Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-18
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
For Sunday Reading. !
Al Sorts o. Opinions.
un.christian Christianity.

UnChristian Christianity.
The Rev. DR.. Philip IS. Moxom raises
the question whether the so-caled
Christian civilization is any longer en-
titled to the name of Christian. BY
Christian civilization, he explains, is
not meant the case of Russia, with it's
ignorant, superstitious, and bigoted
church" but "the most enlightened
and civilized Christian nations-the
British, the German and the lAmeri-
can" The test of any nations Chris
tian character, he thinks, is 1.-The at
titude which nation assumes toward
other nations and the kind of social
order which it maintains within it
self" Tried by this test, he asserts,
the so-called Christian civilization
is. in many respects, decidedly un-
Christian. 1.-The dominating forces
in 1t are individualism, self-assertion,
injustice, selfishness, pride and greed
for riches. Christian peoples are de-
ficent in moral discipline Of the will,
and in that self effacement which is
distinguishing mark of the highest
moral development. Almost invariably,
rights take precedence over duties, and
self-interest abridges or obstructs ex-
act Justice" The onlooker beholds in
this extraordinary spectacle. says DR..
Moxom, an "un-Christian Christian
ity," significant confession of which
may be found in the common admis-
sion that .'the teachings of Jesus are
not practicable in business, politics.
and international intercourse"
In describing our Christianity as
un-Christians DIR. Moxom, in The
North American Review (AugusD, re-
fers to the historical rather than the
essential elements, and says:
"Conceivably, one may contend that
I out present social life is the result of
a long evolution and is economically
wise and beneficent; but one can not
truthfully call it Christian. Now, IL
Shintoist and Buddhist Japan can pro-
duce a higher, saner, more just, more
self-controled, more iunselfish individ-
ual and social life than Christian Eng
land or America, by that fact Chris
tianity, as these peoples have inter-
preted and exemplified it, is proved in
ferior to Shintoism and Buddhism. But
what really suffers by the comparison
is not the Christianity of the Jesus,
but the Christianitw of the church, the
Christianity which we have made. In
other words, Christianity can maintain
it's prominence only by the vital and
effective incorporation Of the spirit
and teaching of Jesus in individual and
social life and character. Nothing can
invalidate this proposition. The trial
which the Christian nations are facing
today is obvious and unacceptable. Let
us, at least, be honest with ourselves.
If we will not practice what Jesus
taught, let us cease to call ourselves
Christians. 1t may be that some of
those whom we have called heather
are more Christian than We"
If essential Christianity is the great
est good that we possess, argues the
writer, then that possession implies
the obligation to share it with all 9TH
ers. "The validity of the church's
missionary enterprise rests solidly on
ly on the demonstration that the Chris
tain faith and the Christian principle
are the best in the world. But
the enterprise is imperiled, or seriously
hindered from achieving the largest
results, by two main distractions. The
first is our Interpretation of other re-
ligions, and the second is the incon-
sistency Of our life with the Christian
faith and principles which we incul-
cate" DR.. Moxom proceeds:
1.-THE truth is that humanity is one
in it's fundamental characteristics.
needs and possibilities. Truth, right
eousness, justice and good will are
essential everywhere to happy and
benehcent life.> That teaching which
most clearly and effectively presents
these is the best teaching. That life
which most closely conforms to these
is the best life. That faith which
most directly and powerfully inspires
to these is the best faith. We believe
that Jesus and his teaching meet all
the conditions. If we did not, we
should not, when once awakened to
the meaning of moral obligation, pro-
fess adherence to them. But the cues
ton is up and will not down: Are we
genuinely Christian? The question is,
first of all, one for the individual man
and woman. 1t is, second, one for So
ciety. If individuals are persistently
Christian, they will make society Chris
tian. Where is the difficulty? We have
not taken Jesus frankly at his own
--Ss
word and on his own terms. With
perfect propriety, with absolute JUS
tice, he might say to us, as he said
to some protested disciples in his time,
why call We me Lord, Lord, and do
not the things that say?' We read
these words in the New Testament,
but, with curious faulty, we never
suspect that they are addressed to
US. 1t may be that the church, and
the Christendom which is identified
with the church, are to hear the DOOM
full words which were spoken to the
ancient ELECT people of God: The
kingdom of God shall he taken away
from you and given to a people bring
ing forth the fruits thereof"
Summer Dirarhoea in Children.
During the hot weather of the sum-
mer months the first unnatural loose