The Washington times., 1915-01-11

instead the Heavenly ambitions, hopes
and aims; In other words. they. live
them from the ordinary pursuits Of life
to the extent that may be necessary in
providing for their families. etc. But
with these Christians any overplus
rluch opportunity for serving the Lord
and His Cause: ana in SO doing they
are laying up treasure in Heaven-a
future reward.
Christian Stewardship and Citizen
ship.
This does not signify that they must
live from hand to mouth nor that, II
they have possessions, they must riot
ously distribute these to others. On the
contrary, they are to seek in all things
10 have the mind Of the Lord-to do
Gods will. Gods mind is q sound
mind; and these Christians, in seeking
to do Gods will, are ssio to have "the
spirit of a sound mind" This dictates
that they should live wisely, economic
ally. in all life's affairs.
Everything that comes to these Chris
tions. or that they possess by nature,
Is considered a thing OF God, because
in becoming Christ's followers, they
made a full consecra1ion of their Wills
their alto God. Hence from that
moment forward they are stewards Of
their property, their all. According to
their use of this stewardship will be
the Masters commendation Of them. IS
represented in the parable. Whether
many talents are possessed or rev, the
comrnendation is TO those who nave
been faithful in their use. not for self
ACKNOWLEDGMENT or show or worldly ac-
cunu la tons Of treasure, but for assist. :.
Ing others and themselves 10 know ana
10 do the Divine will.
Christians are to lend. hoping for
nothing In return and not, as the
and lend to those who would do as
much or more in return. Christians are
thus to illustrate the fact that they
have been begottcn Of God, that they
have His Holy Spirit ard disposition:
and that It is shining out more ard
more in word and conduct as they grow
in character-likeness to the Lord Jesus
Christians are not TO go to war. Incli
fight is not with carnal weapons. but
with 1.-The Sword Of the Spirit. which is
the Word of God"-the most powerful
weapon known. This does not sisnif.
that they may not put bolts upon their
doors to prevent robbery. nor that they
may not call for police protection, for
this they pay for in taxation. and arc
entitled to according to the laws OF the
own nation anything more than an alien
might claim. Indeed. Christians are
styled aliens. strangers. SO far as the
present government Of the world Is
concerned. Their citizenship. according
to the Bible. is tho Heavenly one. into
which they will fully enter when they
shall have shared the Chief Resurrcc-
ton.
No Christian Nations.
Tho Eihln sc "a,
nations or OF Christian world. The
Bible puts the Christian as separate and
distinct from the world and from al!
nations. Christians are people b!
themselves. in the same sense that the
Jews are. '.Yc are a Royal Priesthood
| a holy nation, a peculiar people"-a
people for purpose. q Peter, a:s)
The term Christian nations comes
IRON serious doctrinal error which
| crept !nto the Church about 800 A. D.
At mat time Pope Leo III began tc
recognize as Christian nations all ma
tIons which recognize his pontiicate
Tho custom is still in vogue amongs,
both Protestants and Catholics: but j,
Is wholly wrong.
or the navy would be Subject to tho
powers that bo." and. obeying the Mas
ters words, would 20, as In Matthew
s:H, M ho3oever shall compel thee
| 80. The Christian compelled to cntcl
tue army OF th> navy might properl,
| request service as 4 non-coml,at ant II
! tne duarternaster 8 department or II
the hospital department. but II requircc
| 10 XIII, he is to obcy God rather thar
| man. and not kill. lie may compl,
| With his orders to the extent Of goint
| into the trenches and being shot al, bu
| no further.
Is it urged that such a Wow OF Chris
| tfanry would Nrock our present civili
,i,,,- l.
Blple implies that our civilization /.
Christian or that tho Lord ever eX
pccted It to be Christian. Gods time to
saving the world from sin and weakness
has not yet come. Tho present is mere
| ly the time for calling. finding, testing
, and delivering the elect. These, wheI
gioritied, will constitute Messah's king
| dom, and with Him will be empoweret
! ernment Of tho entire world. Then vii
come the time for the enlightenment
| uplift and blessing OF the whole worlt
| OF mankind-the non-elcct.
tions" are in the Bible styled king
doms OF this world" and their complet
disintegration IS Scripturally outline,
as incidental to tho establishment O
| tor which VIC pray, THY Kingdom
come
! Some may wonder how it ever cam
to pass that all the people of rivilisc,
| iHlluS are enumerated AS 'nrlStianS-
! except Jews and professcd infdels
F, Statistics toll us that all the inha bitant
of Italy are Christians; that more thaI
lnincty-ninc per cent of the population
Of Great Britain. France. Germany
! Belgium. etc. are Christians: and tina
tho total number OF Christians thu
| rcckoned is nearly five hundred mil
' lions. Surely it is time that intelliaen
people realize that somc great mistak
has been made and that more tina
ninety nine per cent Of these Christian
make no pretensc of being followers O
Jesus.
Here and there. obscured TO tn
| world. have been true followers of til
| Lord Jesus Christ in every denomination
They have been out Of accord senerall
with the great leaders OF the churc
systems, as well as with the world
political leaders. The world does not ye
appreciate that the Church of Christ
composed exclusively of those who hav
made covenant with the Lord throug
, faith in the precious blood, who hav
been beGotten Of the Holy Spirit an
who are seeking to walk in the foot
steps of Jesus.