Antagonistic Principles

The controversy between the Christians and the Romans was not a dispute between individuals, nor a contention between sects or parties. It was a contest between antagonistic principles. It was, therefore, a contest between Christianity and Rome, rather than between Christians and Romans. On the part of Christianity it was the proclamation of the principle of genuine liberty; on the part of Rome it was the assertion of the principle of genuine despotism. On the part of Christianity it was the assertion of the principle of the rights of conscience and of the individual; on the part of Rome it was the assertion of the principle of absolute absorption of the individual, and his total enslavement to the state in all things, divine as well as human, religious as well as civil.

Jesus Christ came into this world to set men free, and to plant in their souls the genuine principle of liberty,–liberty actuated by love, liberty too honourable to allow itself to be used as an occasion to the flesh or for a cloak of maliciousness, liberty led by a conscience free from all men, yet made so gentle by love that he would willingly become the servant of all, in order to bring to them the enjoyment of this same liberty. This is freedom indeed. This is the freedom which Christ gave to man; for “whom the Son makes free, is free indeed.”

In giving to men this freedom, such an infinite gift could have no other result than that which Christ intended; namely, to bind them in everlasting, unquestioning, unswerving allegiance to Him as the Royal Benefactor of the race. He thus reveals Himself to men as the Highest Good, and brings them to Himself as the manifestation of that Highest Good, and to obedience to His will as the perfection of conduct…

AMEN.

By A.T. Jones,
Submitted by
Kathleen Ross
Alberta, Canada