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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 46, No. 23.

Read the full edition

Bible Religion.

By James White

Bible religion is that which when carried out in the life, accords with the teachings of the Sacred Scriptures. And this, we affirm, is the only kind of religion worth having. The Bible speaks of “our religion,” “the Jews’ religion,” “vain” religion, and of “pure religion, and undefiled before God.” The latter is what we mean by Bible religion.
The principles set forth in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are pure principles. That religion which consists in actions and devotions which have their basis in these principles is pure religion. And all who from the heart put forth such actions and devotions will attain to purity of life and character, and to a pure Heaven at last.
The words of the divine Author of our holy religion must be regarded as the correct standard of pure religion. And it is our only safe course to receive the declarations of the Son of God as meaning all they say. It is risky beyond expression to discount on the teachings of Christ. And yet if his discourses to his disciples be received as meaning word for word what they say, they will unchristianize ninety-nine of every one hundred Protestant Christians of our time.
It is only by discounting heavily on the words of the Son of God that these professed Christians make themselves believe that they are the children of the Lord. Some discount ten per cent, others twenty-five, fifty, seventy-five, and not a few, in order to find any hope of Heaven, make the liberal discount on the words of Christ of ninety-nine per cent. But we solemnly believe that these persons are making a fearful mistake. And in the final settlement they will find out to their anguish that the only safe estimate of the words of the great Teacher, is one hundred per cent, or just what he says. True religion is Bible religion, or that religion which comes up to the standard of the testimony of the great Redeemer.
Bible religion is a power in the land. The popular religion of the day, with all its vain philosophy, is powerless to move the minds and hearts of the people. Worthless converts are the fruits of a worthless gospel. All else ceases to have power on the mind and heart of the sinner, excepting the word of God. The powerless condition of the popular churches is accounted for on the ground that their standard of religion falls far below the Bible standard.
And the conviction is pressing heavily on our mind that the answer to the inquiry, “Why do Seventh-day Adventists have no more power to move the world with the stirring truths they hold?” is found in the fact that they do not come up in their practical teachings, and in their lives and church discipline, to the plain teachings of Him whom they profess to follow. The time has fully come for an earnest appeal from the word of God. In that word is power. All else is powerless. Common sinners will be lost unless the word of God is laid upon their naked consciences. Popular professors will be lost unless the word is laid on their religious life, and the deception they are under is exposed. And Seventh-day Adventists are losing their love for the plain testimony from the Bible, and they must return to their first devotion and love for the word of God, or they will make the fatal mistake which others have made before them. Probably there is no chapter in all the Bible that contains as much practical truth as is found in

MATTHEW EIGHTEEN.

Verses 1–6: “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
In briefly commenting upon these words of Christ we notice the important points:—
1. It was on the occasion of a private interview between the Lord and his disciples that these words were spoken; hence they were given for the benefit of the church.
2. While the disciples, doubtless, refer to a temporal kingdom, which they supposed Christ would establish in this world, the Lord refers both to the kingdom of grace, or to the church established in this mortal state, and to the future kingdom of glory.
3. The inquiry of the disciples, “Who shall be greatest?” is natural to the carnal mind. The intimate disciples of Christ were subject to this feeling. And they were excusable, to some extent, on account of their inexperience, and misunderstanding of the nature of the kingdom of Christ. But many of our time who have the words of Christ before them, and the sad history of those who would be lords over God’s heritage as a warning to them, are guilty of the same selfish feeling. These are hardly excusable in cherishing the carnal, selfish desire to be the greatest in the church.
4. The rebuke of the Son of God is complete. The little child, unsophisticated and confiding, in its innocence and feelings of dependence, is the beautiful emblem of the true subjects of the kingdom of grace. Such Christians lived in the time of our fathers. But in our day, infidelity in the popular garb of progression, whether with spiritualists or in those infatuated professors who hold that we are just stepping upon the borders of the golden age, points back to these confiding followers of Jesus as superstitious, credulous, and far behind the times. Would God there were more confiding, old-fashioned, humble disciples of Christ in our time, such as are illustrated by the Master, in the symbol of the innocent little child.
5. True Christians, young and old, are here called “little ones which believe in me.” These are not babes, but believing men and women, who have humbled themselves as a little child, and are truly converted. These may be plain and simple in manner, credulous and confiding, uneducated and unaccomplished, or poor and old, and yet be very precious in the sight of the Lord. He who receives one of these receives Christ. “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Verses 7–9: “Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”
Christ guards his people on every side. In the figure of the little child he would teach them simple, confiding faith; and he also warns them to be very tender of the brethren, and not to offend. But in the figure of the offending members of the body he would guard them against laxness of discipline, in retaining members in fellowship whose influence is corrupting to the whole body. On the latter we remark:—
1. The hand, the foot, and the eye represent persons. This is evident from the fact that persons are the subject of the discourse. And it will be remembered that Paul uses the several members of the human body to illustrate the members of the church of Christ. Therefore the offending hand, the offending foot, and the offending eye represent offending persons in the church.
2. All persons who shall enter the future immortal kingdom will have two hands, two feet, and two eyes. But when we apply this figure to the church all is plain. Some of the members of the church may offend, and be severed from the brotherhood, and be lost, while those that remain true to truth and duty are saved. The main body of that church enter the kingdom, while some of the members, even of those who might have been as important to the church as the hand, the foot, or the eye is to the human body, do not enter the kingdom of God.
3. As the safety of the human body sometimes depends upon amputating an affected limb, so it may be as necessary to the salvation of the church to withdraw from offending members. This important duty in church discipline is forcibly impressed upon our mind by the fact that some churches are completely blotted out by the course of those of their members who have
power to exert great influence for good or for evil.
But our Lord seems to anticipate the fact that the cutting-off process would meet the minds of the impatient and rash, and to put such on their guard, and to impress them with the value in the estimation of Heaven of the poor halting, wandering soul, he next introduces

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP.

