p. 9 | Christ or Diana? by GEO. O. STATES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 26, 1905

Christ or Diana?

By GEO. O. STATES

GEO. O. STATES

WHILE visiting one of my neighbors recently, and trying to interest him in the truth for our time, he remarked that he belonged to a certain order, and that the man who lived up to its teachings would be about as good as a man could be. I told him I fully agreed with him, and no doubt the man who lived up to such teachings would be as

good as man could be without Christ.

I told him that the Bible taught that we should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; and that God's people were to come out from the world and be separate; that when, years ago, I belonged to the lodge, I had sat in the lodge room and heard a man read a prayer, who, outside the lodge room, was very profane.

My heart has been made sad many times to find those who profess this message still holding on to those things when the Lord has plainly told this people that this injunction against being yoked with unbelievers refers not only to the marriage of Christians with the ungodly, but to all alliances in which the parties are brought into intimate association, and in which there is need of harmony in spirit and action.

In dealing with those who come among us belonging to these secret orders, we should be kind, realizing the pit from which we were taken, but I believe that as ministers we should be honest, and while speaking kindly, give them the plain truth.

I believe there was never a time in the history of the world when there were so many influences of this kind to draw this people from the truth. One of our neighbors recently came to our house to induce my son to unite with a lodge. My son not being at home, I told the neighbor that our church did not believe it was consistent to unite with the various orders, that they diverted the mind from Christ to the human, that all such things led one to trust in the human, and not in God. From a human standpoint there are doubtless many things about such affiliations that are very pleasing and apparently advantageous, yet from a personal experience I know that these things divert the mind from the message that God has given this people. I believe this to be one of Satan's means of drawing souls from the truth. I know that during the time I was connected with the lodge, I had but little interest in the third angel's message, and many times I walked several miles to lodge when I would not have gone that many blocks to the prayer-meeting. I positively know that these things divert our interest from the truth. How can those who profess to believe a truth that is to cleanse us from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit spend hours in the lodge room with men who smoke and chew until the room is filled with smoke, and the floor covered with tobacco juice? Verily it is not in keeping with the solemn truth for this time. The man who believes this truth can not advance in the message while in these associations; for many of his associates do not even believe in a God.

Through the spirit of prophecy the Lord has told this people that “Christ will never lead his followers to take upon themselves vows that will unite them with men who have no connection with God, who are not under the controlling influence of his Holy Spirit.” If God does not lead us to unite with these orders, then it follows that Satan is the one that is at work, and we as a people must resist his deceptive influence.

“Fraud runs all through these secret associations, and none can be bound up with them and be free men before God and heaven. The moral nature is dragged down to that which God pronounces unjust, which is contrary to his will and his commandments.”

“These societies offer some advantages, which, from a human point of view, appear like great blessings, but not so when judged by the Lord's measurement. Behind their apparent advantages are concealed satanic agencies. The larger the income drawn into the treasury, the more and deeper is the evil. The ungodly gain which has enriched these societies will, when traced out in all its bearings, be seen to be a curse.”

My brethren, how can any of us remain in these orders when God has spoken so plainly? When we trust in these orders, we are not trusting in the Lord, and money paid out might far better be put into the cause of God. When I joined the lodge years ago, I was in a backslidden state, but I never paid my dues without hearing the good Spirit whisper, “This might better be put in the cause of God.” During the time I was a member of the lodge, I gave time and money that might far better have been given to the Lord. I am writing very plainly; for I believe the time has come for every Seventh-day Adventist to take his stand fully on every point of the message, and if we do, it will cause us to cut loose from everything that retards our advancement in the truth.

As ministers we should kindly give instruction on this point to those who come into the truth through our labors; for I know that from now on we shall have more and more of these things to meet; and when God speaks so plainly through the spirit of prophecy, we can not be clear before him unless we heed his counsel. May the great Head of the church grant that we all may see eye to eye on every point of the message.