The Reformed Presbyterian Standard and also 0\ir ... - Rparchives.org

September 9, 1914.
A FAMILY PAPER.
through his covenant relationship with God;
while, on the other hand, Laban and his followers
reminded him of lack of faith in God and
his disposition of trying to secure the fulfillment
of the promises of the covenant through
his own strength and carnal ingenuity. Among
those features which have been manifested iu
the life of the Church, the following are most
noteworthy:
The manifest desire among those of spiritual
leadership to enter more fully into the life of
Christ.
Interest seems to be centered not so
much about the principles of the Church as
about the person of Christ. The question uppermost
in the mind of many is not "am I a
true Covenanter" but "am I a real disciple of
Christ" Searchings of heart have led to some
such questions as these, viz.: "Have I an active,
livmg faith that will enable me to meet the
temptations of Satan- as did Christ when
tempted in the wilderness with the offer of a
hasty realization of the Kingdom Have I the
measure of love that Christ desired of Peter
when he said: 'Lovest thou Me'" "Have I
the spirit that was manifested in Christ when
He taught His disciples that He came not to
be ministered unto but to minister" "Have I
that measure of brotherly love which is a testimony
to all men that I am a disciple of
Ckist" "Have I that measure of Consecration
to the service of Christ that will lead me
to sever the tenderest of earthly ties if called
to do so by the Master" "Have I that life and
joy and power that is found only in abiding
in Christ as the branch abides in the vine"
These and other questions of kindred nature
are exercising the minds of many in the
Church. It is the manifestation of a return
to the first and fundamental principles of a
Christian life. It is an experience that will
tend to change formality into reality, dry
bones into a living, active body, and baptize all
truth that may be espoused or maintained with
but that they have been bought with a price.
They have not come to realize that Christ gave
but one commandflient to his followers in regard
to their life work, and that was to make
known the gospel in its full bearings to all
nations, and that they are therefore under obligation
to use whatever gift God has given them
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God
in promoting the interest of the Kingdom. In
many instances, choice talent is squandered
upon things that minister only to selfish interests
and pleasure. In many instances, the
ability to gain wealth has become a curse rather
than a blessing, because the gift was used,
for the greater part, to secure luxury and ease
for themselves. The principle of Christian
stewardship calls for economy and even for selfdenial
in securing the things that minister to
self, and great diligence and self-sacrifice iu
securing the things that minister to the Kingdom
of Christ. It wall not be until all of tke
members of the Church realize that each one
is a steward of Christ, and that each is to
perform his part in ministering one to another
as members of the body of Christ that the
Church can go forth to battle as "a company
of horses in Pharaoh's chariot." Further observations
lead us to call to your attention:
3. The lukewarmness of the Church in maintaining
her covenant relationship in its purity.
While the zeal manifested by the greater part
of the Church in preparing for sealing ordinances
is most commendable, however in many
instances the services of preparatory days before
the Sabbath of Communion are wholly neglected,
and covenant obligations that are assumed
or renewed are treated lightly. And
parents in presenting their children fpr baptism
take vows upon themselves which they seemingly
have no intention of performing. Por
the sake of personal convenience or gain some
go out of the bounds of their covenanted faith
and lay down their testimony to the world.
For the advantage that is gained by co-operating
with other churches in religious worship
and work, the practice and principles of the
church are often greatly compromised. Israel
prospered just in proportion to the zeal exercised
in living up to their covenant, and no
doubt, if the Church is to realize that revival
for which she has been longing and praying
she must awaken to new zeal in maintaining
the spirit of evangelism. However, it is to be
lamented that there are some features in the
life of the Church which are not so commendable.
Among other things it has been noted
that there is:
2. Only a partial recognition of the principle
of Christian Stewardship.
Exemplary efforts and sacrifice have been her covenant relationship in its purity. With
made on the part of some of the membership
of the Church to support the work of the Kingdom.
