THE Manner of Christ's Reign

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20032, 2 September 1939, Page 13

THE Manner of Christ's Reign

THE Rev. R. B. Murray some years ago wrote a book in which he A dealt with the manner of Christ’s coming. One chapter is especially interesting and valuable at present and calls for serious and prayerful study. It is entitled “The Manner of Christ’s Reign,” and emphasises the fact that Christian people are saved and called to labour for the extension of God’s kingdom upon earth.

Christ shows in His parable of the leaven- how He meant His teaching to penetrate society until they should control the whole life of the world Some suppose that Christ is here foretelling the working of evil, and the .pread of :false doctrine in His church. It is true that leaven is used in Scripture as a type of evil, as where Jesus ays “Beware of the leaven of the firarlsees, which .is hypocrisy,” but the me symbol may be used n. different vays. For instance, the figure of a on is used to apply to Satan as a ■vuring man Her and also to Christ ’mself a.s the Lon - of the tribe of udah.

indifferent to the things that burden and embitter men’s lives. Too often those who feel men’s wrongs and are striving to remove them feel they are fighting without the sympathy and support of the church. A new life and power will come to Christianity as the whole church realises that the reason of her institution is that she may work for the growth and consummation of God’s Kingdom on earth — that is, bringing about a right social order, the rule of Christ in the affairs of mi_n. “Not Of This World” The Rev. J. Baldwin Brown, once commenting on the words of Christ, “My Kingdom is not of this world,” said: “Perhaps there is no passage of .scripture more misunderstood than Lhe3e simple words, and there is cer.ainiy no misunderstanding of Scripture which has exercised a more deirimental influence on the life and d .veJ.opment of the church. ‘My , Kingdom is not of this world’ means it is not ‘out of’ or ‘spring from this ; world.’ ” 1 D.d our Lord mean to say: “My ! K.ngdom has nothing to do with the institutions and arrangements of the worldly life of men? Caesar need fear no rivalry—no contact —as it oniy has to do with spiritual beings I and spiritual destiny? Was this Christ’s meaning? Surely not In- . rpreied in the light of all His other teaching, His meaning is that His Kingdom does not derive its origin or j authority from this world, it does not rest upon earthly foundations, nor de- j rive its inspiration from any earthly source; it does not rest upon guns and physical force, like an earthly empire, which can be overthrown when these things are absent; it is not of the world, not springing from the world in that way; it rests upon the purpose and will of God, its authority is in Christ, and its inspiration and power come down into this world from on high; it is a descent of heavenly truth and heavenly life into ! the sphere of earth. But though the j springs and sources of its influence are in heaven, it ever seeks this world I as the sphere of its influence, the field ! of its conquests, the realm of its rule. I The misconception of these words has ) led to the notion that all that belongs 1 in this earthly life of men is corrupt and corrup*ing in its nature; that if a Christian must engage in the world’s activities, buy, sell, and gain, marry and give in marriage, rule households, and take part in public affairs, lie must do it under protest, under the spur of sharp necessity, ever looking forward to the time when it will all be over. World’s Proper Business

The point of the paraibie cf the.eaven should not be lost in pressing details, and the point cf the parable -■ he way in which leaven works; it .-orks here in improving the meal, changing the heavy lump of dough into light nutritious bread, and in like manner the principles of Christ’s "•lingdom were to work ! n the world, van storming humanity from a dead umpish mass into a new humanity, o;.>! etna ted by the enlightening influence of Christ.

Leave: must be in the midst cf the ugh if it is to accmplish its work, so, he their Master, His followers, though v of the world, are yet to be in the orld, in its business, in its political

Contributed by the Ministers’ Association |

and municipal life, in its literature and science and art, and in its domestic and social life, to make a Christian nfleunce felt in all. “Ye are the salt of the earth.” How is meat to be sweetened and preserved if the sail is not brought into contact with the meat?

Christians are in the world not to shut themselves up to themselves, but in order that they may touch life at all points, and affect the body politic with Christian morality and ideals. What is more foolish and humiliating than to see Christian men before a council begging in vain for some reform, when by a little effort the Christians could have put a majority of their own number upon the same council and themselves have passed the reform they desired? Sphere of Influence Christian men should enter into every sphere of influence open to hem; it is their duty to do so; they should realise their calling to be Christ’s leaven in society, to receive from Christ of His Spirit, and then to transmit a transforming, enlightening influence in the world. The preaching of the Gospel is undoubtedly the church’s most important work, and no social efforts the church can attempt will accomplish any last.ng good unless it is based on the foundation of the Gospel of Christ. To proclaim salvation ,to perishing men .through the death, resurrection and life of the Son of God, must ever be regarded as the first great aim of he Christian church, but it is a great mistake to suppose that because of this the church must not interest itself in social reform. The great drink traffic is a standing menace to the health and happiness of men. There are many evils that poison and weaken the nation’s life, and it is a deplorable thing when tile soldiers of Christ refuse to fight against them. Nothing tends more to make men Indifferent to organised Christianity than to see its supporters apparently

But Christ uttered no disparagement against the proper business of this world. He honour d domes : c life, and wrought His first miracle at the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee. He Himself worked at a trade. He was always about amongst men, fond of luman intercourse; not hiding like a hermit, bm living in the world, living here as the light of the world, bearing His witness against the world’s evil; manifesting to it the true life of men.

Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world, but it is in this world and over this world; and it claims this world as its own. Christ did not mean the church to he ever a little band of chosen ones in the mirlsf of n host re rid and that we should be satisfied with the present position, when He cried, “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me,”