The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-12-01
PAUI'S IDEA OF
GOOD CITIZENSHIP
Pastor of the Baptist Church En-
forces Truths of Practical
Christianity.

DIR. II. l.. Boardman took for his
topic on Sunday morning "Citizenship
According to St Paul" the text being
in Phil. 1: 2712S-"Behave as citizens
worthily of the Gospel of Christ
stand fast with one mind and one soul
striving together for the faith of the
gospel, and in nothing terrified by
the adversaries." He spoke in part as
! follows:
The Apostle Paul was citizen of
the Roman commonwealth. In his
letters he many times emphasizes the
duties of Christians as members of the
state. In this passage he does this
in n striking way. addressing the dis
ciples at Philippi as members of the
comm onwealth. The margin of the
revised translates the original liter
ally: Behave as citizens worthily of
the gospel of Christ"
Improving Our citizenship.
Thomas Carlyle said long ago: "I
do not believe that state can last in
| which Judas and Jesus have equal
weight In public affairs" These
words of the English historian and
philosopher express, in large part, the
thought which underlies the move
ment now everywhere observable,
looking to the cleansing of our pub
| lie life. 1t Is the hope of every right
thinking reformer to replace the Ju-
das element in civic and social life
with the spirit and purpose of Jesus
Christ.
What Is Citizenship?
A citizen is a member Of a govern
ment, under protection of it's law and
amenable to the same. Citizenship.
by common consent and in popular
understanding. has reference to the
individuals relation to public affairs,
the making and enforcement of law
and the preservation of civic order.
In self-governing community the
supreme function of the enfranchiscd
citizen is the expression of his in
dividual desire and opinion by means
of the ballot.
Not an Optional Mater.
The text voices a command "Be
we citizens" The mood is impera-
tive. Paul lays upon the consciences
of Christians of his day the obliga-
ton of citizenship. 1t was their
duty then; it is the duty of Christian
men now to be citizens. A long step
in advance will have been taken wnen
the rank and file of Christian men Of
this day shall feel the obligation of
citizenship. No less binding than any
ither duty of the Christian life is the
duty of being awaks and alert to per-
form this function. If it is a Christia 4
mans duty to pray, and give of his
money to the support of his church,
and to be kind to his negkbor. and
to be honest in his business. It Is
not a whit less his duty to go to the
polls on election day and cast his bal
lot for honor and decencv
Setting the Standard High.
"Worthy of the gospel Of Christ"
That is a high standard, but not too
high for Christian men. The gospel
means salvation, uplifting. purfca-
ton. redemption wherever it is ap-
piled, Citizenship to be worthy of
the gospel must stand for all these
things. When Christian men OF a
community are apathetc and indif-
fcrent to the moral interests Of the
community. they have fallen far be-
low this standard. When arieet inn
provements and real estate values
command larger interest than the
conserving of the characters Of young
men and women. the gospel standard
is grossly violated. When We tolerate
n system Of compromise with public
evil for a consideration we Curn our
backs squarely on the spirit and
teaching of Jesus Christ and emulate
Judas Iscariot.