Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 23, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 24.

[To Our Inquirers.—(1) The name and address of all who ask questions must accompany questions, not necessarily for publication, in token of good faith, and that we may reply by letter if thought best. All communications will be considered confidential if so desired, and no name will be published unless requested. But we have no time to give to anonymous or unsigned epistles or articles. (2) Let the questions be to the point. Do not say, “Explain Josh. 7:1-8,” but state the thing upon which help is desired. (3) Questions can not be answered immediately in this department. Sometimes it will mean a month or more of waiting. We can not reply to the same question frequently. Read answers to other questions; you may find reply to yours. (4) Members of the Bible Band will kindly enclose stamp if answer is desired by letter. Others will please enclose ten cents. This does not begin to meet expenses oftentimes. (5) “Foolish . . . questions avoid.”]

2865.—What Is Meant by the Pronouns?

Matthew 11:11 reads: “Yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he.” A.R.V. What is meant by the first “he” and also the second “he”? J. A.

The second is John the Baptist. That is very clear. “There has not risen a greater than John the Baptist, yet he that is little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This can not mean in character or mission, because our Lord has told us of the character that he possessed, and He has also told us of the great mission that he had as the herald of the Most High. What then is meant by “greater”? We should understand, simply greater in opportunity, in privilege, than was John the Baptist. John came as the messenger of Christ, a marvelous and glorious work he did. He went forth in “the spirit and power of Elijah;” multitudes listened to him; and yet he was destined to see the One whom he predicted come, His work grow greater and greater, while his own work should wane until his sun set, seemingly, in utter darkness. Yet he joyed in seeing Christ’s work increase. This he tells us in John 3:29, 30. But he who should come into the church in the fulness of light brought by our Lord and manifest through the resurrection of Christ, however small he might be,—any one who would accept of all these gracious privileges,—would have greater opportunity and blessing in this life, than did John. So the first “he” refers to whoever it may be that accepted and accepts still of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ in the fulness of light that He has given; and the second “he” refers to John.

2866.—Finished the Work.

In the American Revised Version it is said that God finished His work on the seventh day. Gen. 2:2. Does it not imply labor to finish a thing? Is not “ended” or “ceased” better? H. G.

The word “finished” seems to be a good rendering of the Hebrew in that place. It is frequently rendered “finish” elsewhere. (See Ex. 40:33; Ruth 3:18; 1 Kings 6:9, 14, 38; Ezra 6:14, et al.) “Finish” comes from the Latin finis, end. “Ended” we would have preferred. God used just a week, a period of seven days, in making the earth a home for man. The earth was not complete, its cycle of days was not complete, man’s home-period was not complete till rounded out by the crowning day of God, the memorial of His power, the sign between Himself and His people. This part of God’s work was wrought by God’s resting on the seventh day and forever establishing that day as His rest day, even as He established the earth forever. How He finished His work for man on that day is told in Gen. 2:2, 3. The making of the Sabbath was a part of the Creator’s work for man; for “the Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27.

2867.—“Lead, Kindly Light.”

I note what the SIGNS says about the hymn, “Lead, Kindly Light.” It is found in “Christ in Song.” Have the errors been eliminated in that book? I have carefully read it and do not see the errors. Will you point them out? A READER.

Yes, “Lead, Kindly Light” is in “Christ in Song,” and also in “Hymns and Tunes.” The music of Dykes, to which it is set, we believe has helped to perpetuate the poem which should never have found place in Protestant song-books. In the first place it was written by Newman when he was on the way from the Protestant Episcopal Church (or Church of England) to the Roman Catholic Church. Newman’s “kindly light” was leading him from gloom to greater gloom; from much tradition mixed with Scripture to more tradition which places Holy Scripture secondary. Newman came to that place in his experience where he could not trust in his personal relationship with God. He wanted something on which to lean, something which would set aside individual responsibility, and make another party responsible. He found this in the Roman Catholic Church. And we do not believe that the spirit of the writer when he wrote the hymn can be divorced from the words. Their influence will be to carry the spirit of the writer. We sing, and Scripturally, “Not far from home, O blessed thought;” for thus saith the Lord, “Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh;” “Know that it is near, even at the doors;” “The path of the just is as a shining light, which shineth more and more, even unto the perfect day.” Can we believe these, and then sing “I am far from home”? The “kindly light” of Newman was human tradition. Do you not want a greater, truer light, even the light of God’s word? Then what are the “angel faces” that he had “loved” and “lost awhile”?

