p. 228 | CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP by D. E. Scoles

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 10, 1900

CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.

By D. E. Scoles

D. E. SCOLES. (Washburn, Me.)

There are thousands of supporters of “Christian citizenship” — as popularly understood — who are conscientious and enthusiastic in their work, little dreaming that in doing this work they are disobeying the “golden rule,” and going directly contrary to the principles of Christ. Many have never once thought that it might be wrong; and because there are so many good people favoring it, they have thought that it must be right.

We invite all such to an investigation of the principles of this question from the “word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

God says, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Ex. 23: 2. In other words, One man on God’s side is a majority against the world. Might is not right from God’s standpoint. Consequently the following proposition is true, and will be readily agreed to by all candid minds: Compulsion upon the part of God or his representatives, to secure worship, or service, is a thing utterly foreign to God’s character; because “they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Therefore God can not accept of anything as worship that is not freely and willingly given with heart-service. “Of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take an offering.” Ex. 25: 2. “God loveth a cheerful giver.” “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. . . . Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray [entreat] you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5: 11–20. And Jesus himself said, “If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge [condemn] him not.” John 12: 47. Hence it is positively unchristian to use force or compulsion in matters of conscience and religion.

As long as the Saviour’s words, “Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because . . . narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” are true, there can never be in fact such a thing as a “Christian nation.” Men can never be made Christians by any act of legislature, congress, or government. Therefore any attempt to make this a “Christian nation,” by law, Supreme Court decisions, or any other means, except by the gospel of Jesus Christ, will result in persecution, or the making of men hypocrites to avoid the persecution that must inevitably follow such work. And, further, this very work will herald to the world that this is not a Christian nation, and that the leaders in this movement are not led by the Spirit of the Founder of Christianity; for he said, “If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge [condemn] him not.”

The effort was once made, when Christ was on earth in person, to bring in the kingdom of Christ “through the gateway of politics;” and to have a “Christian nation” with “Christ as king of its cloisters, its courts, and its colleges;” but Jesus, ever true to his eternal principles of a separation of civil and religious things, said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18: 36. And again, “Render therefore unto Cæsar [the state] the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matt. 22: 21.

There was once a theocracy,—a government with God as king,—and afterward “Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father.” 1 Chron. 29: 23. But the people were not content with this, and rebelled against it, and utterly rejected God, and God took away the last vestige of it; and it will never be again until Jesus comes and purifies the earth by fire, and destroys all wickedness and sinners together, and the everlasting kingdom is ushered in. “Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: . . . I will overturn [by Medo-Persia], overturn [by Grecia], overturn [by Rome] it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” Eze. 21: 26, 27.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” That is, the kingdom of grace, or Christ’s rule, is in the heart to prepare men for the kingdom of glory at Christ’s second coming. And outside of that kingdom—the kingdom of our own hearts—we have no right to exercise any authority in religion, except to issue the gospel call, “Whosoever will, may come.”

Let us study the gospel of Christ until we become imbued with its spirit of liberty; for “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” And then we shall learn that it is not our prerogative to judge one another, and that God is the author of freedom of conscience. “To his own Master he standeth or falleth.” “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”