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Editorial

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 22, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 51.

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Editorial

By Editor

Sentimentalism

THERE is a false religion of sentimentalism. It consists of about equal parts of emotional feeling, mental ecstasy, and unbalanced fervor. It rests upon no solid foundation, does not build with substantial material, and will not stand the stress and strain of storm and trial. This sentimentalism is not sturdy enough to perform any good works. It does not stand with positiveness for any essential doctrines. It leads in no reforms. It is content with the accepted standards of mediocrity, and does not wish to be disturbed in its self-satisfaction. It is a very travesty on religion.

Service

GENUINE religion means service. It is not the service of a hireling,—merely for a reward,—but it is rather the necessary expression of a life within, whose very continuance depends upon finding opportunities to reveal itself. Such service is love in a concrete form, and is the evidence of a healthy religious life. Such service is not, technically speaking, righteousness by faith, but as a matter of actual experience it is inseparably connected with this gift of righteousness. It is a revelation to the world of what it means to keep the commandments of God. It is the true method of letting the light so shine that men may see good works and glorify the Father in heaven. There is an immeasurable gap between the false religion of sentimentalism and the genuine religion which makes its possessor the servant of all.

Self-Righteousness

THERE is a constant danger that Christian service may be perverted into righteousness by works. It seems to be a difficult matter for some to maintain the difference between cherishing the life which works and working to obtain the life. By belittling, or at best passing over lightly, the value of sound doctrine and of observing the divinely ordained forms of religious worship, and by emphasizing the doing of Jesus at the expense of the teaching of Jesus, it is easy to substitute human philanthropy for Christian service, self-effort for the faith which works. The next step soon follows, and the doing of alms is advertised with a loud sound of a trumpet. Such service as this puts humanitarian reforms and principles in the place of the gospel, the benevolence of man in place of the love of God, and exalts man instead of God. There is as great a difference between true Christian service and this self-righteousness as between mere sentimentalism and true service. We must not be deceived by either sentimentalism or self-righteousness, but yield ourselves to be “servants of righteousness.”

Doing a Great Work

THIS is the day of great things. Gigantic enterprises are undertaken without hesitation, and are successfully carried through. Great ships are being built. Great railways are constructed. Great tunnels are excavated under mountains and broad streams. Great buildings tower above the sidewalks in great cities. Great subways under the streets of the overcrowded centers of population provide a means of rapid transit for the throngs of people. Great trusts control the manufacture and sale of many of the necessities of life. Great combinations of capital dominate the financial world, and make their own terms with would-be independent competitors. The leaders in all these great things are naturally regarded as great men, and in many cases, from the merely commercial standpoint, the honors are well deserved. We would not minimize the value of the service thus rendered in contributing to an advancing civilization. It can all be made to redound to the glory of God. But greater than great ships, and great railways, and great tunnels, and great buildings, and great subways is the great work of calling the world to repentance in this judgment hour, and of making ready a people prepared for the Lord. At the head of this great work is “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Its purpose is to make known “so great salvation,” the last message of salvation before the close of probation. This is the great work to which this people has been summoned, and that is the real meaning of this present missionary campaign which has been entered upon with the definite purpose of continuing it until the work is done, and the Lord comes. No other movement in the world involves such tremendous consequences. It should be given the first place in all our plans, and it should command our best efforts. Let no heart faint, and let no hand be slackened, until this great work is finished. Then we may enter into the joy of our Lord.