The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-14
CHRISTIAN ClTlZENSH I0
PauPs Teaching That Civil Govern ment is a Divine Institution Was Very clear-Practical Applica-
 tion to Present Conditions.

not only for wrath, but also for consci- ence sake.'-Romans xiii, 3.
 The preceding chapter marks the apos- ties transition from doctrinal exposition to practical application. The great truths he has been enunciating have a practical bearing on the everyday life of the people. These truths are designed to give char acter to every human relationship. Ones relation to God and to the principles of Gods kingdom is to be evidenced in the whole range of his life.
 The arbitrary distinction between the sacred and the secular tends to fence off politics as a zone into which religion may not intrude. There are those who would have us believe that the world of politics and of civic life is exempt from the ethi- cal authority of the gospel. There Is no more common expression than that Ire lgion and politics will not mix" Superfi- cial thinking accepts this maxim in a way that would seem to resent to appli- cation of the principles of christianity to the exercise of civic functions So far is this idea carried that prominent United States senator few years ago said that 'the application of the ten command ments to politics Is an iridiscent dream"
 PauI's Teaching.
 Paul left no doubt hanging about this question. He teaches unequivocally that a Christian man, in his civic and political relationships, is under the dominion of Christian ethics Those to whom he ad- dressed this eplstle were in a trying poll tical situation. The Jews at Rome were notoriously turbulent; and, holding to their theocratic ideals of government, were momentarly liable 10 outbreaks of rebellion. It is probable, too, that some of the Roman Christians had crude notions of the relation of the kingdom Of Christ to the kir gdoms of this world, and these were apt to be found in antagonism to Caesar. Upon these, crcumstaneed thus delicately, the apostle urges the duty of honor and respect and obedience to the government. not through Tear or that governments coercive power, but as a religious obligation. It Is not for wrath, but for conscience sake that they are to do this Paul here introduces into political life an elment that makes the Christians relation to the state sacred-an influence that has done more than all the genius of statesmanship in making government stable and beneficent
 Divine Instruction.
 Paul teaches that civil government IS a divine institution. ''The powers that be are ordained of God" The officer of the law is represented as "a minister or good" These deliverances show the duties of citizenship In their last analysis' as duties we owe to God
 We shall answer to God for the dis charge of our obligations as citizens, Just as truly as we shall answer for the als- charge of the duties of church member ship. Violation of a civil statute, unless that statute run counter to the revealed will of God Is more than crime m the eyes of the law-it is a sin in the sight of God.
 The just powers that governments de- rive from the consent of the governed relate to the form and agents of adminls- tratlon; but the ultimate right to rule is given by the Almighty, the King or Kings.
 In the light of these plain deductions from the Word of God. citizenship as- sumos a sacredness and a measure Of moral responsibility that should eharac- terize it as one of the highest functions of the religious life. What we owe to Caesar we owe to God. We may nor shirk the tasks good citizenship imposes upon us, and think that in singing psalms that we have done our duty to God.
 Christian Mans Duty.
 If goes without the saying, that every Christian man should make 1t matter of conscience to contribute to the well being of the state. the constant and in- telligent exercise of his right of fran chise. IJr. Josiah Strong in one of his hooks tells of a certain street of magni- hcent brown stone residences In New York from which hardly handful of voters went to the polls at an important election Possibly these gentlemen iet that they were exercising special ehrls- fan grace in keeping out of so-called dir ty politics, forgetting that politics Is dirty" very often for the very reason That such as they fail to meet their man
 The triumph of the kingdom of Christ is involved in the leavening Of society, of commerce, and even of politics. With the high ideals of Christianity; and rear fully recreant to every duty is he who refuses to seek 10 apply these ideals to civil life by the conscientious exercise ot the sacred right of suffrage
 In One Government.
 In a government. of the people, by the people and for the people as is ours, 1t lies with the citizen himself to safeguard the dignity and majesty of the law It passes understanding how any man who has any appreciation of what is involved in lessening respect for law as such, can lend any countenance to mob rule. fhah the mob. nothing more certainly strikes at the foundations of social order. Ere auently the crime which raises the mob is terrible beyond words to describe It. But terrible as it is, it's punishment Is at a cost heavier than any of us can req lize when it Is accomplished by setting aside the laws by which our liberty and safety are secured. Disrespect for law under monorchlcal form of government is not nearly so dangerous thing as with us. We make and execute the laws. and when our respect for them is allowed to be destroyed. the way is prepared Tor a reign of anarchy too dark to be thought of.
 The revival of civic righteousness that one of these days will come and sweep our land-premonitions of which are not lacking in many parts even now-will rally Christian people, as by the call of heaven. to defend the sacredness of the law and to demand it's enforcement with out fear or favor
 Christian in Politics.
 The Christian man in politics must never forget that the highest of all authority lays 1t upon him as bounden duty to live up to his heaven-set standards of der a dreadful nightmare of political con- ditions never to be forgotten, even good men claimed justification for fraud at the ballot box. Those conditions happily have passed, and in their passing we have the pledge of the politicians them selves that henceforth the ballot box