Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-07
Wishing Christ to
Govern Others
By Bishop
Warren A.
Gambler

concerned that the Negroes shall be
evangelical as a means of solving the
race problem. Christ and Christ only can
solve the race problem Of the South and
the race problems of all the world. But
to do so he must be accepted by the men
of all races as their Saviour from sin.
He will not lend himself as restraining
power over African passions IN order
that Anglo-Saxon passions may be in
Obliged in security. Nor can any preach
Christ's gospel as the Saviour of the Ne
groes who do not submit to Christ
rule themselves. 1t is vastly I'M
portant that the Negro should be re-
deemed. The providential purpose OF Goa
in allowing him brought to these shores
was doubtless that he might be saved
but Christianity must prevail among tae
whites also If the Negro is to be saved
we wish the Negro sober. and 1t is well;
but do we wish it we'll enough to keep
the saloons closed which tempt him? Do
we wish it we'll enough to discourage the
iug-trade and the newspaper advertising
nv which the jug-trade is carried on!
Do we wish it we'll enough to deny our
own appetites for intoxicants, ana 10 set
him an example of abstinence? In snort
do we wish Christ to rule over all classes,
ourselves included, or do we desire only
that he shah govern the Negroes! 10
we wish to crown him Lord OF all. OF
only TO make him the King of Ethiopia:
we ,na,, as we'll understand that Jesus
claims universal dominion, and that ne
will have nothing less. He does not pro-
nose TO make himself our social servant
hut our sovereign Lord II we do not IN
tend TO be subject to him, it Is not worth
while TO ask him to govern others III
our interest. He will be every thing 10
rs or he will be nothing to US. his Is
spiritual kingdom, and nothlnS siio IL
of his reigning in all splrts hee'S
demands. -
Herein perceive we the folly ana mis-
taka Of them who are perpetually talA-
ing of what they are pleased 10 can
practical christianity. BY that phLaoe
thew mean to commend religion Wnlcil
saexs material good only to the neglect
~ tho needs of the spirit. If they hao
haan IN the DAYS of the Saviour, they
would have made much or his Ieeoihs
the hungry multitudes by multiplying
the loayes and fishes, and they woulu
have made little of his sayings 10 ING
palsied man, Thy sins be forgiven tnee.
with the forgiveness OF sins they nav
no concern but only with the nillhs %
the stomachs of men. According TO their
theory "practfcaI christianity" Is that
which deals with matters that begin ana
J end in time, and which in nowise con-
Germs the soul and it's eternal interests
Precious ointment poured upon the pa
viour's head in holy and adoring love Is
wasted, If the tenets Of this socalieo
| practical Christianity are souno.
Mary is all wrong in such extravagant
devotion, and Judas is all right Wnen ne
| proposes to sell the odorous offering In
order to feed the poor. Yet this uncalcu-
lating act of devotion upon Mary's part
has fed more hungry people all down the
' ages than have all the carping preach
ments of the apostles of practical chris
family from Judas to the last one who
has proclaimed the victuals-view OF sal
walton.
! The only Christianity that is practical
! is that which puts first things first and
secondary things in their subordinate
place. Piety feeds philanthropy ana
/ adoring love of God makes men love
| each other. The compassion which feeds
the multitude is not chiefly moved by
! their hunger, but by the sadder fact that
| they are as sheep having no shepherd
The most pitiful thing about human pow
erty is not its hunger of body, but its
| hunger Of soul. With some knowledge
| of how the poor feel on this subject
venture to affirm that they resent the
| idea that their chief want Is physical
want only. They are not crying for a
bun or a biscuit, but for real brotherhood
| in Christ Jesus. 1t is a shallow view of
| the case Of the prodigal in the parable
! which sees only his rags and hunger,
| the fathers home and his estrangement,
and takes no account of his absence from
| the fathers heart. A bread-wagon
! and clothier could have set him right
| if 1t had only been a matter of victuals
and clothes with him. But he needed
something more than material good, AMI
needed 1t more than all else.
Jesus will not consent to accept at our
hands the office of Chief baker to the
poor. II the world could live by bread
alone, he would make mama as common
| es the sand on the sea-shore, and he
! would rain salvation down wherever the
| foot of man has wandered into want
All efforts to reduce Christianity to a
! scheme Of mere social amelioration (and
many such efforts have been made) have
ended in ridiculous failures 1t can not
! be otherwise. Such efforts utterly mis-
conceive the spirit of Christianity and
the purpose of Christ. Nay more, they
dishonor Christ. He will not be uged by
any class to rule over other classes in
order to bring to pass agreeable condi-
come a police officer or a petty provincial
king to restrain the excuses OF the
tribes of coarseness in order that refined
sinners may be more comfortable in their
elegant godlessness. Nor will he take
the place of baker or butler in the social
system. He asserts his royalty and
claims his right to reign over all classes
absolutely.