The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-23

view''-John 1876.
Peace Problem and Religion.
Present problems may best be
solved in the light of the life and
laws of Jesus, the accepted arbiter of
the worlds destiny. Fortunately, at
an hour when the question of inter
national peace is absorbing the thought
of the world we have this review of
the work and character and teaching
of the Master, which will be studied
by some thirty million persons, the
world around. Within the three
months of study have been cOmpre-
hended characteristic utterances and
deeds of Christ: it is proper to take
clear look at his personality and pur-
pose.
Touching first upon the Invest issue
in the world, we ask, Did Jesus lay
down program for international
peace? Are the pacifists right in APP
pealing tC Hin as their authority for
an imme diate cessation of strife, re-
gardless of all considerations in
volved? Is their assumption that war
is the supreme evil, and the mother
of evils, based on His example or
philosophy This is a living. ques-
ton. Perhaps no other single issue
has so definitely made its appeal to
Jesus for half century. 1t must be
answered by the Book, and not by
any mans mood or preconceptionS or
desires. If we are to appeal to Jesus,
we must &C back to the only source
of His philosophy that is available to
us.
Before we apply this test to the
overshadowing issue of the present
hour, let US recall what this three
months of study of Johns Gospel has
made plain, that in seeking the mind
of Christ we are learning the will of
God. For, as the Introduction to
Johns Book so maJestically declares,
existent expression of Jehovah. God
has no fuller truth to make known
to mankind than has come speaking
by the living Word. If these Lessons
in John have had any message at all,
it is that Jesus is the very Christ the
sent Son and Revealer of the Father
As He Himself said, in words that
would have been the summit of bias
phemy if they were not true, Il am
the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one
cometh to the Father except by me-"
SO we may paraphrase the sublime
declaration, Human society will new
it walks the way laid down by Jesus
peace world will be secured only
according to His program.
Peace by the Jesus Way.
Sentimentalists are fond of calling
upon the beautiful life of Jesus, with
out always knowing what that life
was or meant So it is in the present
and loving, He must be against war,
which destroys mems lives, and eff
fects other evils. Well, let US see
we ind that Jesus did not talk about
war or peace. except to predict that
there would be wars and rumors of
wars before He should return again,
He lived in a militaristic world vet
never uttered word against the sys-
tenn. he told His disciples to put up
the sword, and He also told them, on
another occasion, to sell their cloaks
and buy swords
OF personal, inner peace, He spoke
clearly, as boon to be possessed by
His disciples, in spite of all outward
turmoil But we see that here as
elsewhere, He dealt with the individ-
uaL His program for a changed world
was to be effected by the change that
His gospel would make in the lives
of men and women, one by one By
making over the parts that compose
society, He would eventually make
over the whole. When the world be-
comes leavened with people who live
by the Jesus law, then the old injus-
tees of society would disappear This
is in accordance with the Christmas
Angels program that peace is to come
on earth among men of good will.
There is no other way.
While He said nothing about inter-
national peace. Jesus really pro-
nounced the ultimate doom of war by
His lnsistence upon righteousness and
love. According to His teaching and
practice. Righteousness must be done
on earth. To that end He lived. and
to that end He died Because He
would not take any short cuts to His
goal-which was the temptation that
came to Him al the very beginning of
His public career-and because He
would not compromise with righteous
ness for the sake of success, or peace
Jesus was forced to offer up His life
as testimony to the truth. Thus He
forever witnesses to the divine prin-
clple that there are some things more
precious than life, some duties that
take precedence of self-preservation
1t is back in the Old Testamen;
prophets that we find the cIearest
pictures of nations at peace one with
another. and of a world from which
war has disappeared, Always, and
Enthusiastically, tho. that prospect is
postulated upon a reign of righteoup-
ness. Only by the defeat of wicked
ness can that day be uShered in. 1t
be longs to the period when the Mes
siah viii have put all things under
us feet. AS the Psalmist expresses
il, righteousness and peace have
kissed each other" Only by perfect
accord of righteousness and peace is
the millennial day to dawn. There
is not a line in the entire Scriptures
which warrants anybody in declaring
that peace is more important than JUS
tice. The inspired men who wrote the
Book were too wise to utter any such
folly. That would be peace that is
no peace. If clear understanding
of the pre-eminence of Righteousness
disappears from the public mind, it
will be because the Bible is no longer
studied. That book portrays war, and
war to the DEATH between truth and
error; and uncounted myriads of
saints ard martyrs have died in testi-
mony that peace and safety are not to
be purchased at the price of condon-
ing unrighteousness.
AS a matter of clear record, the
enervation of moral fibre which re-
CARDS social tranquility as a supreme
end of existence is vigorously de-
nounced by Jesus and His apostles A
horror of pain and blood is not to be
lea r.raad from tlas.