The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-11

as He cast aside all earthly ambitions
hopes and aims. so would they taking
instead the Heavenly ambitions hopes
and aims. In other words they i've
for the future. This will not hinder
them from the ordinary pursuits q,
life to the extent that may he n.co..
sary in providing for their families
etc. But with these Christians any
overplus above life's necessities repre-
sents so much opportunity for serving
the Lord and His Cause and in so
doing they are laying Vp treasure n
Heaven-a future reward.
Christian Stewardship aud CIurrn-
This does not signify that they mus,
| live from hand to mouth" nor that u
| they have possessions, they must riot.
ously distribute these to others on
the contrary. they are to seek in all
| things to have the mind Of the Lord
to do Gods will. Gods mind is A
sound mind: and these Christians, IN
seeking to do Gods will, are said N
have the spirit Of a sound mind" This
dictates that they should live wisely,
economically, in all life's affairs
Everything that comes to these Chrie-
| tians, or that they possess by natura
/ Is considered q thirg OF God, because
In becoming ChriBt's followers, they
made a full conservation OF their wills
their ALTO God. Hence from that
moment forward they are stewards ot
their time, their talent their Influenza
their property, their all According 70
their use OF this stewardship will n
| the Masters commentator Of them,
as represented In the parable Whether
many talents are possessed or few the
commentator is to those who have
been faithful in their use, not for SELF.
I a . 81.
foundations OF treasure, but for assist.
ing others and themselves to know and
to do the Divine will
Christians are TO "lend hoping for
| nothing in return" and not, a. the
world, merely be willing 10 do good
and lend to those who would do az
much or more in return. Christians
are thus 10 illustrate the fact that they
| have been begotten Of God, that they
have His Holy Spirit and disposition
and that IL Is shining out more and
more in word and conduct as they grow
In character-likeness to the Lord Jesus
Christians are not to go to war. Their
| fight Ia not with carnal weapons. hu
with the Sword OF the Spirit. which q
the Word OF God"--the most poWcrf'r
weapon known. This does not signfv
that they may not put bolts upon tho'-
| doors TO prevent robbery, nor that thsv
may not call for police protection. fo-
this they pay for In taxation and or"
entitled 10 according To the laws OF N"
| world. They may not claim Of Their
own nation anything more than an ali0r
might claim. Indeed Christians are
styled aliens, strangers. so far as 'NN
present government OF the world is Cu0-
cerned. Their citizenship, according p.
| the Bible, is the Heavenly one in,o
which they will fully enter when they
shall have shared the Chief Resurrer-
ton.
| No Christian Nations.
| The Bible knows nothing OF Christian
nations or of Christian world. ThA
Bible puts the Christian as separate and
distinct from the world and from all
nations. Christians are a people hy
themselves In the same sense that the
Jews are. I'VE are a Royal Priesthood.
a holy nation, peculiar peoplc"--a
people for purpose. Il Peter 2:90
The term Christian nations" comes from
a serious doctrinal error which crept in
TO the Church about 500 A. d. Al tha'
time Pope Leo III. began 20 recognize
as Christian nations all nations which
recoRnized his Pontfcate. The custom
tbs still in vogue amongst both Protes-
tants and Catholics; but II is wholly
wrong.
A Christian conscr1pted to the army
or the navy would be subject 10 the
powers that be" and, obeyinR the Mas
ter's words. would go, as In Matthew
l5:41: whatsoever shall compel Thea,
60" The Christian compelled To ente,
the army or the navy might properly
request service as n non-c1mhatant In
the Quartermaster's Department or 10
the Hospital Department; but II re
iquired to kill. he il to obey God rather
than man, and not kin. He may comply
with his orders to the extent OF going
into the trenches and being shot at, but
no further.
Is II urged that such a view OF Chris
tianity would wreck our present civil
ization? We reply that nothing IN the
Bible implies that our civilization u
Christian or that the Lord ever OK
pected u to be Christian. Gods time
for saving the world from sin and weak
ness has not vet come The present IL
merely the time for calling, finding
testing and delivering the Elect These,
when, glorified. will constitute Messiahs
Kingdom, and with Him will be en-
powered fully with spiritual control for
Then will come the time for the en-
liRhtenment, uplift and blessing OF me
whole world of mankind--the non-elect
What are TODAY STYLED "Chr'st'an
nations" are In the Bible STYLED 'king-
doms OF this world" and their comnlete
dis'nteeratlon is scripturallv outlined
as incidental 10 the establishment M
Gods glorious Kingdom under NesS'ah'
for which we pray. "Thy Kingdom
come"
Some may wonder how II over came
10 pass that all the people OF civilized
lands are enumerated as Christian
except Jews and professed inhIc'S
Sta tistics tell us that all the inhabitants
OF Italy are Christians; that moro '1an
ninetv-nine per cent. Of the p0pua'."n
OF Great Britain, France, Grrmah'
Belgium, etc, are Christians; and tNa'
the total number Of Christians tHlS
rec koned is nearly Ave hundred MI
lions. Surely II II time that ir'" .t n
people realize that some great nl,7''h'
has been made ard that mon '''
ninety-nine per cent. Of these '1ia
tians make no pretonse o' h'nt
lowers OF jesus.
Here and there. obscured IN
world have been true followers of '''
Lord Jesus Christ IN every denom01
ton. They have been out Of ACCORD
generally with the great leaders ~ me
, church systems Gs well a. with ne
| worlds political leaders, The ""'tn
does not yet appreciate that m" CIV.
Of Christ IL COMPOSED exclusively -
! those who have made covenant WIN
the Lord through faith in the precious
} hood, who have been be9otten or 'ne
Holy Spirit and who are seeking 10
walk in the footsteps Of Jesus
U.YuahIa raunnn Fnr Vol VI