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Is It Right?

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jun 18, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 25.

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Is It Right?

By I. H. Evans

The question, “Is it right?” is one that is ever present with the sincere Christian. He applies this criterion to all he does, and is continually measuring his life by this one standard. By this measuring line his conscience approves or disapproves every act or word.
The worldling is not guided by this standard in his actions. With him the question is not, “Is it right?” but rather, “Is it expedient? is it popular? is it lawful? will it bring gain?” The heathen, according to his enlightenment, is guided by the same rule of action.
But the standard of the Christian is more exalted. The Word of God is his infallible guide. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” In all the Christian does, he applies the Word of God as the rule of righteousness. If the Word approves his course, he knows it is right; if he cannot find any Scriptural authorityfor his actions, he fears they may be wrong.
The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. Its prosperity depends not upon outward show or material things. The Pharisees asked Christ when the kingdom would come, and he replied, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.” That is, it is not material; it cannot be seen with the eye. Christ said of the Father and his worship, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Just before his death he said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight.”
The pure church must ever remain separate from the world. Its power and influence for good must always be in spiritual things. Its strong men must be rich in faith, mighty in prayer, and earnest, studious exponents of the Word of God. With Paul, they must “know Him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings.”
Material things belong not to the realm of the kingdom of God. They belong to this world. Therefore, the citizens of the heavenly kingdom should heed the divine injunction: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,” ever remembering that “if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
A church devoid of spirituality will love the world, for it will be like the world. The lives of its members will be like the lives of worldlings, and they will be satisfied with material things. But the true people of God will live and toil for the establishment and enlargement of his kingdom.
Christ said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” This kingdom is in the hearts of men. It cannot consist of buildings made of brick or stone, however fair and enduring. When the disciples wished to impress upon Jesus the strength and beauty of the temple at Jerusalem, in which they took great pride, he said to them, “There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.” Some of the most magnificent church buildings to be found in the world today were built during the Dark Ages, when the church was far from God.
The Son of God has paid the debt for sin. He has broken the bands of slavery to Satan, and redeemed man from the bondage to which he had sold himself. To his people he has promised rest, joy, and peace. To the weary and heavy-laden, Jesus says, “Come unto me, . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ assures peace to his people; never does it place his church under bondage. Never does it exact more than his people can perform. The only service acceptable to God is the service of love. Debt for money is bondage unless one has ample possibilities with which to pay. One can hardly conceive of a more embarrassing condition than to be obligated for money he is not able to pay according to promise.
We search in vain for an illustration in the Word of God where God’s people have ever borrowed money with which to carry forward his work. When the Lord commanded the tabernacle to be built in the wilderness, the invitation was given to all who would give “willingly” to make an offering, and there was an abundance. When David would build a house for the Lord, he made a lifelong preparation, and then transmitted his collection of money and material to his son Solomon to build the temple to the honor and glory of God. In all the endeavors to establish the gospel in the early church, we find neither illustration nor suggestion that this was to be done on borrowed money. Paul labored with his own hands to support himself while preaching Jesus Christ; but in the many countries he visited and the large churches he established, we find no intimation that he left a debt for the believers to pay.
When God’s remnant people feel the need of extending their work, is it right that they borrow the money with which to carry it on? Is it right for a people who have been made free from the bondage of sin by the life and death of Jesus Christ, to place themselves under bondage to the enemies of Christ? “If any man love the world,” said John, “the love of the Father is not in him.” This world is in rebellion against God and his authority. Therefore, if God’s people are in debt to the world, they are in bondage to the enemies of God.
Often when unbelievers accept Christ, they find themselves in debt to the world; but what excuse can men offer for going into debt after they give their hearts to the Lord and become his children? The church with all its affiliated interests should be entirely free from money obligations. The only debt it should owe to the world is that of preaching salvation through Jesus Christ.
Is it right, then, for any man to start a work in the name of the Lord on borrowed money? If there is a work which the Lord requires done, should not the leaders place it before him in continual prayer, keep it always before God’s people, and wait for the Lord to send the means with which to undertake the work? Surely if the Lord is leading his people, he will supply the means to do his bidding; but if he be not leading, it is well that the means to start a work be lacking.
Surely it cannot be right to build and equip institutions in the name of the Lord on borrowed money; but it is right for God’s people to carry on his work in all lands without indebtedness. And this can be done—because it has been done again and again—if God’s people will be true to the Lord, and the leaders wait upon him in prayer and expectancy.
We are instructed by the spirit of prophecy to shun debt as we would shun disease. In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, we have these words:— “Debts must not be allowed to accumulate term after term. The very highest kind of education that could be given, is to shun the incurring of debt as you would shun disease. When one year after another passes, and there is no sign of diminishing the debt, but it is rather increased, a halt should be called. . . . Methods must be devised to prevent the accumulation of debt upon our institutions. The whole cause must not be made to suffer because of debt which will never be lifted unless there is an entire change, and the work is carried forward on some different basis. Let all who have acted a part in allowing this cloud of debt to cover them now feel it their duty to do what they can to remove it.” —Pages 211-213.
Is it right to violate the word of God and the warnings given us by the spirit of prophecy, in making debts? Is it right for leaders and men in responsible places to incur the condemnation of disobedience by going contrary to this instruction?
The time has come when the ministry and people should walk in obedience to the word of God in regard to incurring debt. We can find salvation from it by repentance and obedience. Christ must become our “all and in all.”
I. H. EVANS.