Article August 2, 1919 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Orvis F. Jordan, J. D. B.

[Christian Herald]

Every program of world organization in the past has fallen to the ground, because it has not been in accordance with the one principle that is vital,—that of Christian democracy. The strong nations were not willing to make the sweeping sacrifice of power, distinction, authority, and ancient prestige. They were not ready for the doctrine which involves that sacrifice. Now the souls of the nations have been awakened. They are beginning to understand that the only path to enduring national development is the path of sacrifice which is indicated in the broad democracy of Christianity and its proclamation of the duties of brotherly love, fellowship, and service. It was Lowell who pointed out that "the church herself was the first organized democracy." This thought had been in the minds of thinkers in other lands. Carlyle indeed went so far as to declare that "democracy itself will accomplish the salutary change from delusive to real, and make a new, blessed world of us by and by." [San Jose (Calif.) Mercury Herald]

Have not schisms in the church come about quite largely because men have mistaken theology for religion? Theology is only a statement or statements of what men think about religion, and reasoning from these statements as premises to a supposed logical conclusion. The conclusions may follow logically enough if the premises be admitted to be sound; but the trouble is that too often these are not statements of Biblical truths, but only finite men's imperfect and warped and distorted ideas of the Bible and religion.

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