Worldliness in the Church
By W. M. CROTHERS
In Rev. 12:12 we read these words: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Again we read, in 2 Thess. 2:9, 10, that the coming of Christ is immediately “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness,” and from Matt. 24:24 we learn that these deceptive workings will be of a nature calculated to “deceive the very elect,” and (verse 12) that because of the abounding iniquity, “the love of many shall wax cold.” We are also told that “in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves;” and this self-love will manifest itself in covetousness, boasting, pride, blasphemy, disobedience, etc., and those who are guilty of these sins will have “a form of godliness,” but will deny “the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:1-5); and (1 Tim. 4:1) some of them “shall depart from the faith,” etc. That Satan’s wrath, in all its various manifestations, is especially directed against believers in the third angel’s message is made plain in the following words, which are found in Rev. 12:17: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus.” One of Satan’s most successful devices for seducing God’s people is to create in them a love for the attractions of the world, its wealth, honor, pleasures, pomp, fashions, dress, etc., and by this snare many of God’s people have been drawn into the pit of sin and destruction. When God brought Israel out of Egypt, he intended that they should be “an holy people unto the Lord;” the Lord chose them “to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” Deut. 14:2. He purposed that they should not conform to the habits and practises of the surrounding heathen nations, but that they should be separate and distinct, and upon this condition was based God’s promise of blessing and salvation. But with this Israel soon became dissatisfied, and in the time of Samuel they demanded that a king should be set over them that they might be “like all the nations.” 1 Sam. 8:4, 5. But in desiring a king they rejected God, who had hitherto been their king and ruler, and they soon became not only “like all the nations,” but even worse than the nations God had cast out before them. They worshiped the heathen gods, and descended to the lowest depths of moral degradation and vice. The experience of Israel is a warning for God’s people to-day. To us the command is given, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:17, 18. And of the true child of God, Jesus has said, “Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15:19); and again, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14, 16. This same truth is more emphatically stated by James in the fourth chapter of his epistle and the fourth verse: “The friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God,” while in 1 John 2:15 we read, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Love of God and love of the world can not both occupy the same heart, any more than Christ and Satan can dwell in the same sanctuary. The sixteenth verse mentions some of the things of the world in a way which implies that they are the things which appeal strongly to the child of God—the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” But notwithstanding these plain words of instruction, the church of God is not yet free from these pollutions. Far too many of those who profess to be looking and waiting for the coming Saviour desire to be like their unbelieving, worldly neighbors, and are indulging in worldly pleasures and pastimes, and following worldly customs and fashions, to an extent which makes it difficult to distinguish between them and the world; and although in direct conflict with the Word of God and the “testimony of Jesus,” which they profess to believe and teach, they are offended if spoken to about their course. Members of the church now indulge in practises which, twenty years ago, would not have been tolerated. This departure from the word and from the early practise and simplicity of advent believers is, perhaps, most conspicuous in the matter of dress and adornment. Some, through lack of knowledge, and others almost in defiance of divine instruction, are conforming to the fashion and style of the world in wearing apparel and in the use of articles of adornment, both useful and useless, which are specifically forbidden. For the instruction of those who lack knowledge, and for the admonition of those who are disregarding light, I give below quotations from, and references to, passages in the Bible and the Testimonies which should govern us in all these matters and practises. In regard to the wearing of gold and jewels we have the following instruction: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, . . . not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.” 1 Tim. 2:9. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold.” 1 Peter 3:3. Read also Isa. 3:16-24; 2:17-22. “Instead of seeking golden ornaments for the exterior, an earnest effort should be put forth to secure that wisdom which is of more value than fine gold.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IV, page 644. On page 645 we read as follows: “But many who profess to be children of God feel no scruples against conforming to the customs of the world in the wearing of gold and pearls and costly array. Those who are too conscientious to wear these things are regarded as narrow minded, superstitious, and even fanatical.” Let the entire chapter from which these quotations are taken be read. After quoting with approval Peter’s instruction as cited above, the writer says: “The mass of professed Christians utterly disregard the teachings of the apostles, and wear gold, pearls, and costly array.”—Ibid., Vol. I, page 460. Again, in Vol. IV, page 630, after quoting 1 Tim. 2:9, 10, she says, “Here the Lord, through his apostle, speaks expressly against the wearing of gold.” Concerning the wearing of rings we have the following: “That ring encircling your finger may be very plain, but it is useless, and the wearing of it has a wrong influence upon others.”—Ibid. These words are addressed both to the married and to the unmarried. But it is argued that these prohibitions apply only to things of no practical use. Let those who make this excuse read the following: “God calls upon the young to deny themselves of needless ornaments and articles of dress, even if they cost but a few dimes, and place the amount in the charity box. He also calls upon those of mature age to stop when they are examining a gold watch or chain,” etc.—Ibid., page 511. “Some have been so unfortunate as to come into possession of gold chains or pins, or both, and have shown bad taste in exhibiting them, making them conspicuous to attract attention. I can but associate these characters with the vain peacock, that displays his gorgeous feathers for admiration.”—Ibid., Vol. III, page 367. Concerning ornaments and jewelry of every kind, these words have been spoken: “To dress plainly, and abstain from the display of jewelry and ornaments of every kind is in keeping with our faith.”—Ibid., page 366. Then to display or wear any kind of jewelry or ornament, is not in keeping with our faith. In Vol. I, page 20, the servant of the Lord expresses her surprise that a sister should have been baptized and admitted to membership in the church while neglecting the apostle’s instruction regarding dress. She says: “My mind was peaceful and happy till I noticed the gold11rings glittering upon this sister’s fingers, and the large showy earrings in her ears. I then observed that her bonnet was adorned with artificial flowers, and trimmed with costly ribbons arranged in bows and puffs. My joy was dampened by this display of vanity. . . . I expected that the minister would give some whispered reproof or advice to this sister; but he was apparently regardless of her showy apparel, and no rebuke was administered.” The entire space of the REVIEW might be filled with the rebukes and warnings God has sent to his people against the display of pride and vanity, and against following the fashions of the world; yet these things are becoming more and more conspicuous and prevalent among those who profess to be the peculiar people of God. The outward display, however bad as it is on account of the influence it exerts, is a trifling matter as compared with the condition of heart from which it springs. “O the pride that was shown me of God’s professed people! It has increased from year to year, until now it is impossible to designate professed advent Sabbath-keepers from all the world around them.”—Mrs. E. G. White. The conditions now are no better than when these words were written. How long shall we disregard God’s word? “If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” Let us heed this injunction and remove the reproach from God’s cause and from his church.