Human Confederacy Versus Trust In God by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 31, 1907

Human Confederacy Versus Trust In God

By C. M. S.

Scientists refer to different periods of the earth's history as the stone age, the bronze age, the iron age, etc. We might very appropriately denominate this age the age of confederacy. Men are confederating on every hand and on every pretext. In certain places the work of unionizing school-teachers is going forward, and from time to time we see reference made in the public press to a similar work among certain bodies of the clergy.

It is the aim of the labor element ultimately to unionize all classes of industry. The unionizing of day-laborers and mechanics is going on at a wonderful rate. The same work is now progressing among the farmers, and we receive from time to time queries as to whether Seventh-day Adventist farmers should join these unions. There is no doubt that the farmers who refuse to join these confederacies will be subjected to the same trials and persecutions that are suffered by conscientious carpenters, masons, mill hands, etc., who refuse to join the labor unions. They may even suffer the boycott at the hands of their neighbors for their refusal to confederate with these worldly forces. But in all this we must remember that it is not trials, inconveniences, or even physical suffering, that are to determine for us the course which we are to pursue. We must look into the principles that are involved, and into the admonitions of the Word of God.

In the first place, the religion of Jesus Christ is a religion of choice. The follower of Christ is always and everywhere a free moral agent. It is, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” There is nothing compulsory in the service of Christ.

When we investigate the characteristics of these confederating forces, we find an altogether different spirit at work. We find an influence going forth from these organizations which is very different from that emanating from the teachings of Jesus Christ. His was not a propaganda of force in any sense; but the unions, or confederacies, of to-day are built upon force, and by force they expect to accomplish whatever they achieve. It is carried even to the extent of strife—and most bitter strife at that; but Christ declares, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” John 18: 36. Concerning Jesus himself Inspiration speaks thus: “He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets.” Matt. 12: 19.

So he who enters the unions of this world to force the unwilling to yield to his demands, drops the spirit of the Master, and takes on the spirit of a force which is antagonistic to Christ and his purpose. The Christian warfare is the warfare of non-resistance, except, of course, in the spiritual warfare against sin. As the servants of Christ were not to fight, they can not join organizations which accomplish their purposes by carnal weapons. As Christ was not to strive nor become a disturber in the streets, his servants can not join organizations which accomplish their designs by strife, disturbance, noisy strikes, accompanied by the maiming and killing of men and the destruction of property. The two things will not mingle; they are opposed the one to the other, as much as darkness and light.

The purpose of these confederacies is that the confederated parties may protect themselves against those who have encroached upon their rights, or who they fear may do so. Therefore in these confederacies they put their trust, and in their power they confide and hope.

This is not God’s purpose for his people. The Word says: “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” Ps. 146: 3. Again: “Hope thou in God.” The prophet of God was caused to look down to the time just prior to the second coming of Christ, and saw the conditions that exist to-day; and the Lord caused him to write this admonition to his people: “Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.” Isa. 8: 12. We are told by the Saviour that in the last days men’s hearts would be “failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Because of their fear and because they have not put their trust in God, they form unions of various kinds, confederacies. But the Lord warns us against helping on these human schemes or joining in them. He also tells the world what will be the result of forming these confederacies and trusting in them: “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces. . . . Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.” Isa. 8: 9, 10. He is against the confederacies, and will bring them to naught; and those who trust in them must necessarily go down with them.

There will be a company who will put no trust in these towers of earth. They will refuse to join the confederacies.

They will be participants in that work which the Lord calls binding up the testimony and sealing the law. That makes them firm adherents of the Word of God, and keepers of the law of God, including the Sabbath. They will also be looking for the return of their Lord, as this same chapter of Isaiah points out.

Because of this stand, they are made the objects of Satan’s bitterest wrath; and the boycott, the keenest weapon of these confederacies, will be directed against them vigorously. This also the Lord has foretold in Rev. 13: 17. Thus we see that in joining unions we are allying ourselves with that power which will fight against God and his remnant people in the culmination of this great conflict. C. M. S.