The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-05

and spirit can possibly be adequate
for our new necessities. The ailments
OF the world, which may seem new,
need the old remedy of an applied
Gospel. The principles which Jesus
laid down as the basis of a new order
of life are the only ones that can
possibly avail us in these days. II the
kingdom is not set up, then none OF
our new nations and forms OF govern
ment can last
A word Of warning is in order here.
Some Americans are still so habit-rid-
den and so unaware of the vast signiti-
canoe of recent events. that theysthink
that the way to promote the Kingdom
in this crisis is to increase the machin-
cry for multiplying in the world the
number of Methodists or Baptists or
Presbyterians or Episcopalians or
Catholics, or whatever their own re-
ligious communion may be. That is
the inference TO BE gathered from
stray publications that have found
their way across the seas. I read OF
some uniformed persons who sim
cerely believe that the Russian prob
lem, for example. is to be solved by
introducing a certain American re-
ligious denomination into that wan
dering nationl
Let us speak boldly. The coming
of the Kingdom Of God may mean
the submergence of all the churches
which nave served II III LAlC past
Professionalism, Roman Catholicism,
Greek Orthodoxy, Gregorianism, and
all the other forms and expressions
of Christia nifty, are inadequate to rep
resent and express the fullness OF the
kingdom of God. In that kingdom
we may find much for which there
was no provision in the creed OF any
of the churches. Already God has
aroused the whole world out of its in
sularity into a new spaciousness ana
tolerance of thought. Mankind is
getting the big idea that
"Our God is marching on"
characteristics of the Kingdom.
When a person nowadays grows out
Of his former small ideas-and what
a growing time for mankind the past
five years have been!-and begins to
better and more beneficent order OF
human life, he finds that the Kingdom
characteristics outlined by Jesus still
apply.
The first mark of the Kingdom of
heaven is the rule of the King. That
is not an easy truth for our rather
lawless times to grasp. There cannot
be the kingdom without the King.
God must be accepted on his throne
first of all. The new life has to be
ordered in obedience and reverence to
him. All that God expressed OF his
anu CIldTdCl0T Dy JESUS 1IluSL DC
received as a prerequisite of the king
dom which has been SO long in COM
ing to its present hour. Foolish folk
who want new day without God will
have to undergo a course in the kim
dergarten Of experience to teach them
| that before all else and above all else
| our day needs to bow down in humble
| reverence before the living God, in
whose hand is human hope.
On a ship, crossing the submarine
zone during the war, I talked with ar
| ''emancipated" woman whose creed
was merely lawlessness. She repre-
| scented radically those muddy minded
mortals who think that all wrongs will
! be righted when all laws are abolished
and everybody does as he pleases. II
my mind still functions normally, de-
spite its countless queer contacts, Their
/ one thing is clear, namely. that oui
| world is suffering sorely, in genera
and in detail. from an epidemic Of
! lawlessness. The Kingdom of HEAVIER
/ comes with laws which must be kept
A reign of righteousness is essential
to program of peace. Dreamers who
| conceive of league of nations which
winks at the injustices of its members
are building upon sand. All the jus.
tice and truth that are inherent in the
character Of God must hold swaJ
when his kingdom comes. Not les:
law, but more and better. is the ordei
| OF the DAY InaI seems 0aWnlnE..
A third characteristic of the heav.
emily Kingdom which is humanity
hope-this beautiful order of lif,
| which Jesus set forth in so many
significant parables--is that 1t is 4
commonwealth. Because it is fol
Gods glory it is for mans welfare
Ali citizens OF the kingdom are pa
triots OF good will. Whatever hurt
the weak enlists the hatred of thes'
helpers of humanity. Anything tina
serves the common good commando
their support. They are "All for ont
and one for ALL" There is no social
ism like that of the kingdom OF heav
en-; for It alone provides the new spiri
Of love without which all other socia
| schemes collapse. In this common
wealth which is the goal of the ages
the citizens must possess the mind o
Christ. which is love transcendant
The supreme hope OF troubled eartl
is the coming of this kingdom which
fulfills the angel prophecy OF thu
reign Of peace and good will.