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The Result of Exclusiveness

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 8, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 6.

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The Result of Exclusiveness

By W. E. Gerald

W. E. GERALD
INSTEAD of recognizing that they had been called of God to be missionaries to other nations less favored than themselves, the Jews of old used their blessings and privileges to magnify themselves alone.
Instead of using the magnificent and imposing ceremonial of the Mosaic law as a means of knowing Christ, they construed it to be a matter of exclusiveness and separation from their fellow creatures, the Gentiles. Instead of recognizing that Jerusalem was to be a beacon-light to the oppressed and burdened of all nations, they indulged in exultation over the fact that they were the favorites of Heaven.
There is nothing that is more diametrically opposed to the mission of the loving, compassionate Redeemer than the spirit that was revealed at the mention of the word Gentile. These facts contain a solemn object-lesson for the people who have been called of God for the special gospel work of this time. To the extent that we have been blessed with more truth than have other people, are we not debtors to them? Can we fold these blessings, in any degree whatever, to our own breasts and escape a worse ruin than that which befell the Jewish people?
If a man 'seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?' If we do not recognize that our work is to be the channel for these blessings that they may flow on to others, rather than a dam to intercept them and hold them for ourselves, we shall as surely be condemned as were the Jews. This is the simple truth, and would that it might reach the soul of every individual among us who is slumbering in inaction! 'Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem; . . . shake thyself from the dust; . . . loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. Isa. 52: 1, 2.