2868.—Psalms 8: 4-8.—L.

That David refers to man in this scripture, and man in general, is evident from the fourth verse: “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” True it is that this scripture is quoted in Hebrews 2, but it is there also applied to man and to Christ Jesus, because He was made man. The argument of the first two chapters of Hebrews is that He who was one with the Father and who inherited the name of the Father, came clear down to the human level in order to save man. The quotation in Hebrews, verses 6 to 8, applies to man, and the writer truly declares: “But now we see not yet all things subjected to him,” but we do see “Him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He should taste of death for every man,” and the 11th verse declares that “both He that sanctifieth and they are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” He took upon Himself that low estate, lower than the angels, just the same as man was created, so there can be no question whatever that the scripture in the 8th psalm is a reference to man in general; but the passage is used in Hebrews to show that our Lord Himself took upon Him man’s nature.

2869.—Freemasonry and Christianity.

Should Christians belong to lodges of Freemasons or Odd Fellows? A. H. G.

We know no necessity for it. We see several reasons against it. (1) Jesus said: “I spake openly to the world; . . . and in secret have I said nothing.” John 18:20. He instructed His chosen disciples to preach “upon the housetops” what they had heard by the ear, what had been taught them in private. Matt. 10:27. God’s wondrous blessings are free to all who by faith appropriate them. He has especial regard for the poor, the weak, the needy, the infirm; but it is such people that Freemasonry and other secret societies prohibit. These secret organizations are at the best only mutual benefit associations and social clubs, life and accident insurance societies, with very high premiums and possible benefits. The extrajudicial oaths, with the oftentimes fearful and unnatural penalties, are contrary to every principle of Christianity. The benevolent acts are of necessity exercised in behalf of those who have contributed to the society or are connected by family ties to the “lodge.” Christianity on the other hand inculcates doing good to all as opportunity offers. That there are sincere believers in Christ who are Freemasons we would not for a moment deny; but to us it seems that they have an erroneous idea of true benevolence as exercised in these secret orders, and they also have a very low conception of the breadth, scope, work, and spirit which ought to be in and actuate the church of Christ. To turn from the church of Christ, from true union with Christ, to any lodge or organization, such as Freemasonry or Odd Fellows, is like turning from the cool-flowing, life-giving waters of the mountain to the brackish waters stored in the broken cisterns of men.

2870.—Fasting Forty Days.

Jesus fasted forty days and nights. Should we not do the same to follow in His steps? I. J. S.

The fact that Jesus is our example does not imply that we should do the identical things that He did. In all moral decisions, in the living out of great moral principles, He is our example. 1 John 2:6. He was absolutely submissive to the Father’s will; we should be. He rendered implicit obedience to God; so should we. Jesus fasted that He might overcome the power of appetite in the flesh and overthrow the dominion of sin in the flesh. If we had to meet all the power of darkness single-handed and alone, as did He, the forty days’ fast might be necessary. But to fast forty days just to follow Him would be works of supererogation not required by God. If we would partake of that fast, let us lay hold of Christ by faith.

“But is not fasting necessary?”—Doubtless it is. Going without physical food for a time makes us feel weak, but it clears up the mind, makes us more sensible of our frailty, more susceptible to the impression of the truth of God, and helps us more fully to realize our dependence upon God. We should learn by such fasts that as our bodily powers become weak without sufficient food, so do our spiritual natures unless fed upon God’s word. If we are gross livers, it gives opportunity for rest to various bodily functions and organs. The professed Christian who would enjoin such a duty as a fast of forty days on each disciple of Christ, would do well to feed a multitude of five thousand or raise a dead man, and then be crucified and rise again. Christ is our example in submitting to God’s will, in overcoming and walking above sin; and He is also the mighty Helper in this work. Let faith lay hold of Him, and His fast is ours.