No Lordship Over Conscience

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 4, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 22.

No Lordship Over Conscience

No man or set of men is good enough to be entrusted with lordship over another's conscience. The very principle is evil; for God never designed man to be a slave to his fellow man. His design is that His children should be free,—free even to choose evil. But God has appointed no soul to enslave his fellow. His very best instructed and chosen ones said: “Not for that we have dominion [lordship] over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Cor. 1: 24. “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5: 3. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” 2 Cor. 5: 11. And even Jesus said: “And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12: 47, 48. He therefore who sets himself to judge men or conscience, sets himself above Christ, and is anti-christ.