The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-11-14
THE FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF
Ir7PROTESTANTISM VS.. iRONAhISM

N OUmANIOm
BILE the salvation of any soul. What
are we doing to teach it? Are we in
practice defending it? And are we
by precept and example presenting
the supremacy of Christ and His
grace to the world?
Third. The General Priesthood of
Believers.
The Reformation was a protest
against despotism. It reafirmed the
liberty Of the sons of God. It was a
defense of the personal conscience.
1t proclaimed the right Of private
judgment. It denounced coercion,
and enthroned in human hearts the
profound sense and recognition of in
dividual responsibility. It restored to
the soul it's privilege of direct ap-
proach to God. It established the de-
mocracy of the church. 1t ordained
that separation of church and state
which has developed in its most evil
dent reality in this Republic. That
separation must be most valiantly
and persistently maintained. We are
in the presence of the insidious and
determined efforts of a dethroned &C.
clesiasticism to regain it's lost power
in civil legislation and government.
That way lie danger and dismay.
The state must be Christian, but not
ecclesiastical. The liberties secured
by Reformation principles must by
the same principles be preserved.
Ecclesiasticism must be rebuked in
any attempts for recognition and
power through partisan politics. The
Christian citizen should guard the
money and Offices of the state against
any Entertainments by sectarian am
bition, and our public officers should
be compelled to hold churches aloof
from the suspicion of such influences.
The life of the Republic lies in the
separation of church and state.
Perhaps within this division of the
doctrines lies our great militant field
of activity. There is militant field.
There is no danger of visibly, or out
wardly uniting the church and state.
The enemies of government know
that as we'll as we do. Therefore,
they surreptitiously undertake to con-
troll government, man bureaus, throt-
tie speech, and substitute the press.
In other words, they plan that their
pernicious doctrines and practices
may have in effect the same results
that might be obtained under a union
of church and state
Why haven't we passed the Smith
Towner bill? Why didn't we intro
duce the Bible into the schools of
the states? Why is the Protestant
church, pulpit and clergy ridiculed on
the moving picture screens of the
country? Why do they magnify the
sins, follies and mistakes of Protes-
tant clergymen? There are no doubt
an equal number of mistakes made
in all branches. But why degrade
the Protestant branch Of the church
Why? Why? There is no other
reason except the premeditated one
that controls the act, namely, to strip
the Protestant church of her power
and to bring her inc disfavor if pos
sible. What are you doing? On
what do you stand? What brought
you into existence? The great fun
damental doctrines of Gods infallible
Word, the doctrines of Professionalism
brought you into existence. For
what purpose?
(a) That you might worship God
supremely.
(b) That you might serve I'M
flinchingly in the evangelization of
the world and in the defense of prin-
ciple.
(c) That you might build for
posterity government, school, and
a home in which Christ is supreme,
the Bible is authority, and the priest
hood of believers before God is uni
versally recognized.
This is Professionalism. Do you be-
lieve it? Will you live it? Will you
practice it? Will you defend it with
your life? If so, God grant super
natural strength to wour efforts.
Awake, the menace is at your
door, trying to contract your govern
ment and make this nation bow to it's
will. Awake you sleeping Protest
ants.
II II