A. E. PLACE by A. E. Place

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1914

A. E. PLACE

By A. E. Place

“Judge Not” — No. 8

A. E. PLACE

Each denomination believes that its way is the right way, if not the only way. Every church member who truly believes in religion and is consistent believes that his own religion is the right one. Otherwise, to be consistent, he must seek for another. It is this consistency which leads individuals to change from one denomination to another. The people known as Seventh-day Adventists would doubtless seek for some other way if they should lose faith in their present position.

It must be right for denominations or individuals to preach or teach what they believe to be the truth, but every denomination should remember that right there its rights cease, and each church member should also bear this in mind. If we pass this point, we begin to judge and condemn, and that moment we begin to lose the power of God; and he who loses the power from above will soon seek for earthly power, which ever tends toward tribunals and the Inquisition.

I look back once more, with sadness, upon a portion of my ministerial career when I waxed earnest and loud, as I judged (perhaps I should say misjudged) Catholics, National Reformers, and, in fact, all denominations that did not have the truth as I had it. More than once have I said, and with spirit, too: “They know better. Truth is not what they want. They want the right of way for their denominational car;” and to prove it I would show how they had warned all Seventh-day Adventists to “get off the track.” I have lived to see, and I believe know, that this spirit but widens the breach and deepens the chasm between us and those to whom Jesus sends us with his message. It also brings weakness, leanness, and barrenness of soul. It separates us from God.

Our present need is not theory. We have that in abundance, and it is beautiful. But we do need in greater abundance the spirit of our message. We greatly need a Spirit-filled church. We need a Spirit-filled ministry. Paul expresses it in the words, “Christ in you, the hope of glory,”—Christ in us more abundantly, raising up the fallen, opening blind eyes, looking for and binding up broken hearts, and with tenderness preaching “the acceptable year of the Lord.”

We need more ministers who are, in word and deportment, guides, not guideboards, — men who “abstain from all appearance of evil;” men who are not desirous of position or official power or of an opportunity to “take charge of the work;” but men who, forgetting themselves, yearn for souls for whom Christ gave his life.

I repeat, We may persuade men to accept a theory, but it takes the Spirit and power of Jesus Christ to bring men from darkness into light. One sanctified life is more powerful than volumes of theory or argument. An “ounce” of divine persuasion is worth more than a “pound” of judgment. Let us then with kindness and with love, freely and earnestly beseech men to be reconciled to God, and then leave the judging to God, whether they respond or not.

Jesus washed the feet of Judas, and passed him the sop at supper, yet all the time Jesus knew that Judas was a thief and would betray him. Jesus pitied the poor man, and wished to do everything in his power for him.

Jesus does not tell me your faults, neither does he tell you mine. Why are we so ready to tell the faults of others? Jesus is sending his Spirit to convince us of our sins, that we may allow him to take them all away before any one else finds them out. He will hide them behind his back, cast them “into the depths of the sea.” O, how good God is! “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”

“Blest Jesus, come and rule my heart, And make me wholly thine, That I may nevermore depart, Nor grieve thy love divine.”

San Jose, Cal.