SUBSTITUTES by J. LAMONT

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 25, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 21.

SUBSTITUTES

By J. LAMONT

The human mind has always been prolific in the invention and application of substitutes. Making one thing serve the place or purpose of another is not, in and of itself, wrong; on the contrary, it is right and highly beneficial in many cases, such as the substitution of machinery for hand labor and of railway cars and steamboats for the old-fashioned means of travel. But substitution is carried too far when one party makes a change in a business or an institution, in which others are equally interested, without consulting those persons or securing their consent to such change.

This same disposition finds its way into things pertaining to the life to come, and meddles with them almost, perhaps altogether, as much as in the concerns of the present life. Here it is only evil. Look a moment. God has provided a way of salvation for poor, fallen, lost humanity. They agree to it, accepting the conditions, and thus enter into a contract with the Lord, putting themselves under solemn obligations to keep the conditions of that contract inviolate. And it would seem that a puny mortal would hardly presume to improve on the plan of the Infinite; or even make another “just as good,” that will do “just as well,” etc. This defense of substituting human ordinances and institutions for those of the unchangeable Jehovah seems to be nothing short of blasphemy.

A few examples from sacred history will the more clearly show us that God does regard this work as a great sin. Cain offered the fruits of the ground instead of a lamb. God could not accept the substitute; but said to the presumptuous worshiper, “Sin lieth at the door.” Perhaps his fruit had more intrinsic value than his brother’s lamb; yet it did not “do just as well”—did not do at all. Neither would the golden calf do as a substitute for the God of the Hebrews. Ex. 32.

A few hundred years later the image of Baal was set up, by or through which to worship. This new way soon became so popular that from the prince to the beggar all were ready to accept the substitute. And it was next to impossible to get the people to go back to the old-fashioned way—the keeping of God’s commandments. The prophet who in the name and by the authority of God urged this reform was regarded as a disturber of the peace—a troubler of the commonwealth. 1 Kings 18.

Another instance of this nefarious work is recorded in Matt. 15. The Lord’s people had substituted the gift of a sum of money to the sacred treasury for obedience and honor to parents, insisting that it would “do just as well.” But would it? did it? No; hear the withering rebuke that fell from the lips of our Lord, not upon this substitute only, but equally upon all others: “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Verses 7–9.

Unless men can get the Lord to see that their ways are better than his, or, at least, just as good, they need not expect him to accept them instead of his ways. But in the face of all this, the multitude move on, holding, cherishing, venerating the traditions which their fathers substituted for the commandments of God. History repeats itself. Every age, every century, every generation, tells the same old story—the blind lead the blind. The struggling, seething mass rush madly on. They have no time, no disposition, to hear the still small voice saying, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men.” “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”

There have always been a few who would hear. It will be so now. Who will be one of that few? J. LAMONT.