Beating the Air | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 4, 1901

Beating the Air.

The Ministerial Association of the Sioux Falls district, M. E. Church, it seems, met recently at Hartford, and passed a series of resolutions in regard to Sunday desecration by railroad excursions, which were evidently designed to be a notable expression of Sabbatical morality on their part, and a paralyzing condemnation of the course of all those who offend against the artificial defenses that have been erected around the imaginary sacredness of the Sunday institution, but which come the nearest to formulating heavy blows against nothing, and exhausting one’s self in beating the air, of anything that has lately come under our notice. In the first place, the convention deals with Sunday as the Sabbath, which it is not; secondly, clothes it with a sacredness which it does not possess; thirdly, places it under the ægis of the divine law, to which it is not entitled; and fourthly, on these grounds, calls an excursion by a railroad the desecration of the Sabbath, but does not undertake to tell how. If there was really any Sabbath there, there would be some apparent point to the charges and arguments made; but when there is absolutely no such institution in the field which it covers, what can all the tirade against desecrating the Sabbath on this ground be but wearing one’s self out in violent agitation by beating the air?

“The proper observance of the Sabbath,” it says, “is one of the strong safeguards of a nation.” Granted that this is so; but of what possible value can such a declaration be when applied to a day which is not the Sabbath at all?

“This,” we are further told, “has demonstrated its utility as such in our own national life.” How can this be, when the nation has never once kept the Sabbath? Where, in this case, is either the demonstration or the utility? Something would be gained if we could turn the current of public expression into the use of the right terms,—if men would call only that day the Sabbath which is the Sabbath, and leave Sunday where the Scriptures leave it, to be spoken of and regarded only as a secular and working day. By this men would acquire more correct views on the subject.

“We do not seek to enforce its observance,” says this M. E. ministerial association, “from the religious point of view.” What, then, may we inquire, is the point of view? When Sunday is made to pose as the Sabbath, and when we talk of its observance as such, is there any other possible point of view but the religious one? It is regarded fraudulent and dishonest to try to secure money from another under false pretenses? Is he any less guilty who seeks to establish a system of worship under pretenses equally false?

The railroads are berated for setting such an example of lawlessness before the people? Lawlessness is a violation, or infraction, of some law. But what law is violated by not devoting Sunday to religious observances? What law, but a law on the human statute book, enacted by man? And with what face or feelings can a Protestant form a law of his own, and then demand obedience to it, as if it were divine? All such work would better be left to Dr. Antichrist.

The association calls upon all sister denominations to unite in concerted action through a representative committee, to bring to bear upon all violators of the Sunday laws all the influence possible to lead them to desist from such violation; and if that fails, then to put the matter into the hands of legislators, and urge their action in “the interest of good government” to restrain this “un-American practice” of violating the Sunday. Is there not a little confusion of ideas here? Is Sunday an American institution? In the last analysis, we are referred to the law of Sinai as the foundation of Sunday obligation; or at latest to the days of the apostles. But was America at Sinai, promulgating laws, all variation from which is “un-American”? Or did America open the gospel dispensation?

All this allusion to legislation and to law in behalf of Sunday, under every imaginable pretext, such as “good government,” “orderly society,” “morality,” and “interest for the laboring man,” shows how the idea of appealing to law to enforce religious ideas, which men have not Bible to support, is being fostered in the hearts of men, and will yet be tested in a practical manner in the religious world. The battle of religious liberty is to be fought out in this land. Human nature is as much in favor as ever of appealing to dungeon, flood, and flame to carry out its bigotry and prejudices. Look at the violence and lynch law in our land. Look at the chain gangs, fines, and imprisonments by which it has been sought to force the consciences of those who have been seeking to live according to the law of God. All should fortify their hearts to meet firmly the issue, and discipline their minds to see and clearly understand the facts and principles involved in this issue. It is no time now to lie down in indifference, or to give over our efforts. The portents of the threatening clouds gathering over our pathway cannot be misunderstood; and when, in addition to this, prophecy shows that the last struggle between truth and error will assume the very form now taking shape before our faces, it does not become us to be diverted by side issues, but to keep our eyes steadfastly fixed upon the mark to rally a people to the divine standard, who will keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. “If any man worship the Beast and his Image, . . . the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” Are we getting ready ourselves to meet the crisis now upon us, and doing what we can to help others to prepare for the same, that our skirts may be clear in the day of the Lord?