The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1906-01-06

.BF CONTENT WITH YOUR WAGES
Rev. Charles Stelz1e Administers Sharp Re-
buke to the Pharisees Who Distort thes
: to Submit Themselves to the Unjust De-
naands of Employers-What the Preacher
Meant When He Said It.
1t was great preacher that said it original
~ There probably never greater than
he, with the exception of Jesus Christ. At any
rate, Jesus said of him a few days after he
preached that sermon, Among those that are
born OF women, there not greater prophet
than John the Baptist"
But what did he mean? Did he imply that
there should never be strike or demand for
better conditions Some unfair or ignorant aei-
tators have insisted that the Bible and the
church teach that doctrine, and they have
flung into our faces with scorn the text of John
the Baptist. declaring that it is vicious nd de-
grading. Some employers in history have also
quoted this Scripture passage, in order to point
out that the Bible teaches absolute subser-
vience on the part of the employe to his en-
ployer.
l am reminded in this connection Of fhe
smart young man who insisted that the Bible
itself says there is no God' But when he was
compelled to look up the reference he discov-
cred that what the Bible really said was, The
fool hath said in his heart, There is 10 God rs
Something like this Aleck are the men who
twist the Scriptures SO as to produce all sorts
OF economic absurdities, warping out of their
true meaning the greatest and most benefcient
teachings of Christianity.
But let us look for moment at the circum-
stances under which the words were spoken
and the persons to whom they were addressed.
The story is found in the third chapter of the
Gospel of Luke. The fearless preacher-who
afterWard was beheaded because he dared to
denounce the reigning monarch for his sin
was speaking to a great multitude that had
come out to hear him. The burden Of his mes
sage summed up in the single word Re
pentance." And it was noted that this repent
ance had particular reference to sins committed
against men. AS the preacher proceeded the
people began to ask, What shall we do then r.
He nswered, "He that hath two coats, let
him impart to him that hath none; and he that
hath meat let him do likewise" Will you note,
by the way, that he said two" coats-not
''sx?" Then came the publicans-theg govern
ment grafters of the day-and said to him,
Master, what shall we do?' The preacher am
swered, Exact no more than the law de-
mands' Finally came the soldiers-often the
brutal representatives, the policemen, Of for
eign government; men who were following the
example of their superiors by robbing the
working people; it was case of graft which
very much worse than anything ,unearthed
in our day. "And what shall we dor they
asked. And John the Baptist answered: Do
violence to no man; neither accuse any false
ly; and be content with your wages The ern-
Phass upon the word wages.
1t not intended to teach that working
men in every generation should be content with
their wages. 1t was intended to teach that
these brutal, constituencies soldiers should not
demand from the of the people, upon
pain of bodily injury, that which did not right
fully belong to them, in order that they might
add this money to the wages received from the
government. The words, "be content with
your wages" must be viewed in the light OF the
spirit of the entire address. No one-not even
the most radical agitator-can successfully de-
ny that the preacher making fight for the I
poor and the oppressed.
And SO, instead of degrading the toiler, this
injunction is actually plea for fair treatment
for the who was powerless to resist OPP
preston.