RESPECT FOR LAW by C. M. S.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 10, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 15.

RESPECT FOR LAW.

By C. M. S.

The condition of this world being such as it is, God recognizes the necessity for the existence of human law. “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well.” I Peter 2: 13, 14. “Honor the king,” is another injunction from the Lord. Again: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Rom. 13: 1, 2. “Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” Verse 7.

God never instituted nor recognizes the necessity for anarchy. That condition, however, began in heaven, and is now being culminated in this earth. But right at the time when that work of discord is being finished, when riot and wrath are revelling in the earth and justice standeth afar off, God sounds the warning to His children to resist temptation to anarchism. The remainder of the thirteenth chapter of Romans shows to what particular period of this world the warning above quoted has application. It is in that time when it is “high time to wake out of sleep;” it is in that period when our salvation is “nearer than when we believed;” it is at that time when it can be said that “the night is far spent,” and “the day is at hand.”

Why was such a warning given for this particular time? The answer is given in unmistakable language in every daily paper that comes to our table; for rioting and wantonness are now abroad in the land; murders and suicides are piling up at a fearful rate; the murderer or the suspected murderer is tried in the darkness by men whose brains are heated with passion, and guilty or not guilty, pays with his life for his or his executioners’ disregard for the law. Hangings and burnings at the stake in the presence of men, women, and children have been multiplying of late. The crimes with which the victims were charged were cruel crimes, malignant, fiendish crimes; but the popular disrespect for law is equally deplorable, because of its terrible influence upon those who witness such things. Crime is never cured by crime; arsenic is no antidote for arsenic; and the punishment of crime with crime is breeding criminals. Children who look upon these summary executions soon learn to imitate their elders in breaking law themselves or executing individual vengeance upon others, and hatred for the law-breaker thus becomes hatred for the law itself. The fearful prevalence of crime, as God knew it would be in these last days, was ample reason for God’s warning to the people in this generation. This admonition and the prevalence of crime now are indications both of the infallibility of God’s Word and of His loving forethought for His children. When God admonishes us, it is because admonition is necessary to our safety; and at this time when anarchy is abroad in the land, He would have His children to “walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying;” because “The night is far spent,” and “the day is at hand.”

And let us remember one thing, that while we are counseling respect for law, we do not teach that worst of all anarchy, disrespect for the law of the Infinite, by claiming the abolition of the law of God. Satan tried it in heaven, and brought discord into the whole universe of God. He is still trying it on earth, and has many valiant supporters in the pulpits of the land to-day. It is a sad thing that it is so; but it is so nevertheless. He who teaches the abrogation of God’s law is teaching the very root of all anarchy, the anarchy that brought sin into the world. Christ, speaking thru the psalmist, declares, “All Thy commandments are righteousness” (Ps. 119: 172), and, “The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting” (Ps. 119: 144). “Let God be true,” and let all His followers honor His law, setting an example to all the world in loving obedience to Him.

C. M. S.