p. 3 | Political and Other Promises

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 5, 1908

Political and Other Promises

By William Ambrose Spicer

Editorial

IT is possible to be very busy in connection with the work of God without actually winning any souls unto salvation. A certain amount of administrative work is necessary, but the energies of every representative of the truth should be principally directed toward the one great object of turning men “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.” It is in this way that souls are brought to a knowledge of the truth, and adherents are won to the cause of the great Leader.

Political and Other Promises

DURING the past few weeks, representatives of various political parties have been traveling up and down the country filling the ears of the people with promises of what they would do in case they should be elected to the highest office in the gift of the nation. Years of experience have shown that in most cases the chief purpose of these promises is to secure votes, and that there is a wide difference between the promise and the fulfilment. Although this same program has been oft repeated, yet in the minds of many people there seems to linger a feeling that there is some virtue in making good promises, even though they are never fulfilled.

In the same class with these political promises are the promises which some persons of good intentions are constantly making in the line of reform. A long array of unfulfilled promises already made does not seem to deter them from repeating similar pledges, until it would sometimes appear that a considerable degree of merit is attached to the making of a promise, and pledging is substituted for performing.

The Saviour made it clear that not those who say, “Lord, Lord,” but those who do the will of God will find an entrance into the kingdom. Provision has been made for meeting this requirement, not through the weak and worthless promises of helpless humanity, but through the “exceeding great and precious promises” of Him concerning whom Abraham was “fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

A distinction should be made between pledging loyalty to fundamental principles, with a sense of dependence upon divine enlightenment for an understanding of the application of these principles and a realization of the constant need of divine power in order to reveal these principles in daily conduct, and multiplying promises concerning the petty details of human experience. The former is consistent with a spirit of freedom; the latter may become a yoke of bondage, or may foster a sense of self-righteousness.

Maintaining the Standard

THERE is a strong drift toward moral degeneracy. The old-time standards in commercial and social life have been appreciably lowered. The same evil influence is working to blunt the consciences of people and to bring about the adoption of a less high ideal in the Christian life. Such a course of conduct as would have met with an unqualified disapproval a quarter of a century ago, is now tolerated by the majority, and approved of by many. There needs to be a great quickening of the public conscience.

What is thus true in general may have a particular application among Seventh-day Adventists. In the earlier days of this movement there was manifested a consistent purpose to avoid conformity to the world, and to accept the plain instruction of the Scriptures as the actual standard in daily life. This was manifested not only in a conscientious carefulness in the observance of the Sabbath, but also in the matter of eating, drinking, and dressing. It is a serious question whether there has not been a tendency in later years to drift away from the old standard, and to accommodate more to the worldly ideals and practises. This is the natural tendency in all

reform movements, and only a spirit of watchfulness and devotion will save this movement from the same fate. All the old-time vigor of the spirit of reform should be maintained.

The Only Remedy

IT is an easy matter for the representatives of the rival political parties to call the attention of the people to the inequality in the distribution of wealth, to the oppression of the poor, to the industrial distress which has prevailed for a year or more, to the increase in the cost of living without a corresponding increase in wages, and to other evils which are prevalent. Of course each leader claims that the hope for the betterment of these conditions lies with the party which he represents; but it ought to be apparent to the unprejudiced observer that it is beyond the power of any political organization to grapple with the difficulties of the situation, and to heal the diseases of the body politic.

The present order of things is the result of causes which have been working for a long time, and no mere transfer of power to another political party or the adoption of new political policies will cure the present evils. These are the perilous times, which, according to the statement of the Scriptures, are immediately to precede the second advent of Christ. The rejection of the heaven-sent message, and the substitution of a merely human philosophy in place of revealed religion, are having their inevitable effect; and the refusal to submit to the authority of God is bearing fruit in a spirit of lawlessness and a flagrant disregard of properly constituted civil authority. The proof of this is found in the rapid increase of crime, and in the growing disregard for the rights of life and property.

There will be no general change for the better. Judgments will follow the rejection of offered mercy, and the only remedy for the present situation will be the coming of the Lord, and the setting up of his everlasting kingdom. The proclamation of the gospel message in preparation for this event holds out the only hope to individuals who may thus escape the impending ruin. The giving of the third angel’s message is, therefore, the most important work that can occupy our attention. Those who believe its warning and accept its instruction will be prepared for the things that are coming upon this world.

A Sad Loss

IN a note written while crossing the Pacific, Dr. R. Russell, our first medical missionary to Korea, says:—

There are thirty-seven missionaries on board, and only three of them believe in Christ’s soon coming.

Possibly this fairly represents the general missionary attitude. It is a sad loss to the missionary movement. The missionary development in these times is itself a sign of the approaching end. And the brightest sign within that missionary development is the rise of the advent movement with the clear message of the Lord’s soon coming.

W. A. S.