EDITORIAL
"Is A Roman Catholic Qualified For Public Office," is the title of a pamphlet which came to my attention recently. It is written up in the question and answer style, with the American public asking the questions and the Roman Catholic Church supplying the answers.
I am quoting below a few of these significant questions and answers. After you have read them I will let you answer for yourself the question, "Is a Roman Catholic qualified for public office?"
QUESTION -- What will happen if the Pope eventually "takes over" through Catholic politicians in the U.S. as he has already taken over in Spain, Italy, Colombia and many other Catholic dominated countries?
CATHOLIC ANSWER -- "You ask, if the Pope were Lord of this land and you were in a minority, what would he do to you? That, we say, would entirely depend upon circumstances. If it would benefit the cause of Catholicism, he would tolerate you; if expedient, he would imprison or banish you, probably he might hang you. But, be assured of one thing, he would never tolerate you for the sake of your glorious principles of civil and religious liberty."
-- Pope Pius IX, in the allocution of September, 1851
QUESTION -- What is the Roman Catholic viewpoint of Democracy?
CATHOLIC ANSWER -- "Democracy is a mischievous dream wherever the Catholic Church does not predominate to inspire the people with reverence and to teach and accustom them to obedience to authority."
-- Brownson's Review, writings endorsed by 24 Bishops
QUESTION -- "Freedom" and "America" are almost synonymous words. "Let Freedom Ring" has been written into our National Anthem and is part of our American Heritage. Does the Roman Hierarchy grant this?
CATHOLIC ANSWER -- "It is quite unlawful to demand, to defend, or to grant unconditional freedom of thought, of speech, of writing, or of worship."
-- Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical - "Human Liberty"
QUESTION -- Does the Catholic Church recognize the rights of all, without distinction?
CATHOLIC ANSWER -- "Protestantism of every form has not, and never can have, any rights where Catholicity is triumphant."
-- Brownson's Quarterly Review
QUESTION -- How does the Roman Catholic Church define freedom of religion which it sometimes says it believes in and sometimes not?
CATHOLIC ANSWER -- "Freedom of Worship: The inalienable right of all men to worship God according to the teaching of the Catholic Church."
-- Catholic Dictionary
QUESTION -- Why are Catholic Church officials in the United States relatively silent concerning their intolerance of Protestants and other religious groups at this time--are they weakening or changing their minds?
CATHOLIC ANSWERS -- "Religious Liberty is merely endured until the opposite can be carried into effect without peril to the Catholic Church."
-- Rt. Rev. O'Conner, Bishop of Pittsburgh
"If Catholics ever gain a sufficient numerical majority in this country, religious freedom is at an end. So our enemies say, so we believe."
-- The Shepherd of the Valley, journal of the late Bishop of St. Louis
Yours in His service,
Arthur E. Gordon, Editor
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While unbelief sees only the difficulties, faith sees God between itself and them. -- Hudson Taylor
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Hindrances that are not removed are safeguards.
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The delay in the answer to your prayer may be needed
to make you ready to receive it.
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Dear Shut-In . . .
EXCERPTS from
LILLIAN'S LETTERS
In a recent periodical from "The Shut-Ins Look Up Fellowship," they told about "an elderly woman who, when asked her secret for having so many friends, answered: ' I'se allus mighty careful to stop and taste any words 'fore I let them pass my teeth.' Have you ever thought of words as having taste? They have. Some are sweet, some sour, some bitter, some salty or spicy, and some flat."
Some are even cold, lukewarm, burning hot, some just right.
Words are shared. This can result in several things: shock (perhaps fatal shock, spiritually speaking), delight, refreshing, reviving, strengthening.
Words create their own atmosphere, the way you relish and use them brings appeal to others' appetites. Will it be good for them to partake, to enjoy, to thrive in, or on?
Words do not originate in the mouth, but in the heart. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," Matthew 12:30. A heart full of love (God's love, Christ-likeness) will not prompt the mouth to utter sarcastic, bitter or cruel words.
