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The Presidential Election

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 19, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 52.

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The Presidential Election

By F. M. W.

This country has entered upon a period of political discussion and consequent excitement. Probably not since the days of the Civil War has a Presidential election been more earnestly contested than the election this year will be. The contending parties have nominated excellent men as candidates. The canvass is unusually free from personalities, but great issues are involved, and there will be aroused in the discussion much bitter animosity and strife.
It is but natural that every citizen of the commonwealth should be interested in those questions which affect to a greater or less extent the prosperity of the country. Perhaps it is right that all should feel thus concerned, provided the interest in the governments of earth does not eclipse the interest which should be felt in the government and work of God. Sad indeed would it be were the temporal to supplant the eternal in the devotion and regard of any soul.
As to how Seventh-day Adventists should vote, or whether they should vote at all, is a question for every individual to determine for himself. If one of conscientious convictions desires to exercise his right of franchise, then it is his privilege to do so. On the contrary, if any one from a like motive entirely refrains from all part in the affairs of state, this likewise is his privilege. I may determine my duty, but it is not for me to act as conscience for another. I may judge myself, but it is not right for me to stand in judgment of the motive of another.
Where the question of prohibition is before the people, we have received plain, definite counsel to cast our influence by voice and pen and vote on the side of temperance reform. We are, however, definitely warned to guard ourselves against being carried away with the spirit of political discussion.
But whether it is right or wrong to take part in questions of this kind, there certainly can be no question in any mind as to the relative value of civil questions as compared with questions relating to the work of God and the salvation of souls. The earthly should not supplant the heavenly, nor the human be regarded paramount to the divine. The children of the kingdom should be careful that the spirit of political excitement, discussion, and debate does not fill their hearts and minds to the exclusion of the spirit of grace. Of this there is great danger. The representatives of God's work in the earth should ever keep in mind that the Lord is soon coming, and the world is to be warned of its impending doom. The long battle between truth and error is soon to be consummated, and this earth and our age are to witness the final scenes. We shall be participants in those scenes.
We stand in this conflict either for or against the rule of the Prince of Peace. To stand stiffly for the truth; to lift up the crucified and risen Saviour; to manifest in our lives the principles of the gospel of Christ,—this is our work as Christians. It transcends in importance every other issue which the world has ever seen. If we realize the greatness of the work and the dignity of our high and holy calling, the Book of God will have more attraction than the newspaper reports of political speeches and conventions. The words of God will appeal more sensibly than words of any political orator. Prayer will not become distasteful, nor the service of God a lifeless, meaningless ceremony. If the trend of our political interests and alliances is to lessen our love for God and our labor for souls, then better, far better, sever such relations than permit ourselves to be drawn away.
Our workers, particularly, should be careful in their teaching and personal work among the people to guard against the spirit of political discussion. They cannot become partisans in the world's strife and maintain that influence which should accompany their high calling as ambassadors of the heavenly government. Against the exercise of this spirit the servant of the Lord gave definite warning to our ministers in a communication addressed to the General Conference of 1896, and printed in No. 8 of “Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers.” She says:—
“Would we know how we may best please the Saviour? It is not in engaging in political speeches, either in or out of the pulpit. It is in considering with fear and trembling every word we utter. Where the people assemble to worship God, let not a word be spoken that shall divert the mind from the great central interest, Jesus Christ and him crucified. The third angel’s message is to be our burden of warning. The side issues are not for us to meddle with. The burden of the work is, ‘Preach the word.’ . . .”
“I was surprised as I saw men who claimed to believe the truth for this time, all excited in regard to matters—which relate to the Lord Jesus and eternal interests?—No; but they seemed to be wonderfully excited in regard to the currency. Some ministers were distinguishing themselves by weaving these subjects into their discourses. They were excitably involving themselves, taking sides in regard to these questions that the Lord did not lay upon them the burden to engage in. . . .”
“When the speaker shall in a haphazard way strike in anywhere, as the fancy takes him, when he talks politics to the people, he is mingling the common fire with the sacred. He dishonors God.”
We are coming into times of great unrest. It matters little to Satan as to the means he employs to divert our minds from the great work which God has committed to us, provided only he can accomplish his purpose. If he can fill our hearts with the spirit of partisan politics, with feelings of unwarranted sympathy for some of the participants in the great war, or with the spirit of antagonism against others of the warring nations, so that our hearts shall become charged with the spirit of the contestants, he is well pleased. Let us guard against his specious devices.
It is necessary for us to keep in touch with the great world events. We must do this in order to recognize the fulfilment of prophecy and where we are in the great stream of time. But let us seek to view the happenings of this world from the perspective of eternal things, from the standpoint of God’s great eternal purpose, and not from the standpoint of worldly statesmen and politicians.
Let the work and the truth of God and their interests be the great central truth and the all-absorbing purpose of every follower of Jesus. Then we may be assured that every other question in our consideration will assume its proper and consistent place and relationship.
F. M. W.