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Robert M. Russell 197
marvel of our age that the world does not see that its progress in
invention and manufacture has but added to the horror of its con-
flicts and that some power higher than that of man is needed to
moderate human ambition and curb human lust.
By-Products Versus Main Product
A further mark of tendency toward a Christless Christianity is the
disposition to place the emphasis of thought and effort upon the
by-products of Christianity rather than upon the main product.
The object of Christ’s coming was to lead sinful men to God. All
human woe has come through separation from God. All human
blessedness will be achieved by return to Him and fellowship with
Him. It is desirable that men shall live hygienically and that man
shall have mastery of nature’s forces for wide travel and the enjoy-
ment of all things material. These, however, together with social
reforms are the by-products of Christianity. Higher methods of
living, larger social fellowship, and international peace will all be
fostered as men individually come to know God. Our Lord recognized
this and so dealt with the individual, welcoming Nicodemus for a
midnight conference, and pouring out His fullest revelation to one
woman at the well of Jacob. One of His most earnest questions was:
"What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" He also said:
"There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." His com-
mission for world evangelization was, "Preach the Gospel to every
creature," meaning that each individual man is to be confronted
with the glad news of the heavenly Father’s love and the divine
sacrifice which opens the way of eternal life. When Christ’s commis-
sion is carried out, all phases of world blessedness follow. Saved men
become better fathers, better neighbors, better business men, better
citizens, and there is trend of world life toward kingdom righteous-
ness. Indeed, this is the shortest road for all great reforms, hence
Paul did not pause in his Gospel efforts to organize anti-slavery so-
cieties or even temperance leagues. The Gospel effort that saves the
individual will, as a by-product, save society. But in the face of all
this, we have a reversal of method and the modern cry for social
service in forms that have small reference to Christ Himself and His
message for the individual. Much settlement work takes the form
of simply planting a model aesthetic home in a demoralized community
believing that its light will dispel the darkness of sin. There is also
in these days the notion that a federation of churches into an inter-
denominational fellowship means world-redemption. "Get together,"
instead of "get to God," is the cry of modern Christendom, with for-
getfulness of the fact that a "get-together movement" without primary
thought of God gave the Babel of history and is not likely to produce
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