The central ideal of Christian effort is set for us in the first
petition of the Master's prayer. But a Kingdom on earth, with God's
will done here in heavenly fashion, is a social idea. It means not
only right personal quality; it means right family life, and economic,
political, and international relationships Christianized. No amount of
fine individual character, necessary as it is, will of itself rectify
the social maladjustments and inequities. Were everyone as good as
possible, we still should need organized action. All parts of an
engine may be correct, and yet they may be wrongly fitted together. As
it is, social relations obviously demand concerted action; we must
join together to combat immoral industrial conditions, to throttle the
liquor traffic, to make human fraternity a fact and not a dream. The
opposition to all such reforms is organized, and no haphazard attack
will succeed. Now, many organizations may arise to serve special ends
and may do excellent service to the cause, but what has proved true in
the conflict with the liquor traffic, is true also of enterprises for
industrial justice and international cooperation--_only when the
churches see the moral issue and put their power in, is there any hope
of victory_. A Christian whose faith involves the Kingdom sees
plainly that he cannot go on without the Church.
_O Lord, we praise Thy holy name, for Thou hast made bare Thine arm
in the sight of all nations and done wonders. But still we cry to
Thee in the weary struggle of our people against the power of drink.
Remember, Lord, the strong men who were led astray and blighted in
the flower of their youth. Remember the aged who have brought their
gray hairs to a dishonored grave. Remember the homes that have been
made desolate of joy, the wifely love that has been outraged in its
sanctuary, the little children who have learned to despise where once
they loved. Remember, O Thou great avenger of sin, and make this
nation to remember._
_May those who now entrap the feet of the weak and make their living
by the degradation of men, thrust away their shameful gains and stand
clear. But if their conscience is silenced by profit, do Thou grant
Thy people the indomitable strength of faith to make an end of it.
May all the great churches of our land shake off those who seek the
shelter of religion for that which damns, and stand with level front
against their common foe. May all who still soothe their souls with
half-truths, saying "Peace, peace," where there can be no peace,
learn to see through Thy stem eyes and come to the help of Jehovah
against the mighty. Help us to cast down the men in high places who
use the people's powers to beat back the people's hands from the
wrong they fain would crush._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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