Doubtless it is due to the efforts of
a view to' improving the state of religion in
the church, your committee would make the
following recommendation:
these that our Church has a record for contributing
That the Principle of Christian Steward­
to foreign missions of which she may be ship be made the subject of Conferences in
pardonably proud. The recognition of the the Presbyteries and that pastors and parents
principle of Christian stewardship in the full
breadth of its bearings seems to be the experience
of only the few. As a Church there is not
a reahzation of the full import of this principle
in the life. Men have not reached a logical
conclusion of God's propriety in them by
be urged to impress more fully upon the youth
of the Church the claims of Christ upon their
lives for service.
Signed by members of committee.
W. A. AIKIN,
T. M. SLATEE,
reason of Creation and Eedemption. They
E. C. MONTGOMEEY,
have not manifested in their lives a full realization
of the fact that thpy are not their own
G. G.
S. E. DAVIS,
McLAUEY.
THE COLLAPSE OF CIVILIZATION.
Is That What the War in Europe Means
Civilization can never finallyprevent war. But
many sincere people have eagerly, confidently believed
that it would.
Newspaper reading is a sobering experience today.
Not only does it give us word-pictures of
the most unthinkable war in history, but it reveals
also, with pitiless certainty, the unconscious
cause of that war. Yet the brilliant reporters
and editors who make our newspapers, and who
are dealing with the war situation with what is
often masterly power, almost to a man fail to see
the reason of war and the cure for war.
A shaft of searchlight on civilization flashesout
when one reads In a daily paper, for example, that
"Newport anticipates a long and brilliant season as
a result ol curtailed gaieties in Europe." Adjoining
paragraphs in the account of Newport's gaieties
state that the General Naval Board is in daily
session at the Naval War College; four submarines
were engaged in maneuvers near Brenton's
Reef Lightship, with the torpedo boat Vesuvius
engaged in torpedo firing; and mixed handicap
tennis doubles at the Casino reached the second
round.
It is the civi/lization that lives, not only for pleaure,
but for commerce, science, education, national
honor or reputation, personal happiness and
advancement of every sort, rather than for the
glory of God, that insures war.
War is only one of many expressions of sin.
Christ is the only cure for sin. Sin, indeed, is
war; war against God. Every individual human
life in which Christ is not Saviour and Lord is
at war with God; and every nation whieh does
not recognize Christ as Supreme Lord of its every
national .policy and action is thereby habitually
at war with God. Only Christ can bring men and
nations into peace with God.
When we say this we recognize that there has
never been, since our Lord oame to this earth,
such a thing as a Christian nation. There are
nations in which live many Christians, both as
private citizens and as public oflicials; but the
wor»d nas yet to see a nation whose acknowledged
and implicitly obeyed head is Christ.
If the individual in whom Christ does not live
as Savior and Lord is at war with God, wnether
he means to be or not, because of the deadly,
sinful nature within him,.—that "mind of the flesh"
which is "enmity against God."—equaJlly true is
it that all civilization which is not absolutely
dominated by Christ, so that its habitual motves
and actions seek only the glory of God, is a warring
civilization. No matter how peaceful such
civilization may seem to be outwardly, it is in
a state of ceaseless war against God.—and that
is the deadliest war of all.
Yet that is the condition of the civilization of
the world to-day. And if civilization is thus,
even though unconsciously to itself, engaged in
an eternal warfare against the Creator God, how
can it by any human activities or efforts or agreements
be set free from war among men It is
hopeless for those who are warring with God to
expect to be permanently at peace with one
another. To look for temporal peace while' an
eternal warfare is going on is to look for fruit
where there is no root. Temporal wars will come
to an end when eternal warring comes, to an
end, and not until then. So assured and final
peace by agreement among those who continue
to engage in a common war against God is a
mocking will-o'-the-wiap.
That as the reason why civilization has collapsed
today in Europe. It will continue to col-