Forbid Them Not by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 10, 1910

Forbid Them Not

By F. M. W.

IN the Lord's providence there is going to the world a great movement denominated the third angel's message. It is calling out from all nations and kindreds, from all churches and communions, a people who will be prepared to meet the Lord when he comes. This movement is the greatest movement in the world to-day. As such, it will eventually embrace every true movement for good, and every one that loves the good.

This movement is broad enough and comprehensive enough to give full exercise to the talents of every man and woman who recognizes its claims; and the undivided support of all these it should receive. At the same time there are many men and women in every land who have not a knowledge of this movement, but who to the extent of the light they possess are endeavoring to promote the cause of truth and righteousness to the best of their ability. This fact

should be borne in mind by the advocates of this message.

While we may confidently believe that God is leading us; while we may rejoice in a knowledge of the truth for these last days which he has given us, at the same time, it is not for us to discount the worthy efforts of men and women who may not be associated with us, but who are doing a truly good work for God. If we ignore this fact, it will only lead to denominational egotism and self-righteousness on our part. Our attitude toward these men and women should not be one of antagonism. It should be one rather of kindly Christian courtesy.

Why should we antagonize one who is doing the best he knows, but yet who may not possess the fulness of light which we ourselves have? Rather we should pray God to bless his efforts, and lead him into greater fulness of light. This was the attitude which Paul sustained toward Apollos when he found him preaching the baptism of John.

There is danger always in the carrying of a great message of reform, that its adherents will feel that their work primarily is to tear down error, instead of to build up truth. There is danger that they will put a greater emphasis upon the negative side of the message they bear than upon its positive features. This should not be so in our work.

The great threefold message which we are giving to the world possesses three prominent characteristics: (1) It calls upon mankind to fear God and give glory to him and worship the Creator of the heavens and earth, in view of the solemn fact that the hour of his judgment is come. (2) In consequence of the rejection of this truth by the professed church it proclaims, not exultingly, but in sadness and sorrow, the fact of Babylon's fall. (3) As Babylon continues in her downward course, forsaking the truth and establishing a system of state religion, the message warns against the worship of this false system, symbolized by the beast and his image. As the result of the giving of this message, there is developed a people which keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

In the threefold proclamation, the positive truth is to be carried in the forefront, and the primary way in which the warning is to be sounded against apostasy is by the proclamation of the plain, positive, upbuilding truth of God. In other words, it is not the work of the advocates of this message to fight Catholics, to fight politico-religious reformers, or to hold up to ridicule the false doctrines of their brethren of other churches. The work of this movement is to proclaim the positive upbuilding, saving truth of God, to bring men and women to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In so far as it is necessary in doing this work to expose the sophistries of Satan, and the delusion of false teaching, in order that men and women may be freed from the thralldom of sin, such work is a part of the legitimate message, but in doing that, great care should be used to strike against the error rather than the man or woman holding the error. While we seek to decry the error which we see around us, let us be careful not to place ourselves in an attitude where we will decry every effort that is made outside of our own numbers, and impute wrong motives to others who may be laboring as earnestly and zealously for the cause of truth, as they understand it, as we ourselves.

The great Master Worker teaches us these principles. “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto them, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”

With a solemn sense of our great responsibility, and of the importance of the message committed to us, we are to move among men. Love for souls should actuate every relationship. No spirit of egotism or self-righteousness should fill our hearts, but a humble dependence upon God, fearful lest we shall fail to exemplify the sweetness and the Christian charity of the holy truth we profess. Maintaining the integrity of our own work, and with no lowering of its standard or compromising of its character, we should stand ready to see the good in our fellows of whatever name or affiliation, and recognize the Christian spirit which prompts their labor. This will form a bond of union and an effective relationship which will make far more potent our endeavors to help them than will an attitude of hostility toward them or unkind judgment on our part.

F. M. W.