Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-17
BIZ BISHOP W. A. GAMBLER.

in the scriptures there are militant
words which bespeaK warfare between
the powers OF evil and the forces OF
good. For example. in the Epistle TO the
Ephesians is set out with minuteness
The whole srmor OF God" with which
the Christian soldier must be armed IN
order TO resist successfully the assaults
Of Satan
But these militant words of the Chris
tian Scriptures are generally used by the
inspired writer's TO rally the human soul,
10 resist bravely and heroically the
temptations TO evil and the attacks OF
the devil whereby virtue is so often
overcome and loyalty to God vanqulshed-
They are rarely. II ever, applied 10 the
work OF the Church in bringing the
world TO Christ
In our times. however these martial
conceptions are used constantly to set
forth the conquest OF mankind by chris
tianity. BugIe notes are sounded in all
the Churches calling the members TO all
sorts Of campaigns" The phrases OF
worldly wisdom are employed with ref
srence to leadership" strategic
points" and "skillful organization" as
il the mission OF the Church were to
round up the human race. overwhelm
mankind by irresistible combinations.
and drive the inhabitants OF the earth
into obedience 10 Christ, as captives
might be brought under subsection 10
foreign power by force of arms
Thus used the militant passages in
the Bible are misused, and. thereby. be-
come misleading
Christ proposes no method but that
OF conversion for the conquest OF the
world II such a word as plan may
be properly applied TO his purposes OF
redeeming love. we may say that over
whelming men by any outward force
whatsoever IS utterly foreign TO the plan
OF Jesus he does not propose to Till
brought into subsection by campaigns.
his kingdom with Vanquished souls
but with regenerated souls, redeemed
by the saving grace of conversion. Ac-
cording TO His teaching the Kingdom OF
God is within US. and men cannot be
brought into il except with their free
and full consent. secured by the renovat-
ing power OF the Holy Ghost Any other
conception of His Kingdom is antagonis-
tic to its essential nature and unfriendly
TO the benign results which IL is designed
TO achieve
That group of ideas now so preva-
lent in which the kingdom of Christ is
conceived to he a great movement which
IS to overcome communities and nations
by sts enthralling plans and h. it, in
vfncible management is hurtful 20 the
church and harmful to the world. To
the church IL tends to bring domi-
ueering spirit 20 substitute for the ten
der spirit o. compassion the proud pur-
poss Of conquest: and to the world IL
imparts a spirit Of resentment and re-
sistanCe TO all that the church pro-
poses.
Moreover. by such an unchris:ly con-
ceptinn of its mission. the church is led
TO discard Christs method for the pro-
motion Of the kingdom OF heaven among
men. and to adopt pretentiOus plans for
managing mankind in bulk, rather than
Cor Aaaking loving appeals TO Individual
souls TO be reConciled to God Before
her eyes shines the delusive vision or
a renovated world. without the regen-
eration of individual souls. and the de-
fusion leads her astray from her scrip
furaI mission and diverts her from the
methods by which the multiplied, and
ever multiplying schemes Of present-day
churches TO manage men rather tnan
TO save men.
Discussing the method of Jesus in
contrast with these popular programmes
OF worldly wisdom, James Martineau
SAWS: Il conceive that Christ preached
a gospel wholly at variance with the
prevailing temper and philosophy OF our
times Il is their tendency not TO eN-
cite men 10 become what they ought 10
be. but to manage them as they are Inc
present age has been prolific like many
of its predecessorsl of inventions and
proposed social arrangements, by which
We NAV sit still and be made into the
right kind OF men: which Will render
duty the smoothest thing on earth by
warning all interfering motives on the
spot. and turn the christian race into
q stroll upon a messy lawn the trust
and boast OF our period is not in its in
dfvidual energy and virtue. not in its
In nw# ~
nal civilization. in schemes OF social
and political improvements. in things 10
be done for US rather than by US; In
what we are TO get. more than IN what
we are 10 be
Methods OF this sort appeal strongly
20 an unspiritual and ease-loving type
OF christianity The work OF bringing
individual souls 10 Christ and leading
them TO repentance, faith and the new
birth Is not easy; IL calls for deep and
personal experience Of saving grace, and
demands painful. prayerful and patient
Efforts OF earnest appeal TO individuals.
This is too much for Churches and
preachers who love their ease and dis
like strenuous. spiritual endeavors 70
win souls 10 Christ. Hence. they resort
10 ''IabOur-saving machinery" in the
spiritual world
But in the spiritual world there Is no
Mace for "IabOr-saving machinery.
Life. in even its lowest forms, cannot
he produced. or nOUrished. by machine
methods. II is born not made. Spirit
uaI life above all other forms Of life.
cannot be manufactured; and when an
easy-IOving christianity seeks TO turn
out such life by mechanical processes,
IL deceives itself and spends its effort
for ncught Its pretentiOus and SNOWY
schemes for conquering the world by
Machine v,arhods instead of converting
forces OF redeeming love, can end in