Elijah and Ahab

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1905

The propriety of accepting a large gift for mission purposes from Mr. John D. Rockefeller, the head of the Standard Oil Company, has caused much earnest discussion in the papers and magazines of the country. On the one side, there has been a decided protest against the use of “tainted money” or “hush money” for religious purposes, on the ground that it would involve the church to a certain degree as condoning the methods of the Standard Oil Company, an organization which has been indicted at the bar of public opinion, if not by any grand jury, for the utter disregard of righteous principles in its business affairs. On the other hand, it has been claimed that a refusal of the money would require the church to make itself a judge in Mr. Rockefeller’s case, and that to be consistent it must investigate and pass upon the character of all donors to its treasury. There has been much difference of opinion, and many instances of illogical interpretation of Scripture texts supposed to have some reference to the principles involved.

Among the many articles published upon this subject is one by Mr. W. J. Bryan, from which we take the following pertinent paragraph:—

It is hardly worth while to consider the argument that the church has no right to reject money offered to it. It would put the church in a pitiful position if it were so helpless that it could be made a partner in wrong-doing without its power to refuse. But if any preacher is afraid that he will incur responsibility by refusing to accept Mr. Rockefeller’s gifts, let him devote himself to the denunciation of the methods employed by Mr. Rockefeller, and he will not have any Rockefeller money offered to him. Let him preach the gospel of the One who, instead of attempting to absorb the wealth of others, gave himself to the world and went about doing good, and he will never be put to the test; for the men who make millions by exploitation, and then give a tithe of their plunderings to church or charity, are not likely to embarrass with their gifts those who cry out and spare not. Elijah never had to ponder whether he should receive gifts from Ahab; for the truth which he proclaimed made Ahab his bitter enemy.

The advice given in this instance might be followed to advantage in other cases. It is a soft sentimentalism growing out of a false idea of Christian sympathy which leads one to refrain from speaking out plainly and openly against a gross and notorious violation of the fundamental principles of Christianity and the perversion of plain gospel truths lest he should appear to condemn some one. The one who takes such a course will soon find himself compromising with sin itself. It was a false sympathy with Lucifer, the originator of sin, which led many of the angels to hesitate in their allegiance to the rightful King of the universe, and drew them on step by step into open rebellion.

We do not advocate harshness in dealing with those who take a wrong course. We have the greatest sympathy for those who have been overcome by temptation. We believe in using every legitimate means in the effort to restore the erring, but there came a time when it was necessary to cast Satan out of heaven. The whole work and truth of God must not be compromised in the vain endeavor to keep up an appearance of harmony with those who refuse the counsel of God. It is utterly useless and inconsistent to call upon sinners in the world to repent of and forsake sins which we overlook or excuse in sinners of influence in the church. The times now demand such a sturdy exhibition of genuine regard for right principles and the essential truths of the gospel as will admit of no compromise in any case. And above all things, the third angel’s message, which is designed to warn against putting man in the place of God, is not to be dominated by the fear of man. Those who preach this message must cry aloud and spare not, even though they should cut off their own hand or pluck out their own eye in so doing, but in it all the love of heaven must be revealed. Such a preaching of the gospel will settle many questions of policy.