Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-02
the AtMoR OF GOD.


is tie armor Of God wearing out9'
Il the question asked by DR.. Theodore
l.. Cuylcr, In the Independent. lie has
noticed the quite general lament over
the failing power Of the Christian"
denominations to make converts In the
world. and the demand that now meth
DDS. a new theology. a new Gospel, be
applied TO the changed conditions.
The doctor does not believe that new
methods are needed. lie very properly
calls attention TO the fact that the
methods that were employed In the
conversion of the Roman empire should
insure success In the struggle against
modern vandals and Philistinoa. The
weapons Of the first Apostles were
truth and rlghtoouHnoss. the shield Of
faith and the sword " the Spirit,
backed up by prayer and suppllcation.
This "atmor Of God" the contributor
10 the Independent does not believe h
armor wearing out. But II II used as
there might well be Jubilee In hell
over our suicidal folly"
There Ii certainly no danger Of the
armor weaving out. But is It used ~
It was In the ages Of the triumph OF
Christianity over paganlsm7 IL Il not
a fact that christian" multitudcs.
though retaining the profession of
faith arc gradually sinking TO the
moral level NJ pagan Romeo Why Is
the gulf between wealth ana poverty
steadily widening Why are the vacant
places OF the spurgeons and the Henry
ward Beechers In the pulpita being
filled with medloerity? Whence come
the Increasing Dissertation OF the Lords
day and the neglect of family dcvo-
tlonf How IL IL that In Christcndom
there Ia divorce problem. added to the
Unreasonable moral corruption that
seems to be spreading In all drcctions7
Why IL the delugc OF drunkenness.
suicide. homicide insanity. gambling.
cheating. deception. hypocrisy and
falschood not falling low enough for
the ark OF salvation 20 ind a resting
place on some mount2 Certainly not
because the armor IL wearing out, but
because It has been hung away and
In It's stead are used the poorest Of lml.
tatlons.
Look at the modern armor, Not truth
but the doctrine OF man, IL the glrdlo,
broken In many places and poorly tied
together In ugly knots. sclhshness has
taken the place of righteousness,
competition and war are more consplcu-
Gus projections than 1.-THE Gospel Of
peace" argument and poor logic are
made TO do service as a shield In lieu
Of faith" and II Is shot through and
through by the fiery darts Of the wick
od." moral polish Is thought sum.
Client for helmet. Instead u saliva
tion" from the power Of sin. and the
ology Is welded as a sword instead Of
the word Of God." The situation ls
correctly and striklngly described In the
Doctrine and Coyonantsi
For they have strayed from mine
ordinances. and have broken mine
everlasting covenant they seek not the
Lord to establish His Righteousness, but
every man wnlkcih IN his own way. and
after the image " his own god, whose
Image Is IN the likeness " the world.
and whose substance ~ that OF an idol.
which waXcth old aud shall perish In
Babylon, even babylon the great, which
shah fan"
The armor Of God is not wearing out
But the Christian" world should take
lesson from the jewish pollty at the
time Of Christ, The people then had the
written word Of God. and learned ex-
Founders thereof They had their mag
nlAcent temple FOR ritual obsorvancea.
They had their scots and zcalots-eyery-