THE LAW OF THE LAND by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 3, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 39.

THE LAW OF THE LAND.

By Editor

This is the way the Nashville, Tenn., Christian Advocate closes an article on “Our Sunday Laws,” in which the persecution of Sabbath-keepers is discussed:—

“To remain awhile in jail rather than pay a small fine may arouse the sympathy of sentimentalists, but not of men who believe that Christians for conscience’ sake ought to obey the laws of the land in which they live. Under no circumstances do good Christians disturb the peace.”

And, therefore, Daniel, the Christian prophet, who spoke by the Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1: 11), ought to have worshiped no god except Darius (Daniel 6); his three faithful companions should have bowed down to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image (Daniel 3); Paul and John, and other early Christians, should have honored heathen gods, and so saved themselves from persecution, torture, banishment, and death. This “obedience to the law of the land” would have saved from death the millions of martyrs of the Dark Ages. By all means a Christian for conscience’ sake ought to obey the law of the land when it does not conflict with the law of God, but when it does, the Bible has given a rule, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

We shall have more to say on the above, the Lord willing, next week.