An Important Lesson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1909

An Important Lesson

THOSE professed ministers of the gospel of Christ who are clamoring for recognition in the political field, and who often show themselves partizans in politics, should read and ponder upon Canon Fausset's clear statement of the principles involved in this question:—

The refusal of our Lord to intermeddle with the affairs of this life as a judge, carries with it a great lesson to all religious teachers. Immense indeed is the influence of religious teachers in the external relations of life, but only when it is indirectly exercised; whenever they interfere directly with secular and political matters, the spell of that influence is broken. If they take a side—as in that case they must do—those on the opposite side can not help regarding them as adversaries, and this necessarily diminishes, if it does not destroy, with such at least, their professional influence or the weight they would otherwise carry in their own proper sphere. Whereas, when the ministers of Christ keep themselves aloof from secular and political parties, abiding within their proper sphere, all parties look up to them, and they are often the means of mollifying the bitterest feelings and reconciling the most conflicting interests. Will the servants of the church of God weigh this?