The Washington herald., 1917-12-09
chrisisnity and ne world crisis
Or Can One Be a Christian Un-
der Present conditionsl


The following sermon was written
especially for The Washington Her
aid by Rev. Harry Dawson Mitchell,
pastor Of the Metropolitan NJ. z.
Church. 80 G street northwest:
Text: 'see then that you walk
circumspectly, not a. fools, but as
wise. redeeming the time for the
days are eviL"-Eph. 6-l6.
Let this mind be in you which
was also In Christ Jesus."-PhiIip-
plans, rs.
The Apostle Paul Is exhortins the
early Christians. We have not out
lived the need Of the same exhorta-
tons. for while conditions are
changed, the necessities for right con-
duct and right motives are still ur-
gent We must walk watching every
avenue Of approach. guarding our
selves from assaults by the world.
the flesh and the devil, and our mo-
tives must not be mere moods. but Q
mind.
We must keep clear in our thinking
the difference between "the Christian
ity of Jesus Christ and "organized
Christianity" as represented in the
visible church. I am not dealing
with the latter. We are in perfect
accord and sympathy with all the
plans OF the Federal Council OF the
! Churches In America The prompt
ness with which this central organiza-
ton, representing the combined
! forces Of Protestantism In America,
threw itself into the work Of war re-
lief. the preservation OF the morals
/ Of the enlisted men and the caring
(a, %
and sailors, Is most commendable.
You may be sure the organized
church will lead In every good work
in the future as she has done In the
past.
But Christianity is larger than q
church, or any visible organization
Christianity is not a doctrine, but q
person Not a set Of rules, But an in
spiration. Not an ecclesisasticism
but a spirit Not a creed, but q life
This system Of religion, founded BY
Jesus Christ, is today in the midst
OF world conditions which are dia,
metrically opposed to her cardinal
principles. The question is being
asked: Can she survivor Many arr
seeking q readjustment in order &c
harmonic Christian teaching with
| present-day demands. It indicates q
serious loss of vision, for the ulti'
mate triumph Of the Christ is both The
! inspiration to service and the hope o.
believers. Deny that and you hav,
cut the heart out of the whole sys,
tenn
There are two criticisms prevalent
/ in this day.
First-That Christianity is a IAN,
ure. We are told that after 200,
years OF the teaching OF the Chris.
tian religion the nations OF the earth
have not as yet found q way TO l'vc
peaceably with one another. and q
this war raging among Christian la.
tions indicates and presages q col
1 lapse Of Christianity.
Second-That II is impossible for ono
to live the Christian life under pres
ent-day conditions. We are told thai
the conditions under which We live
! today are hostile to every attempt
that may be made to practice The
teachings Of Jesus Christ Hence tht
questions asked and discussed in mag
aZines recently: Can q woman bt
| in society and be a Christian" We
/ are told that one who attempts 4
( follow the teachings Of Christianity
J Is etElOuSAg ndu0iSdppt0 IL A-o bot'
! tie of life.
We answer the hrst criticism by
| saying that Misunderstanding have
arisen in the minds OF many in con-
! fusing civilizatio with Christianity,
They are not synonymous terms
Civilization is only g by-product OF
Christianity. Civilization, built on
commercialisn. has collapsed, moi
| Christianity. A civilization without
! Jesus Christ as Lord is a failure be-
! fore it is set up. There is q goa
toward which the Almighty 10 work
ing. II is the kingdom. that fol
which we pray when we say, Thy
kingdom come" No one can fore