V VISION OF CHRIST'S CHARACTER AND F HIS GOSPEL RESH visions, peace organization of the churches and peace education of the youth are, however, but preparations for that real and constructive program of Christianity by which alone true world-peace can be established. At present, as militarists assert and all admit, every nation is actuated by selfishness; and selfishness is, moreover, regarded as natural and inevitable. International relations, from the beginning of mankind, have been so selfish and the conduct of peoples and races has been characterized by such brutality, with suffering incalculable, that nearly every people is suspicious of every other. Jealousy, hatred, fear, and revenge control more or less consciously the attitude of each to all. Permanent world-peace, however, can come only as these feelings are overcome and good-will is established in their place. These animosities, distrusts, indignations, have been evoked by positive deeds. They can be overcome only by positive deeds. The way to conquer evil is to do good. "Overcome evil with good" is a universal principle; it applies to nations as well as to individuals. Our Christian ideals and practices must now be definitely and consciously applied to nations, to international life. The Golden Rule must be given universal application. Here, therefore, is the platform of the Christian WorldPeace Program. Christians must seek to establish the Kingdom of God on a world-wide scale through methods of international righteousness and helpfulness. Nations become friendly only by doing deeds of good-will for each other. Treaties of peace and arbitration are well, but they are not enough. Promises not to declare war until time has elapsed for a commission to investigate and report are thoroughly worth while. They are not, however, adequate substitutes for active good-will and mutual confidence. What the world now needs are international actions that remove now existing suspicions, distrusts, animosities, and prejudices. The following chapters are devoted to concrete suggestions as to how the Golden Rule, the Christian principle of love, may be applied to specific cases. Clergymen, priests, teachers, and all leaders of the churches need first of all to gain a clear vision of the character and the purpose of Jesus. We must be mastered by His conception of the Kingdom of God. We must put the emphasis of religion where Jesus Himself put it, on faith and resulting moral life. We must adopt His motives and His methods for establishing His Kingdom. The Golden Rule must replace the rule of gold in the relations of nations. If we who are the professed expounders and exponents of Christianity fail to understand or to live the most essential elements of the Christian faith, what can we expect of lay Christians? "If gold rust, what shall iron do?" If the Church is to take an important part in establishing worldpeace, the movement surely must have its source among the clergy. And it can start there only as we see the defects of our emphasis and practice in relation to Christianity and the nations. A new vision of the Christ and of the largeness of His gospel must be our first insistence. We must grasp the full meaning of the Kingdom of God. We must see it as coming here and now by the establishment of right and kindly relations between all classes of men and between nations and races. We must see that it excludes all forms of special privilege, in politics, in business, in international relations. The Kingdom does not consist in churchgoing nor in any ritual nor in any emotional experience, help ful though these may be for inspiration and spiritual culture. It consists in righteousness and justice, truth and good-will among men. These relations, moreover, we must insist, are not to be limited to neighbors and friends, but extend to every man of every class and nation and race. Any idea of a Kingdom less than this is not the Kingdom of God. God has no pet race or class or dynasty. All men are equally His children and He loves them all and desires that all shall have the fullest opportunity and the richest life possible. We need to catch some glimpse of the largeness of God's plans for men by recognizing, as Paul did, the providence of God in creating so many and so diverse races. The mystery of the races became clear to Paul when he saw that no one is complete without the rest. While God has no pet race, He nevertheless has given to each race some special character, fitting it for some special service in the human family. Race prejudice would fain have all the "inferior" races of mankind eliminated, or at least kept altogether at a distance. That evidently is not God's plan. He has better things for us, a richer life for mankind than any race could possibly produce alone. We need to recognize that as each individual has his place and value in society exactly because he is an individual, different from every other, so each race and nation can make its effective contribution to the life of the whole only as it is different from every other. Not only should the churches see this vision of the significance of the races in the Kingdom of God, but they should impart it to the world and help the world to give each race that opportunity which will enable it to make its characteristic contribution to the life of the whole. We must gain, moreover, a vital grasp on the Christian doctrine of the Atonement. We must regard it not only as a mystery to be appreciated and a doctrine to be believed, but also as a force to control life. Self-sacrificing activity of those who have for those who have not, even though it cost, and cost heavily, is the supreme teaching and practice of Christianity. This is the secret of its power. Only suffering love can redeem the world—not only the suffering love of God in Christ, but the resulting suffering love of the disciples of Jesus. The doctrine of the Atonement, rightly grasped and lived, throws new light on all man's problems. It becomes a mighty living force for the redemption of the world. For Christ's redemptive work is not complete till all His disciples have shared with Him in His suffering for the sin of the world, that they may share with Him its redemption. These fresh visions and understandings must be fearlessly and clearly taught in every church and in every land. Lay Christians no less than pastors and priests must be led to see the visions and share in the labors. Only so can they share in the victories. Indeed, only so can the victories be won and world-peace be actually established. The Christian vision, however, must find expression in man's organized life. Christian citizens must organize in order to realize their ideals for society and for all mankind. VI AN ADEQUATE ORGANIZATION OF THE V CHURCHES ISIONS and ideals as such are not adequate. They do not realize themselves. Seers of visions must make them real. They must descend from the clouds and walk the earth. In the modern world, however, realization of ideals is practicable only by deliberately organizing for the purpose. It cannot be accomplished by isolated individuals. This work, moreover, should not be left exclusively to peace societies and wealthy individuals. They have done nobly. Jurists, economists, statesmen and philanthropists have made valuable contributions to world-peace by their varied activities. In the determination of historical, economic, legal and social facts, in the suggestion of ways and means, in devising social and judicial machinery and in financing special expensive undertakings, individuals and peace societies have already rendered and may still render services of the highest importance. But the Church has its own contribution to make, a contribution of inestimable value. Without this contribution world-peace is unattainable. Church membership includes hundreds of millions of men and women already committed to righteousness and justice. They live in many lands and belong to many races. In principle the Church is a world peace society. Pastors and preachers by their very calling should inspire and lead the lay members. This is what pastors are for. If they fail to render this service in the establishment of the world-wide Kingdom of God, they fail in a vital part of their duty. What is now needed is the coördination and focusing of our vast Christian forces on the new problem con |