CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIALISM. 



83 



liable to no such charge. Since Christianity endeavours to 

 safeguard the inner freedom of every man, and to encourage the 

 formation of strong personaHties, the doctrine of Christ affords 

 ^ basis for a moraUty that at once holds out the highest ideal, 

 a,nd points out the method by which we may make progress 

 towards it. The schemes of the Socialist could only bring 

 ^bout the embodiment of current ideals of human life in forms 

 which would be too stereotyped to leave room for further 

 advance. 



Since Socialism is inconsistent with Christianity, both in its 

 aims and in the means on which it relies to attain them, there 

 can be little call for the Christian to take an active part in the 

 reconstruction of society on this ba.sis. But reconstruction is 

 hardly in sight at present ; the Socialist feels that there is still 

 much to be done in the preliminary work of clearing the 

 ground and breaking the stability of the existing social order. 

 Socialism has a destructive, as well as a constructive side. 

 Those who are unconvinced of the wisdom of socialistic 

 schemes may yet think it possible to go half-way and take an 

 active part in attacking the evils of the day in the hope that 

 sonietliing better may eventually be found to take the place of 

 existing institutions. This is the attitude of the anarchist ; 

 but it is surely impossible for any one to take this line in the name 

 of Christ ; a Christian anarchist seems almost a contradiction 

 in terms. The characteristic feature of Christ's work and life, 

 and of His commission to His followers is the fostering of what 

 is good, so that it may outgrow the evil ; He did not commend 

 the action of the Old Testament prophets in calling down fire 

 from Heaven to destroy evil, as if it were worthy of imitation. 

 He did not profess to remedy injustice in the division of an 

 inheritance, and though His followers should, of course, be good 

 citizens, and take their part with Jews, Turks, infidels and 

 others in wise attempts to suppress wrong, it is not specially 

 incumbent on the Christian, as a Christian, to denounce what 

 is evil. Omniscient insight is needed to discriminate the wlieat 

 from the tares as they grow together, and human hands are not 

 called to arrogate to themselves the power of taking vengeance 

 on guilt. If constructive socialism is different in aims and in 

 methods from Christian teaching, socialism on its destructive 

 side is wholly alien to the Christian spirit. 



As against Socialism, Christianity is to-day the most effective 

 guardian of reliance on personal energy and personal character as 

 powers which can leaven the world with good ; and those who de- 

 plore the slow progress that is made, who are in danger of losing 



