Stumbling-Blocks | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 10, 1882

Stumbling-Blocks.

It was a season of deep religious interest at Spaulding. Tea parties and festivals had been forgotten, and everybody attended the revival meetings being held in one of the two churches the village contained. Many souls had been born again, and the good work was going on.

Yet, notwithstanding all this, Mr. Bruce, the good pastor, was troubled. Several of his congregation, for whom he had most fervently prayed, and strongly hoped, refused to yield: Mr. Taylor, the store-keeper, a good, honest man, but needed a living experience; Dr. Steele, who had so many opportunities for pointing sick and dying ones to the Saviour; and many others.

Most of these urged, as an excuse, the failings of Christians; but there were Bertha and William Page, children of the most active and influential members of the church—what excuse could they offer? Surely, both father and mother were exemplars of the gospel he preached. Bertha Page was a highly intelligent and amiable young lady, always ready to assist in the outward work of the church and Sunday-school, but strangely reticent whenever the subject of personal piety was broached.

Of course Mr. Bruce did not consider the shortcomings of professing Christians a sufficient reason why the unconverted should remain unconverted, but he did think cold-hearted, inconsistent believers would help on the Lord's work by becoming devoted in heart and Christ-like in life; and, accordingly, he preached a searching sermon from the text, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord."

"I do wish the minister would preach more about the joys of heaven, and not scold so much," said one.

But the sermon was one which many profitably applied only to their neighbors.

"Yes," said Mrs. Page, as she sat at the well-spread table that afternoon—for the family observed the good old-fashioned custom of having dinner and supper in one on Sunday—"Yes, a most excellent discourse. Bro. Bruce preaches good practical sermons, that people can understand, and I hope those for which this one was meant will receive it. If we would prepare the way of the Lord, we must remove everything that would hinder people from seeking him—all the stumbling-blocks. I can't wonder that Mr. Taylor thinks the religion isn't good for much that doesn't make people pay their debts. He's lost hundreds of dollars, first and last, by trusting church-members. And there's Dr. Steele. He says he can't understand why anyone expecting a mansion in Heaven can be so terribly afraid to go and possess it as Bro. Lewis is when sick. Hannah Butler pretends to feel so much concern for her husband and children; but anybody can see that she herself is keeping them back, scolding and fretting about the house from morning till night. I might name twenty other cases. Even Bro. Bruce would be more efficient if he called around oftener among the people. But then, I suppose these extra meetings will take up a good part of his time. Well, I hope the sermon to-day will be of benefit to those who need it. When Bertha and Willie want to start for the kingdom, I hope they will find no stumbling-blocks in the way."

Mr. Page was a man of few words, and knowing how well his wife liked to talk, he ate his meal in silence, simply nodding assent, now and then, to her remarks.

Two hours later, Mrs. Page lay, in the fading light of that short winter day, on the back parlor lounge, her mind filled with anxious thoughts concerning the children she loved; just such anxious thoughts as every Christian mother must have who sees her sons and daughters approaching manhood and womanhood unconverted. Many prayers had she offered for the gentle, studious Bertha, and generous, affectionate Will. What would she not be willing to give or do, she asked herself, if she might only see them numbered with the saved.

The front door opened and shut. As the folding doors were partly closed, she could not see who had entered, but she soon distinguished the voices of her son and daughter.

"I say Bert, what do you think of it, anyway? —this religion, I mean, that all the folks are making so much fuss about. If what mother says is true, we are just as good as these folks who talk so much in meeting. I wouldn't lie, or cheat, or steal. Why are not my chances of Heaven as good as theirs?"

"O Will, that's mean and cowardly; not like you at all. We have no right to neglect our duties because others are unfaithful. As for the 'chances' you speak of, there are no chances about it. I've been studying the Bible, and I find that we never can be fitted to live with Jesus and the holy angels until our hearts are made clean, and our sins forgiven, no matter how good our lives may appear."

"I suppose you are right; you almost always are, but why don't you seek this change if you believe in it? I'm always ready to follow you anywhere; I must say, though, I can't understand why mother should talk so about those she calls brethren and sisters. Think I'd keep talking about you to others if you'd done wrong? No sir! Not while you were my sister."

"That's just it, Willie. I've tried hard not to notice mother's talk, and I'm ashamed of myself that it should trouble me as it does. I've returned from meeting a great many times, feeling deeply my needs, and she would say something about the minister's peculiarities, or somebody's inconsistency, that would drive away all serious impressions, and the worst of it is, the next time I hear that person speak, I keep thinking of what mother has said. She's a good woman, and wouldn't do anything wrong for the world. All that she says may be true; but I do wish she wouldn't talk about people."

"Isn't it St. Paul who said something about telling your brother his fault between him and yourself? I'm going to learn that passage, and sometime you'll hear me quoting it, when I can without being disrespectful. Hark! there's the bell for evening service. Run and put on your things, sis, and I'll meet you in the front hall."

Again the parlor door opened and shut, and Mrs. Page knew that she was once more alone. Covering her face with her hands, she groaned in contrition. Those ten minutes had given her a revelation of which she had never dreamed. She had never meant to be unjust or unkind. Naturally a talker, she had imperceptibly formed the habit of speaking her thoughts in the family circle, and now she saw how much evil might be wrought by a few unguarded remarks.

"By God's help, I will in the future keep my tongue from evil," she murmured.

At the meeting, Mr. Bruce missed the face of Sister Page, and wondered at her absence. Her children never why she remained at home, but the strength she gained alone in prayer that evening showed itself in later life. Habit was strong, but Mrs. Page had learned to set a watch over her tongue; and rarely, if ever, was she heard again to make disparaging remarks concerning her fellow disciples.

Bertha and Willie were not converted during that revival, but before Mr. Bruce left Spaulding, his heart was gladdened by seeing them gathered into the fold.—Zion's Herald.