Oh that we would remember that to take back words is as easy as
re-collecting a bag of feathers shaken out in a brisk wind. It's practically impossible.
The thoughtless, carefree, or thoughtful words have their lasting reward. Let's weigh words. Our mission is to help, not hinder; to restore, not destroy.
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A couple other bits I want to share with you.
NEED -- plus -- FAITH -- equals -- SUPPLY.
Then a bit on Inward Peace. "Whatsoever things are . . . lovely . . . think on these things."
We cannot be kept in peace if we continually think unlovely thoughts.
Therefore we are told to think of the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, and virtuous. If we think of Him, we shall think lovely thoughts, because He is the Altogether Lovely One.
Seems to me this is worthy of a bit of thought and action.
Miss Lillian Butt suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Before her illness she was a nurse.
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Poetry Day
(In a recent letter from Lucy-Leone Marach I was reminded that October 15 is Poetry Day, throughout the U.S.A. Miss Marach enclosed with her letter some of her own poetry. three of these appear below.)
LESSONS IN FAITH
(II Thessalonians 3:10; Hebrews 12:10-11)
I thank Thee Lord, for never ending pain,
For chastening is Thy way to achieve
The fruits of righteousness I could attain
No other way; pain taught me to believe.
I, therefore, thank Thee Lord, for every trial
That comes to me, for it is Thy own way
Of making every lonely, grief-filled mile
A time of fellowship, a time to pray.
I wonder, would we ever turn to God
If life moved smoothly, as a peaceful stream?
No, God must chasten with a heavy rod;
Our hearts must ache, our need must be extreme.
I praise Thee Lord, that pain like a swift wraith
Perfects that which is lacking in my faith.
BEFORE THEY CALL
(Isaiah 65:24)
"God's love is wonderful," I often see
Large-lettered on a Christian motto plaque;
It did not mean so very much to me
Until one day, when with a swift attack,
Disease became a foe too fierce to bear.
Clutched by the hand of pain I battled fear,
Too ill to cry aloud I breathed a prayer
And found my loving Saviour standing near.
How good it is to have a someone strong
To lean upon for strength when ill and weak.
His great omniscent love reflects a song
Upon my lips, when yet too ill to speak.
O precious Lord, in Thy love I rejoice,
Before I called you heard my weary voice.
STRAIT IS THE GATE
(Matthew 7:13,14)
There stands a gate whose portals are flung wide,
The way is broad, and many enter in;
They seldom turn away, when once inside;
And multitudes traverse this road of sin.
There is a straight gate, where the saved belong,
But narrow is the way that leads us through;
But few are willing to forsake the throng,
to walk alone, although Christ waits for you.
Will you forsake the Christ who gave His life,
A ransom for the world, and choose the gate
That leads to final misery and strife?
Will you cry out against your awful fate?
No wonder that my heart is sad today,
Because so few will choose the narrow way!
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ADVENTURE IN PRAYER
By REV. HARRY W. RICKARDS, JR.
(Part V) Conclusion
(continued from the August issue)
OUR GOD abundantly blesses unity in the Spirit. We, here in the forty-eight states, have lost much of the power we could have because we are so divided; we spend so much time criticizing each other; "tearing down" each other. The missionaries on the Kenai Peninsula have come together and formed along with many believers there, the Kenai Peninsula Fellowship.
One of their efforts have been a summer camp for young people. God has marvelously blessed and they have seen many saved through this united effort. The location was a beautiful eighty acres of pine land situated around a lovely lake. But the location was all they had.
Our ladies, who visited the camp site a week before we men did, turned to the missionary and said, "Where is it?" The missionary answered, "Right here!" They were in the middle of nothing but some pines, in the center of which a clearing had been made. I wondered how they would be ready to open a camp in just a few days.
