THE OTHER SIDE IS THE WRONG SIDE.
By Editor
A GENTLEMAN in Glenwood Springs, Col., writes us that he has read the SIGNS, and especially notes the department, “How They Became Convinced,” and says: “I don’t suppose that you would publish the other side if you were paid for it.” And then to let us know what he means by the other side, he continues:— However to show you that there is another side I will quote you a passage or two, and dare you to publish them. You see I have none too good an opinion of your honesty. Rom. 14:5, 6: “One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.” And so on to the end of the chapter. Again:— Col. 2:16: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath.” Yours truly, THOS. KENDRICK. P. S. If you do publish this please send me a copy. 1. After all Mr. Kendrick does seem to think that we will dare to publish these scriptures. 2. There has not been a year since this paper was published, in all probability, that these texts have not been printed one or more times. 3. We knew them well before we knew the blessedness of the Sabbath; and turned and twisted them every way we honestly could to see if there was not in them a release from seventh-day observance. But God was better than our fears. We did not then know the beauty of God’s consistent truth (Ps. 138:2; John 17:17), the inviolability of His holy law (Ps. 111:7, 8; Luke 16:17), the power of His creation and redemption for which the Sabbath is a memorial and a sign (Ex. 20:8–11; Eze. 20:12), and the blessedness there is of keeping God’s commandments in Christ Jesus (1 John 5:3; Rev. 22:14). 4. There is, therefore, no other side to the Sabbath question but the wrong side. Does Mr. Kendrick wish to stand on that side? 5. The texts cited are not against other texts. Truth is not set against truth. Rom. 14:5, 6 is not against Ex. 20:8–11, neither is Col. 2:16. God is one and eternal. God’s law is one and eternal. 6. On account of sin God has given object lessons to teach men how evil sin is, how it may be put away, and how they may be saved from it through the only Saviour, Jesus Christ. In order properly to regulate these object lessons—the sacrifices, offerings, types and shadows which pointed to Christ—God gave rules and laws and commandments. These were not against His great law of character, but they were distinct from it in nature. They often seem to twine about it as the vine the oak. The vine may be planted for a purpose and time; its life may be naturally limited to a few years. While it lives, it may seem a part of the oak; but when it dies, the oak lives on. So with the laws and commandments concerning sacrifices; they were only for a time, standing in meats and drinks, in divers washings and carnal ordinances, till Christ came. Then type met antitype; then shadow met substance; then prophecy was lost in fact. 7. Now as to the texts in question:— (a.) Rom. 14:5, 6. The church in Rome was composed of persons made up of both Jew and Gentile by birth. Those who were converted from the Gentiles broke from all vain ceremonialism. The weak ones who came from the Jews still observed the yearly feasts and fasts, such as the Passover, etc., the seven yearly feasts which God gave “beside the Sabbaths of the Lord.” See Leviticus 23, and note verse 38. Differences would naturally arise, and that part of the apostle’s letter found in the 14th chapter was given for a twofold purpose, not to teach men that days were binding or not binding, but that every one should put on the Lord Jesus Christ, as every one must give an account to God before His judgment seat, and that they should “not therefore judge one another any more.” It is to God we must live or die. No service is acceptable to God unless he who renders it is “persuaded in his own mind.” (b.) Col. 2:16. If Mr. Kendrick had quoted the whole text it would have explained itself. It is parallel to that in Romans. Christ had received the brethren in Colosse, and they were made “complete in Him.” “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon or of the sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” There is nothing shadowy about the seventh-day Sabbath. It was before sin entered. It exists even in the new earth state. Isa. 66:22, 23. Note the yearly sabbath days in the ceremonial year (Lev. 23:7, 21, 24, 25, 32); but when Christ came all these were met in Him. But the great worship day of God, speaking of His infinite power to create, His eternal love to redeem, abides forever. What the SIGNS desires are the reasons which lead men to obey God, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, not those things by which they would fain escape solemn duty. We are sure if any man will analyze in the light of God his motives, he will find the sole reason for disobeying God in Rom. 8:7. He will find the motive power of obedience in Gal. 5:6; 1 John 5:3. Now we would not for anything compel, or seek to compel Mr. Kendrick to obey God or follow Christ; for this is beyond the power of men to do. We invite him to taste and see that the Lord is good; but to do this he must be fully persuaded in his own mind. No other service is acceptable to God.