p. 70 | Questions by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 30, 1866

Questions.

By Editor

BRO. WHITE: Although no sincere professing Christian will raise the question, "Shall we do evil that good may come," yet it is not always so clear what is good and what is evil. Having some doubts on the following points, I will submit them to be considered in the Review:

1. Should a Seventh-day Adventist contribute of the means that God has given him for the support of the popular preaching of the gospel in the absence of any other?

2. Should a Seventh-day Adventist send his children to the Sunday-school, or take part in its management, where there is no Sabbath-school?

3. Should a people professing to be guided by the "law and the testimony," send their children to the Sabbath-school without any authority from the Scriptures for so doing?

4. Should any Christian engage in any worldly pursuit however needful and honorable, that will necessarily break down the family altar, and keep him away from his family for a week at a time?

Yours seeking for the whole truth. JOHN MCMILLAN.

Prescott, Wis.

REMARKS. We publish the above questions, not so much for the purpose of answering them, as of saying to all whom it may concern, that it is out of our power to answer such questions understandingly. We showed these queries at the time they were received to a good brother, who in his short reply so completely covered the whole ground, and so exactly expressed our own mind, that we will give his words. Said he, "I could answer those questions very readily for myself, but I cannot for another." This is so because the answer must very much depend upon circumstances of which we know nothing. We do not know, for instance, the spirit and temper of the community in which you live. We do not know what points are at issue between you. We do not know how such a step as supporting their preaching and sending your children to the Sunday-school would be regarded by them; whether as an act of consistency, or a surrender of your principles. And we do not know what disposition they would have, to take advantage of such steps to use them against you, or to embitter the minds of your children against your faith. All these things, we think, must come into the account, and according to these with the best light he can get, each person must decide these matters for himself.

In regard to the 3d and 4th questions, however, we would say, first, that we think that by all means believers should send their children to Sabbath-school where they have one, until they can find some scripture against it; and second, in the absence of the husband, it is the duty of the wife (if there is no other proper person), to keep up regular family worship. —ED.