p. 7 | PRESENT-DAY IDOLATRY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 9, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 23.

PRESENT-DAY IDOLATRY.

Forms change, but principles are eternal. Idolatry will exist as long as mankind looks to the creature instead of the Creator. Not long ago there died a woman respected by the world and loved by thousands. She was the earthly head of a multitudinous Christian band. But howsoever great and good she might have been, she certainly did not merit the fulsome praise, adoration, and worship which have been lavished upon her, mostly in the form of verse, ever since. Here are two sample stanzas of a poem containing three other similar verses. It is entitled “Our Leader”:—

“What shall we do without her? When the cheer of triumph came, Her voice rang out glad tidings, her soul set ours aflame, And the glory of a conquest can not be one-half so sweet Unless we lay the laurels of the victory at her feet.”

“What shall we do without her, our leader brave and true, When her plan is not accomplished, and there is so much to do, When our hearts are dumb with anguish, and our hope is dim and low? But we dare not pause for grieving as we face the watchful foe.”

Jesus Christ is the Christian’s leader. “One is your Master, even Christ.” God needs no one, tho He uses all who can be used. “He buries His workmen, but He carries on His work.” We need no one to aid us or lead us in His service that He does not give us; and He gives no one to aid us whom He would have obscure the light which shines from Him. If John die or live, what matters it? Follow Me, is the lesson our Lord taught His disciples for all time. John 21:21, 22. “What shall we do without her?”—“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil. 4:13. “Lay the laurels of the victory at her feet”! “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:30; 31. “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” “Therefore let no man glory in men [or women].” 1 Cor. 3:5–7, 21.

“When her plan is not accomplished”!—Neither is Christ’s plan accomplished. But He lives; and He says to all who would linger by His sepulcher or any other sepulcher: “He is not here; for He is risen. . . . He goeth before you; . . . there shall ye see Him.” “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth.” Isa. 42:4.

The above stanzas are only one of a multitude of similar laudations, which the dead, did they but know it, would repudiate. It is the old hero-worship which made men demigods among the heathen, and tutelar and patron saints in the Catholic Church. Is it not time that God’s great threefold reform message sounded out to the world: “Fear God, and give glory to HIM; for the hour of His judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” And may all of God’s people respond, “Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy.” Rev. 14:7; 15:4.

“Therefore,” again, “let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”