Dear Christian friend, it would have thrilled your heart, and perhaps taught you some lessons to watch those missionaries and a few interested Christians pitch in and work to put that camp together. Missionaries appeared with hammer and saw and worked through the daylight hours (there were only two hours of darkness a night while we were there.)
Their wives were continually running here and there with food, water, tools, and helping in every way possible. Nothing was too great a sacrifice. Believe it or not, they went into their homes and unhooked their kitchen stoves and carried them out to the camp. I can say this without contradiction -- what was theirs was the Lord's. They emptied pocketbooks. The money sent from the states for these missionaries to live on, to use in the support of their own families, to meet their own personal needs, was freely given to put this camp together.
In a few days there were seventy-five youngsters there for the first week of camp. (Word has come to us since that fifteen of these received Christ as Saviour the first week.) The morning we arrived, youngsters were coming into camp from all directions. The Christians were working feverishly to get tents up to accommodate them as fast as they arrived. They soon ran out of folding cots and the others slept on canvas, spread out on the ground.
A canvas fly was put up. This was for the kitchen and dining room. It did not look much like a kitchen or dining room, but it served the purpose. We have heard since that bears came into the camp after we left and got into the food in the kitchen. I thought of the little elderly Christian lady who was the cook and who lived in a small tent next to the kitchen. I heard her say while I was there, "I'm afraid of the bears!" But her fear of bears did not keep her from remaining in a place of service for God.
It is a battle every step of the way. There are not enough workers -- not nearly as many as there are here at home. There is never enough money -- not nearly as much as we have here in the home churches. One missionary said to me, "It's always this way, Harry. We never have enough money. We never quite meet the need. Even our sacrifice doesn't seem to quite stretch far enough at times."
Oh, my friends, I was ashamed of my own way of life as I looked around at my Christian brothers serving the Lord in that place. I thought of the beautiful home I live in, the fine furniture, the good meals, and thought of how little was going out of my own pocketbook to get the gospel out to the "uttermost parts," in obedience to the command of my Lord.
We, at home, whether it is an individual, a family, or a church, are giving to missions what we have left over. We buy our home -- first; we furnish it with the best -- first; we buy a new car far more often that we need to -- first; we give to the building fund -- first; we buy the new organ, the new seats, the new books -- first. Missions get what is left over. We know of many missionaries who are waiting to go to the field but have no funds.
Oh, let us pray in the words of Paul -- "May God open the eyes of our understanding and may we be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, strengthened with might, by His Spirit, in the inner man." God has given us prayers like this in the Scriptures to teach us what we ought to be praying for each other, for ourselves, for our missionaries and pastors and teachers.
There were seventy-five youngsters in the camp by evening, that first day. I was to spend the week with them in teaching. That evening a telegram came from my wife's home telling us that her father was dying. We believed God would have us return. Our God had answered every prayer we had prayed. He had taken us everywhere we had asked to go. He has let us meet everyone we had asked to meet. We were reminded of that verse of Scripture: "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." There were others in the camp who could carry on with the teaching. We left camp that night at midnight to pack for our return trip home. At 3:00 a.m. we were in the car and headed for Anchorage and our plane.
Our ride home was not nearly as smooth as on our flight to Alaska. There were thunderstorms most of the way. We saw very little for there was much cloudy weather, along with rain, fog, etc. But by the time we landed in Philadelphia the weather was beautiful with some ninety degrees in temperature; quite a change from the fifty and sixty degree weather we had in Alaska.
It was good to be home again. As we stepped from the plane it was hard to realize that we had been to Alaska and back again; had flown over ten thousand miles in all kinds of weather and in every type of plane, had traveled hundreds of miles by car. We thought of the many friends we had made; the fine missionaries we had met and the far greater appreciation we had for them; the greater vision God had given us of missionary work; the little chapels on the Kenai Peninsula where we were privileged to preach Christ: the native families in whose homes we had visited.
