The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-11-01
MINISTER URGES
CHRISTIANS TO VOTE
REV. WAYNE S. SNODDY, PRES
BYTERIAN PASTOR, PREACH Z
ED ON POLITICS.

In his last sermon before the cleo
tion the Rev. Wayne S. Snoddy, past
or of the Moscow Presbyterian
church, delivered a message to his
congregation on the necessity of vot-
ing to maintain good citizenship and
to be a real Christian. Rev. Snoddy
said:
Let your citizenship be as becometh
the gospel of Christ, Phil. 1:27.
This is my own translation of the
text. The King James text reads:
Let your conversation be as becometh
the Gospel of Christ" which with our
modern meaning of the word "co-
versation" is far afield from the truth
of the original text. 1t had some
semblance of accuracy in 1911 when
the translation was made, but our
language has changed good bit in
the last 300 years. The American
standard translation is an improve
ment. 1t reads "Let your manner of
life be worthy of the Gospel of
Christ" This meaning is true
enough to4the context but not strictly
accurate to the text itself. The
great work in question is politics"
which means "to be a citizen" 1t is
the verb from the noun "pocites, !"
a citizen. From it we have our word
politics." which in it's higher and
better meaning is the science of citi-
zenship. If were very bold l might
have rendered the text "Let your
politics be like the Gospel of Christ"
That is really what it means. If we
could put this word of the Apostle in
to the political platforms today, |
think we would find it practical
solution of the national problems
which are confronting US in these
days. | am sure it would make a
change in both our domi-
nant parties and in their cOmpaigns.
Perhaps it is too much to hope at this
time that the platform of a national
political party should bear the un-
stamp of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, but our individual citi-
zenshlp must have it, else we are
neither as good Christians nor as
good citizens as we ought to be. I
have no sympathy with that spirit
which sets the church apart from the
world, and divorces religious expert
ence from the work-a-day life of men.
That religion is valuless that does
not find expression in everyday life
in ones domestic relations, ones bust
ness enterprises, ones social and po-
itical activities.
The man or women of this day who
has no interest in politics is dan
serous citizen, and an unworthy
specimen of the Christian religion. /
One of our eminent ministers has said |
hat he would if it were in his power
rpfnCf tho 10 of o1
% the man who neglected or refused |
% get the ballot box on election day.
For the Christian American citizen |
t is as much religious duty to vote
IS it is to pray, and to vote wisely as
veil as pray fervently. The scepter
It American sovereignty is the ballot,
md every citizen who does not use it
'orfeits his rights and endangers
lis Republic. Ignorance is no excuse
t is your business to know your bal
OF is a grave responsibility and you
must give account of it to God.
Social and political evils may be
radicated from our land by the in
elligent and consecrated use of the
allot. Every citizen should humbly
all upon God to teach him how to
ote as well as how to pray. When
christian men and women vote ac-
ording to the principles of their re-
gion, they are giving practical ex-
ression of their faith and in this
ray our whole social ardor may be
When people realize the solemnity
f citizenship such world tragedy as
hook our civilization from 1914 to I
918 cannot again come to pass. Pub
c policies are shaped by the privi-
sge of franchise which ught to be
sed at every election, yet not with
ut care and prayer that righteous I
ess and prgress may have the bene-
It of its power. K
The Apostle Paul had a great deal
, say about politics as you will find I
you read his writings diligently. It
'as favorite subject of his. Doubt i
.ss this was from the fact that he t
'as Roman citizen. Roman citizen {