What Religious Liberty Embraces
By K. C. Russell
It is a fact that many honest souls regard the question of religious liberty as dry and prosy, or as a mere political issue. There is, however, no question that is more practical than that of religious liberty. It is as practical and as essential as the gospel itself; indeed, it is the gospel, for the object of the gospel is to free men from sin. Such freedom is the highest kind of liberty. Certainly it is a religious thing to set men free from sin. Therefore this work is the work of religious liberty. Witnesses from every age can be produced to demonstrate that religious liberty has been both a practical and a personal experience to those who have received it. The most brief and comprehensive record of such witnesses will be found in Heb. 11: 24-40. It will be observed that faith was the element that these witnesses possessed, not simply a nominal or historic faith, but a soul-living, personal faith, which is evidenced by the fact that they endured the persecution, the suffering, and even death itself, to which the record shows they were subjected. It is easy to understand from the foregoing that none can be in possession of religious liberty unless he has been made free from sin, and has a personal faith in Christ. This liberty not only sustains us through the hour of severe trials, but it makes the home happy; for every member of the family who possesses this liberty will sacredly regard the rights of all other members, and will do what he can to promote their happiness. Is this true in your home? If so, you are in possession of the true liberty which manifests itself in the golden rule, which says, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” This same principle is true in the church; and it is only when it is disregarded that trouble arises there. It manifests itself in a variety of ways that may be briefly comprehended in heeding the injunction to esteem others better than themselves, in honor preferring one another. We can not carry to the world this precious gospel of religious liberty until its principles actuate us personally, in the home, and in the church. May this day mark a period in each life when he shall manifest the spirit that characterized the Author of liberty, for “if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” It is high time that all should awake, and co-operate with the Lord in giving the light on the subject of religious liberty, and thus warn the world of the threatening danger. In “Testimonies for the Church,” No. 33, page 242, is the following: “If our people continue in the listless attitude in which they have been, God can not pour upon them his Spirit. They are unprepared to co-operate with him. They are not awake to the situation, and do not realize the threatened danger. They should feel now, as never before, their need of vigilance and concerted action.” Let this day mark a period of concerted action on the part of all in the study of these heaven-born principles, and in responding to the call to assist this work by the giving of their means.