al social
theory. It means justice, freedom, fraternity, labor, joy. Let each social
system and movement show us what it can contribute and we will weigh its
claims. We want the old ideal defined in modern terms, in the terms of
modern democracy, of the power machine, of international peace, and of
evolutionary science. But we want to embrace it with the old religious
faith and ardor, so that we can pray over it.

This great task of establishing a righteous social life on earth embraces
all minor tasks in so far as they are good. The mother who tries to make a
good home, the farmer who feeds the people, the teacher who trains them,
the scientist who gets the facts for all, the merchant, the workingman,
the artist, the leader in play--they are all contributing to the Kingdom,
provided they view their work so, and are trying to put an evolutionary
_plus_ into it which will lift the total nearer to the divine will. The
Kingdom is the supreme task, and all small tasks are part of it. That
gives every man a place in it who works--where is the idler's place in
it?--and it hallows all good work with religious glory.

It may seem as if this social aim of religion may depreciate the aim of
developing our own personality and of saving our souls. It ought not.
Sometimes it does for a time. But we are each so enormously important to
ourselves that we are not likely to forget ourselves, and the practical
struggle with temptation and sorrow will teach us to seek strength for our
personal needs from Christ. In time we shall learn to say with Jesus, "For
their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified." In time
surrender to the Kingdom ideal, toil for it, self-denial for it,
cooperation with others for it, will have the strongest kind of reactions
on ourselves and our moral fiber. Gymnasium work is all right, but real
work in the open is better. We are most durably saved by putting in hard
work for the Kingdom of God.

In every great task a religious man is consciously thrown back on the aid
of God--most of all in the greatest task of all. Eternal powers are
cooperating with our puny efforts. That alone guarantees that our work is
not wasted. We plant and water, but unless God's sun shines upon it, our
work is nothing. He is a fool that is not reverent and humble. We sorely
need this faith in the collaboration and patience of God today when so
much of the best spiritual achievement of mankind is swept away, and we
see