Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 32.

“Enquire, and make search, and ask diligently.”

NOTE.—We wish those who ask questions to take particular notice: (1) Only such questions will be answered here as we believe to be of general interest and information. (2) We can not undertake to explain from four to a dozen scriptures, as in one sentence we are often requested to do. (3) Do not ask to “explain” a certain text or passage. State clearly the point in question. (4) Give full name and address, not for publication unless desired, but as evidence of good faith, and to give us the privilege of replying by letter if deemed best. (5) Unsigned communications of any kind find the quickest way to the waste-basket. (6) It is always well to inclose stamp. (7) “Foolish and unlearned questions avoid,” also those that minister to mere curiosity. (8) Study the Scriptures yourselves.

No. 616. Compulsory Laws. Luke 14:23.

PLEASE explain Luke 14:23. Does this verse not justify compulsory Sunday observance, in fact, any kind of a law that will compel sinners to recognize the commandments of God? J. S. W.

No; no passage of Scripture contradicts the “choose” of Deut. 30:19, or the “whosoever will” of Rev. 22:17. The whole idea of Luke 14:12-24 is that of invitation. Compel them to come in is to urge them, to so forcibly set before them the invitation, in Christ’s way, that they will hear his servants, even as they did him. There is no law for Sunday in the Bible except that which provides for work which may be done on that day. God has a Sabbath which he has commanded, but he compels no one to observe it. His servants “persuade” and “beseech.” 2 Cor. 5:11, 19, 20. Men can compel men to outwardly recognize their laws, but never God’s laws. He only recognizes God’s laws who loves God. But human force can not compel love.

No. 617. Whither Is the World Tending?

IS IT the belief of the Seventh-day Adventists that the world is growing worse? If so, upon what is the belief founded? E. R.

In judging the moral condition of mankind, two things must be taken into account: (1) What God requires, and (2) the light he has given. Judged by what God requires, it has ever been true that the world, the unregenerate, have been at enmity with God’s law. Sin has assumed varied front and form in different ages of the world; but its essential nature has been the same. Apart from the Gospel and its restraining influence, we have a true picture of the world in Rom. 1:28-32. The second chapter of Romans shows that the unregenerate Jew was guilty of the same things, because possessed by the same nature. Therefore the world, as the world, in a general way may be spoken of as ever the same.

The apostasy is on the part of the church, and the weakening of her restraining influence over the world. High profession amounts to nothing; what God requires is corresponding works. No profession could be made higher than that of the Jewish Church, yet they crucified the Christ of God, whose blameless life and blessed teaching condemned their sins. In their place he ordained a church pure in character, wedded only to him, looking only to him and his Word for all her needs. Yet he foretold us himself, and by prophet and apostle, that that church would apostatize, unite in fornication with the world, and would, under a “form of godliness,” be guilty of the same sins he charges to the world, in Rom. 1:28-32. Compare with 2 Tim. 3:1-5. For other scriptures among many, see the following: Matt. 13:23; 24:11, 12, 37-39; Luke 17:26-30; 18:8; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Tim. 3:13; 4:3, 4; James 4:1-4; 2 Peter 3:1-5; Revelation, chapters 17, 18. These very things are seen in the churches to-day. Mark the love of the world and the love for God as required of him. Matt. 22:37-40. Mark the amount given for the pleasures of the world, and the comparatively little given for the salvation of souls. Mark the turning from the Word of God and the exaltation of science and tradition. Mark the turning from her husband, Christ, and the turning to the State, committing fornication with the world. In departing from God she has lost her power over the world. These are but a few of the reasons why we believe that the moral state of the world, as compared with the wonderful light shining out from the Word of God, is constantly retrograding.

No. 618. Angels and Spirits of the Dead.

Does Rev. 22:8, 9 teach (1) that angels and men are the same race of beings; (2) Are angels (as Spiritualists affirm) the spirits of departed friends? ENQUIRER AFTER TRUTH.

1. No. John knew that the angel was above him, and thought him worthy of worship. The angel answers, “See thou do it not; for I am thy fellow-servant, and [the fellow-servant] of thy brethren the prophets, and [the fellow-servant] of them which keep the sayings of this Book; worship God.” The Revised Version reads better: “I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them which keep the words of this book.” That is, they were both servants of the one God.

2. Angels are not the spirits of the dead, but are a distinct order of beings; for (a) they existed before man was made upon the earth (Job 38:4-7), for they then sang together; (b) they were doing service for God before man died (Gen. 3:24), cherubim are an order of angels; (c) they are ministering spirits higher than man in the order of creation (Heb. 1:14; Ps. 8:5). “The dead know not anything.” “Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished.” Eccl. 9:5, 6.

No. 619. The Tithing and Debts.

(1) If one has gone in debt for schooling, should he pay tithes while earning money to pay that debt and resume school? (2) What is meant by, “Owe no man anything,” etc.? A TRUTH-SEEKER.

1. The tithe, or a tenth part, “is the Lord’s.” Lev. 27:30. Which tenth?—Evidently the first. We are in partnership with God. He gives us six-sevenths of the time for us to use as we deem best to his glory, and he reserves one-seventh to himself, to be observed as he commands. Ex. 20:8-11; Isa. 58:13. Of all the money and means that come to us he gives us nine-tenths to be used in our discretion to his glory; he reserves one-tenth as his own. All debts that we contract are to be paid from our portion, not from our Partner’s. Far better would it be to render to God his own and ask him for greater blessings. If we had a partner in a store, we would not take a part or all of his dividend to pay our debts, even tho it were in our hands. That would be embezzlement. “Will a man rob God?” Read Mal. 3:8-10.

2. “Owe no man anything” means, we have no doubt, just what it says. God would not have his servants bound even by earthly ties so that they will be fettered in spiritual work thereby. But if we are in debt, he will not forsake us. Let us labor to pay it. He who did not believe in the obligation would not pay a debt unless obliged by law or policy.