Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-05-18
HAS CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION
COLLAPSED FOR CERTAIN?

When the great war broke out near
ly three years ago, the question was
asked, "Docs this mean that Christ
ian civilization has collapsed and fall
en- down."
Some said yes. Germany was the
most highly civilized nation on earth
the veritable seat and foundation
Of learning and the home of the
sciences and arts and the mother of
all modern progress, an object lesson
of the power and influence of the
Christian religion. But now, behold!
Look at Belgium and the ravagcs i'll
northern France. No Christian ma
ton would or could do such
impossible things. The big war
spread quickly into England, France
and other Christian countries. And
the big war is clear proof that the
civilization Of Europe, which we all
proudly and gladly pointed to as
"Christian," has fallen down on the
job. The big war is proof of il.
But there was still one nation with
n clear, clean record The United
States, christian America" was
still at peace, and comparisons were
instituted. eve have IA Christian
civilization. The civilization of Eu-
rope was not Christian. Had it been
there would have been no war. We
cannot we will not, take up the
sword. We rejoice in "Chris;ian
civilization" So the discussion ran,
IN IT,. religious newspapers and many
+ the secular OBS. as well and from
he puipits, too. But behold We
are j. ii, up to our eyes. Every re-
source of this mighty nation Is being
drawn upon for the purpose of wag-
ing war. Has the whole fabric col
lapscd? If it is held tina. the Euro
pcan war is proof, yes. If the will
lingnese to wage war is proof, so has
the "Christian civilization" of the
United States collapsed But, Chris
tan civilization has not collapsed.
There is no nation on earth now. nor
ever has been, that could justly claim
a "ChristiGn" civilization, and never
Will be under present conditions. A
civilization built upon material things
Of time and sense-schools. learning
science, art, progress, developments
Is good as far as it goes, as we now
know it TO be. as far different from
the doctrines rs taught by the
Christ Of the Bible as is the rankest
heathenism of the savage.
And The nation Tor individually, who
mistakes the one for the other is as
far from the kingdom of righteous
ness as was Nicodcmus, or the good
young man who lacked only zone
thing" and farther away than was
the thief on his cross of execution.
SO called Christian civilization hns
not collapsed, either. Civilization
mistaken for Christianity will ALWAYS
collapse-fall down. Morality col
iapses every time man or nation
SINS. The jails, penitentiarics, and all
penal institutions, riots, strikes, wars
are only the logical results of Il civ
iiization built and maintained upon
greed of gain, wordliness and selfish
ness. Such civilization will event
ually collapse, has been collapsinp
regularly for thousands of wears
and SO will it continue to collapse
until real christian" civilization
IS set up in the earth The civilian.
ton of the United States, no more
Christian" than that of GERMANY. or
Belgium or Russia or any of the rest
IKE theirs, is being dumped into the
melting pot, and if the great world
war purifies us of dross so we'll
when we emerge from under the
wreck and debris of the house buil,
upon sand" we will dig down and
built anew upon crock" and berin
at the beginning.