The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-23
REV. ". B. DOYLE
IN STRONG SERMON
Condemns the MeddIing of
Church In Politics
A TIMELY DISCOURSE
Marion Minister Does Not Mince
Words in Denouncng Modern
Day Attempt of Church To
Control Public Affairs.
BY CHARLES 3. CARTER.

d O1AhIES =. CAh En-.
Marion. August 22.-(Special. 1.-The
Rev. W. Bruce Doyle. pastor of the
Presbyterian church. Marion. recently
delivered a sermon to his congregation
which he has given to the press to be
used in opposition to the constitutional
amendment
In commenting on this sermon the
Marion Standard says editorially:
The sermon is beyond question one of
the most scathing rebules to the
clergy, who would mix politics and re-
1fgion, that has ever within our recol-
lection appeared In a state paper.
There is not a superf1uous sentence
from the beginning to the end, and it
is document If answered at all must
be by reason and auth GRITTY and not by
assertion. The waving of the hand or
the playing upon sentiment will not
uproot the minister's logic. 1t rs
dynamite applied with force and effect.
1t sounds the tocsin that Thus far
thou can go and no further il the in
huence of the church and its ministry
is to continue as now"
Rev. DoyIe's Sermon.
The Rev. Doyle says: ut Is not my
purpose to get mixed up In the issue
now pending, but my sermon was Tor
the public, and I have no objection to
furnishing you with a synopsis of it,
and you are at liberty to print it if
you WISH
The sermon is as follows.
Render therefore unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars. and unto
God the things that are God S.
Matthew xxi q.
MY kingdom is not of this world."-
John xviii SO.
The words of the text were spoken by
the Lord Jesus Christ and from the basis
of our tn ought while we speak of the
spirituality of the church.
From Abraham unto Christ the gov
eminent of the church and Jewish ma
tion was the same. A member of one,
q law of one; an officer of one was
the member, the Jaw or the officer of
the other. God made a covenant with
a people and that people had state
and a church, for both God supplied
the polity.
In those days domestic, social civil
and ecclesiastical affairs were wrapped
in the same bundle. Such a condition
was, in the wisdom of God, necessary
in those days. Animal life was then
in it's infancy and the human family
were strongly felt. The amalgamation
of church and state was safeguard
for the society of the royal race.
But since Jesus coming the organ
tzation of church and state have BEEN
in the disdom of God. better admin
fstered separately.
Jesus said that His kingdom was not
of this world; that we must draw a
line between the management of
Caesars government and the propaga-
ton of the gospel. Jesus said that He
was a king, and it was written over
His head on the cross in three tongues
yet He convened no congress, modified
no army, and set up no throne in His
city. Jesus forgive sins but paid taxes
with Roman coin.
These Hebrew missionaries whom
Jesus sent into the world did go into
Asia at once but could not carry with
them the government of Judea. They
had no time to waste on political ora
lions or civic teaching. The field was
white unto the harvest and the fruit
was to be gathered by preachers into
the church of God and not the body
polite of Caanans Land. The con-
quest Of the world was earnestly begun
at Penticost but the conquered ones
were not to do obeisance to the throne
of Solomon or Hezekiah. It was
enough that they should enter the
kingdom not of this world be enrolled
in the Lambs Book of Life, enlist with
the army that fights with the sword Of
the spirit.
60 We into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature, teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you." That is the
commission given to the heralds of the
good news from Calvary's cross and
the empty tomb of the risen Lord. That
is the business of the church today
In christ's Time.
Jesus and His apostles lived and
1abored under the worst Of laws, the
darkest of political clouds and vilest
VI lSiNiS 81 uiho. OF ihoil lHo IcCOTQS
of their lives there comes to us not
one sentence as to how men should
vote or what method should be fol-
lowed in procuring political reform
through the civil laws or courts. When
the record of the life work of my Lord
and Master Is silent on Grecian festi-
walls, Roman gladiatorial shows, fnstitu-
tions Of slavery, methods of voting,
nominations of kings, and regulations
of intoxicants, why should I conclude
that political issues are fit for the
sacred desk when I have sinners be-
fore my face. the gospel in my hand
and see that hell awaits the enemies of
the cross?
The church Is not to equip dental
colleges, maintain law schools or teach
agriculture. Yet the church has as
much right to tell farmer how he
shall plow as to tell a suffragete how
he must vote.
The church has no authority for
making laws for the country. or a
truth members are to have a share in
maintaining a decent government, and
by no means are they relieved of vot-
ing in their commonwealth, but this
they do as citizens Of an earthly coun-
try and not as a church Of God whose
kingdom is not of this world.
The church, as such, has no more
right to make laws for the legislature
than the Legislature has to make laws
for the management of the church's
WORK The church has no more right