Are We Loyal? by M. Bessie De Graw

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 17, 1902

Are We Loyal?

By M. Bessie De Graw

ALL earthly governments reward loyalty. If a citizen of any country is placed in a trying position, and proves true to his native land and to his countrymen, that man is esteemed worthy of special favors. History is full of instances of loyalty.

In God’s kingdom, also, loyalty is highly honored. No man ever endured rebuke, or suffered affliction for the cause of Christ, without receiving high favors from the King of kings. Abraham became the father of the faithful because of his loyalty; Joseph was made ruler of Egypt because loyal to his Master; Daniel ruled the world from the Babylonian throne because he was true and loyal to conviction.

The church to-day needs loyal men and women, but in place of loyalty God finds many disloyal ones.

To every one has been given gifts,—to some the gift of ministry, to some the gift of teaching, and to still others the gift of healing. But whatever the talent, it is held in trust until the Master’s return, when an account must be rendered.

There are hundreds to-day proving disloyal. They claim to love God, and to believe in the near coming of Christ. With their lips they serve him, but they have God-given ability to teach, and they are allowing that ability to be used by the state, while Seventh-day Adventist children—their own brothers and sisters—are drifting away from the truth because no Christian teacher has come to their rescue.

If all the disloyal ones should be gathered together, what an army they would make,—an army which any earthly government would be ashamed to own. What can God do with these? Instead of severe punishment or banishment from the cause, he is still pleading for a return to loyalty.

To every Seventh-day Adventist who is teaching in the public schools, he sends a message begging a return to the principles of his own government. Some have unconsciously drifted into disloyalty

Because of the associations of childhood or early education, many a true-hearted Seventh-day Adventist has entered the service of the world, without realizing that this is a sign of a lack of allegiance. Persons thus caught unawares will heed the invitation to return; they will take up the banner of Prince Immanuel, which they have trailed in the dust, and holding it aloft, will proclaim to all the world that henceforth they will be true to their colors. Before the days of Christian schools, young people were not held guilty because they entered the service of the state; but to-day, when the message of Christian education is proclaimed in trumpet tones, when hundreds of teachers are needed in this and foreign lands to teach the children and youth, God no longer holds us guiltless. This is without doubt the sifting time for our teachers. Every thoroughly consecrated Christian must respond.

The tone of a letter recently received from a teacher who has had years of experience in public-school work, expressed what God wants to hear from every one who has devoted his ability to a cause less noble than his own. She says: “When I leave public-school work, I intend to do so forever, and to consecrate myself unreservedly to the cause of Christian education.”

A man who has taught over twenty years in the state schools, writes: “I do not wish to teach any longer in the public schools; for I am disgusted with the many errors contained in the text-books. Nevertheless, I am not tired of teaching, and wish a position in one of our church schools.”

These are indications that the Spirit is moving upon hearts. What a hallelujah chorus there will be when every soldier in the great army of teachers returns! Will you help swell the sound? Will you prepare to teach in a Christian school?

M. BESSIE DE GRAW.