Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-15
ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH.

You have doubtless heard somo
people snoeringly say that preachers
ought to be kept out OF discussion OF
this war, that II Is n matter outside
OF and foreign TO the preaching OF the
gospel and should be left TO a sep
nrate discussion from church matters
Many think. too. that the church, as
/ the advocate OF peace. should con-
I denim any war, no matter how Just It's
| provocatiOn. Those who hold to these
views, II they are sincere which
most OF them are not-have simply
| failed 10 read their Bibles closely. II
Is q great mistake TO range Christ on
tho side ~ opposition 10 all warfare.
, for he plainly said that his kingdom
should not be established on earth un-
til there had been many wars. Those
who would follow Him must follow
the right, whether il lead In the paths
of peace or on the battlefield. True
enough. when peace does come TO all
the earth, II will be thru the instru-
mentality of the teachings OF the
Savios. bnt there is much blood and
misery 10 wade thru before that re
suit Is reached. II is not seemly that
a preacher should play upon racial
antagonism or national prejudice All
mon are children OF the same father
and all valuable in his sight. 1t is
not for us TO draw invdious distinc
tlons colored by our Individual preiu-
dices, or allow the wish to be father
OF the thot. But there are great
moral principles to be upheld at all
times that the preacher who does not
uphold them Mt any cost is either {
hyprocrite or moral coward
This war presents the greatest
moral crisis In modern times. No
matter how unworthy may have been
the motives that instigated the strug-
gle. 1t has grown into n conflict ir
which every human being is vitnlly |
Interested. No matter what allow |
ance we may make for the Germn
unique and individual idea Of deity |
as peculiar possession OF his r.
the Universe is a dslnterested spec
tator OF this clash of mighty peoples |
We have gone into this war not for
political prestige, for commercial su-
ment. nor even for the satisfaction OF
a grudgc-wc are In It In defense OF
a fundamental. God given principle,
and we have right to expect that the
whole weight OF Gods people is sup
porting MS I'm this endcavor. We are
either right or wrong. and the ques-
tions at issue are so essentially the
questions upon which our religion
rests that no preacher OF the gospo
can honorably keep silence.
There IL no virtue I'm being neutral
when these big issues are at stake
Our religion. as much as our political
liberties. are threatened by this mad
onrush OF the modern hordes OF
nor a Christian God left II
the kaiser is triumphant, for our gov
well be modelled on Teuton
lines and our religion revised 10 suit
the semi pagan creed OF the north
man. for the Germans "eott' is quite
a different deity from the Jehovah
Of the Bible, nj least II the Prussan
of him is to prevail
In view Of all these things we cannot Z
see how n conscientious preacher Of
the gospel can do else than lift up ,
his voice In no uncertain tones in sup
port OF his government, for To do any
thing else would be TO prove unfaii
ful to the God whom he tries to serve
II we mean what we say when we
pray for the kingdom of heaven TO ;
come upon earth, then surely the
church need make no apology for
supporting Americas course with all
is prayer, its moral energy. and Il
need he its life blood.