number is rapidly growing.
II the implied answer, that we have
neither the right nor the duty to be ac-
copied as the truth, then missionary
work among all but savage peoples
must erelOng cease.
For few moments, then, let us con-
slider the question as to the relation Of
Christ and of Christianity to the great
l;rri4 Tn, Of Orrr
text Christ states, take it, not only a
particular instance but general prin-
ciple. He came to fulfil not only the
Hebrew law and prophets, but also the
noble and true aspirations and hopes
and efforts of every religion. He came
to supply those deficiencies in thought,
in ideals, in motives and in power,
without which no religion can reach
it's perfect development, without which
no human heart can find it's needful
peace and rest and inspiration for this
life, and assurance for the life to come.
Nor was this end attained without
conflict. Though Christ came to fulfil
the law and the prophets and to give
the eternal truths they proclaimed
their perfect form and historical re-
alization in a perfect life, yet he ac-
complished it only by a terrific strug-
gle, even at the cost of his own life.
Fulfilment is not of necessity, there
fore, nor always attained in peace.
Neither in the national nor in the in
dividual life is such the case. The
Christians whole life is warfare.
Struggle is often the surest proof of
fulfilment.
This thought that Christ came to
flfill the great native religions of Pa
gandom, as well as the Hebrew law and
prophets, wish to illustrate from ac-
tual life today. I shall confine myself