We give all the glory and praise and honour for this trip to our wonderful Lord. Oh, how good to have a God who "goes before" you every step of the way, whether it be to Alaska, to work, to the hospital, or anywhere He may choose to lead.
From "OUR TRIP TO ALASKA," by Harry W. Rickards, Jr.; Condensed and adapted for TRIUMPH by the Editor.
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SERMON SERIES
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER
No. 14
The Christian And The Laws Of The Land
I Peter 2:13-17
History has proven that Christians generally have not been appreciated in most countries. Very often they were eyed with suspicion. On occasions they were subjected to brutal attacks from the other citizens. Somehow they have been looked upon as unworthy citizens and fit only for banishment. This is true today in many countries.
Yet the Christian is really the best citizen a country could ever hope to have. Our present text tells us why.
The Apostle Peter, writing under divine inspiration, says:
"SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN FOR THE LORD'S SAKE" (13a)--
He is saying, make yourself subject to the laws of the land. He has said that we are "strangers and pilgrims" in this world, which is true, nevertheless he calls us to subjection to this world's laws. Our homeland lies beyond the skies, yet we are to abide by the established institutions here. And this is not primarily for the sake of the government under which we live, neither for fear of punishment, but "for the Lord's sake."
Our Lord taught us to do this when He said, "Render . . . unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's." He set the example for us when He sent Peter to pay the tax collectors in answer to their question, "Doth not your master pay tribute?" "Thou shalt find a piece of money," said Jesus to Peter, "that take, and give unto them for me and thee."
Our Lord's whole life, from His incarnation to His death, demonstrates this principle of submission. The Bible says, "He humbled himself, and became obedient . . . " He came not to be ministered unto but to minister. Thus, my brethren, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake."
Note that it says "every." We need not be afraid of this blanket statement for it is qualified throughout the text. "For the Lord's sake" would exclude anything the government might demand which would go contrary to the clear teachings of our Lord.
"For the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well," (14b) again qualifies it. Peter has in mind an ideal government which justly punishes criminals and praises those who do well. Again it is qualified by the words: "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." (17) When these four things are kept together we have a happy situation. But if to honour the king means to dishonour God, then the Christian must choose between the two. And God always comes first. We must fear and reverence God even if we go against the king's wishes in doing so.
Daniel is the classic example. Daniel had always been a loyal subject of King Darius, and a high official in his cabinet. Some other members of the cabinet through subtlety had a new law established which said: "whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, except of (the) king, he shall be cast into the den of lions."
It goes without saying, Daniel had to break this law. "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed (ratified), he went into his house; and his windows being opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." The other officials got what they wanted, Daniel was cast to the lions. But we know the outcome; God delivered His servant.
The point is this: if Washington should pass a law forbidding us to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience, then we would be obliged to disobey. God does not expect us to break His ordinances to keep the ordinances of the country in which we live. When He exhorts us to obey "every ordinance of man," He excludes those which rob Him of His rightful place.
" . . . WHETHER IT BE TO THE KING, AS SUPREME . . . " (13b)--
The king in Peter's day was Nero who ruled from Rome. Yes, we are even to submit to such a rogue as he, that is, in all civil matters, not when he usurps God's authority. It wasn't too long after Peter wrote that Nero started his awful persecution of the Christians. Peter himself fell a victim to this man's fury. But, even so, when it concerns civil matters we submit for the Lord's sake.
" . . . OR UNTO GOVERNORS, AS UNTO THEM THAT ARE SENT BY HIM . . ." (14a)--
Here we have the king's representative, called a "governor." It might be likened today to our national and our state governments, although the set-up isn't quite the same. The principle is the same. We as God's children are obligated to submit to both our national and state laws. Someone may ask facetiously, "But what if the state and federal laws disagree, which one shall we obey?" I'm not going to get into that problem. But when these two bodies dissolve their differences and come up with a law that suits both, then we must submit to it.
