Facing Life

This is religion in the world, but not afraid of the world-religion meeting the world in fearless combat, conquering and overcoming it.

A scary religion, fearing for its safety and running away from things, cannot do much good in a world like this, especially at a time like this.

It was once thought that religion could not mix in worldly affairs without endangering itself; and so there was developed a type of religion that sought safety by running away from the world and keeping itself aloof from worldly life. But as we have come to understand religion better, we have learned that it does not need to run from anything-the world, the flesh or the devil.

It is a sorry sort of religion that cannot go out into practical, everyday life and stand its ground. If your religion means nothing to you in your office, or shop, or store, it means nothing to you anywhere. We talk about not mixing religion with business and politics. That is just what's the matter with the world now. If there had been more religion mixed in business and politics, the economic collapse from which the world suffers today, and the political turmoils that have overthrown so many governments, might have been averted. What is needed today, more than anything else, is a religion strong enough and bold enough to go forth into the practical world, conquering in the market place, in the counting house, in the legislative hall.

If religion belongs anywhere, it belongs everywhere. It belongs in the school as well as the church, in the laboratory as well as the sanctuary. What a field is open to religion today in the world of education and science! It is the only power that can make education and science safe for the world. Science may present some difficult questions and problems, but not for a moment should religion back away from them. Never should it back away from any problem, from any task, from any part of the world's life. This world can never be saved and made what it ought to be by a backward and cowardly religion. If religion serves the purpose it was intended to serve, it must be a vital and aggressive force in all that pertains to the well being of mankind; it must be free from repressions of timidity and fear; it must be, everywhere and in all spheres-A CONQUERING RELIGION!