" . . . FOR SO IS THE WILL OF GOD . . . " (15a)--
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers," says Paul, "for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." Since God sets up governments according to His will, it is His will that we submit to them. If we resist, we are resisting God. But here again it refers to just rule, "for rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil."
"Therefore ye must needs be subject, not only for (or, to avoid) wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute." Here we come back to taxes again. Why do we pay taxes? because we are afraid not to? because we have to? No, but for conscience sake -- conscience toward God, since it is He who ordains our rulers, sets them up, and since it is His will that we pay them tribute. "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." (Above quotes from Romans 13)
" . . . THAT WITH WELL DOING . . . " (15b)--
Do you want to know a practical way of doing good, of practicing what you preach? The text gives us one. "Submit to every ordinance of man." It's just as simple as that. Abide by the laws of our country and in so far as you do, you are, according to God's Word, doing well. If you obey the pedestrian laws of your city, you are a well-doer. If you don't cheat on your income tax, you are putting into practice what you preach. Can you be this practical in your "well doing?" Rather, dare you not be this practical, for this "is the will of God?"
" . . . YE MAY PUT TO SILENCE THE IGNORANCE OF FOOLISH MEN . . . " (15c)--
These men are the ones who had previously spoken against the Christians "as evildoers" (2:12). Because we no longer run with them to the old hang-outs of sin, they think it strange and speak evil of us. (4:4). From the earliest history of Christianity to the present day you can hear almost any crime laid to the charge of dedicated Christians. Nero blamed them for burning Rome. Others have accused them of cannibalism. Today they are thought to be bigoted, anti-social, and all the rest.
What can we do to combat these false charges, to prove our devotion to God and country? Only one thing to do: "submit to every ordinance of man." With this sort of "well doing ye (shall) put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."
The Greek word translated "put to silence," means, "muzzle." The good you do acts as a muzzle to the mouths of your accusers. It shows them up for what they are. They are "foolish men," or more literally, men without reason. They are agnosian men, or no-knowledge men, men bereft of knowledge. They may not seem muzzled as yet, as they berate you with every breath, labelling you an enemy of the state, a blotch on the citizenry, etc. But be assured of this, your "well doing" will one day be their undoing. These ignorant ejaculations of senseless men against us shall eventually be muzzled -- eternally muzzled.
" . . . AS FREE, AND NOT USING YOUR LIBERTY FOR A CLOAK OF MALICIOUSNESS . . . " (16a)--
"If the Son shall make you free," says John, "ye shall be free indeed." And so we are. Paul declares that we are free from sin and the law. God's people have come into a liberty in Christ that the unbelieving world knows nothing about.
But some interpret freedom wrongly. They would make liberty nothing more than license. They think they are free to do any kind of evil. Even some Christians think that their freedom in Christ exempts them from obeying the laws of the land. Nothing is farther from the truth. We are indeed free in Christ, but we use not our "liberty for a cloak of maliciousness," a cover to do evil. Actually we are free to do good and act righteously.
" . . . BUT AS THE SERVANTS OF GOD." (16b)--
What this really says is that we are free slaves -- free through Christ; slaves to God. As free Christian men and women we are bound absolutely to serve God in any command He may utter. In this particular instance He commands us to obey the laws of our rulers whom He has established in office.
Someone may not like this type of freedom, where he is a slave of God. That is his privilege. But, as with those who refuse to obey civil laws and are soon incarcerated, so with those who refuse God's commands. They find themselves not only a slave to sin and in bondage here, but also headed for the place of imprisoned and damned souls.
But "the servants of God" have experienced real freedom under their Master. Sin's power has been broken. The sting of death has been taken away. Hell has been cheated of its victims. Free to live godly in Christ Jesus are the servants of God. And free are they to inherit the Kingdom of God.
May this message inspire you to live a more consistent Christian life "for the Lord's sake." May it convict you who are not saved, and convince you that you need Jesus Christ as your own Savior.
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Never make a plan without seeking God's guidance;
never achieve a success without giving God the praise.
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