Verses 10–14: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in Heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”
The love of the Lord for all his dear people, however humble and feeble they may appear in the eyes of the world, and his tender care for them, are the subject of this part of the discourse. They may be despised of proud and sinful men, but they are honored of high Heaven, inasmuch as they have holy angels that excel in strength to guard them, who can appear at any moment in the court of Heaven in their behalf. Please notice:—
1. The mission of the Son of God was to save lost sinners. He would have the tenderest care, and the most anxious vigilance manifested toward the weak, and those who unwittingly stray from his fold. And at the same time, for the safety of his church, he would have his people withdraw from those who persist in walking disorderly, who are fault-finding, murmuring, and rebellious.
2. There is a class of minds that wander innocently. And it is the duty of those who are stronger and see the way of life more clearly, to bear the infirmities of these weaker ones. The shepherd, leaving the ninety and nine, and going in search of the sheep that was lost, and his tender care for that one, most simple of all the flock, is an impressive lesson to the church to care for, and bear with, the weak, the simple and honest, humble ones in the church. But obligations are mutual. If it is the duty of the stronger to help the weaker, the weak ones must be willing to be helped. If they need to be taught, they should be willing to learn.
3. True happiness consists in doing good to others. This is illustrated by the rejoicing of the shepherd over the one sheep that was found. It is a great work to rescue one soul from danger for whom Christ died. “Brethren,” says the apostle James, “if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
Verses 15–17: “Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
The extreme point is now reached in that course pointed out by Infinite Wisdom.
The offender has been surrounded with circumstances the most favorable for his recovery. All has been done that could be done to save him. And the very best course has been taken to save the church from being divided over the case. But it is almost universally the case in our day, that the offended party gives up to grief, or to passion, or to both, and at once institutes a war of words against the unfortunate offender, probably behind his back. This course generally cuts off all hope of reforming the offender, and burdens the whole church with painful matters which in most cases could be avoided by obeying the words of Christ.
The definite statement of our Lord as to the course to pursue applies not only to trespass, but to all personal offenses and trials which have not come to the knowledge of the church. Its great object is the proper settlement of personal offenses and personal trials without the several members of the church being troubled with the knowledge of them. If the professed people of the Lord followed this distinct plan of Christ as a rule, and the violation of it were the exception, the case would appear more favorable. But it will not be denied that the violation is the rule, and obedience is the exception.
Neither will it be denied that in the popular churches of our day almost every petty trial is blazed abroad, giving ample scope to the spirit of gossip which is universally prevalent. With many of them the precious words of Christ relative to cases of trespass and the like, are too old-fashioned for our times, as in the case of the ten commandments. These churches have outgrown both the moral code of Jehovah, and these simple, practical words of his Son, applicable to all cases of personal offense.
And humiliating as it may be, we have to acknowledge that many Seventh-day Adventists shamefully disregard these words of Christ. Strict obedience to them would save our people nine-tenths, if not ninety-nine one-hundredths, of all the church trials which are weakening our churches, and discouraging our ministers and detaining them from their work. Strict obedience is the only remedy. Reformation is the only hope of our people. Persistent disobedience will result in certain ruin.
We warn our people to be consistent. Why not as strictly observe the practical teachings of Christ to the church, as the Sabbath of the fourth precept of the moral code? Are the words of Christ in the New Testament less sacred than anything that may be read in the twentieth chapter of the book of Exodus? There are those among us whose unsanctified tongues will prate about the Sabbath of the fourth commandment in a pharisaical spirit, while on them is the sin of casting the words of Christ behind them.
Said Christ to the pretending self-righteous Jews, who were very strict on some points, while they were violating others of equal importance, “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God. These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Luke 11:42.
No man can too highly exalt the moral code. The Sabbath of the fourth precept is holy, and it is a very great sin in the sight of God for those who understand its claims to trample it under their feet. But we can hardly conceive of a greater sin in the sight of high Heaven than the violation of the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ by those who profess to take the Bible entire as their guide, and who solemnly, in the presence of God, of Christ, of holy angels, and in the presence of their brethren, write their names to the “covenant,” to keep not only the “commandments of God,” but the “faith of Jesus Christ.” Those who take the high and holy position assumed by our people, and yet indulge in the spirit of gossip against certain of the brotherhood, and eagerly bend the ear low to the whisperings of the tongue of slander concerning those who may be both ignorant and innocent of what is being said behind their back, should be regarded by the church as the tallest hypocrites that walk beneath the heavens, and utterly unworthy to have part with those of whom it is said, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
It is high time that our people awake to the subject of Scripture discipline. Church organization is for at least a threefold purpose: (1) To secure co-operation and mutual benefit; (2) To prevent impostures; (3) To execute that discipline necessary to the purity of the church. The first two benefits are secured to S. D. Adventists, in their simple and scriptural organization. But our people fail in the third.
True discipline is greatly neglected in many of our churches. So far as discipline partakes of the nature of law, penalty must exist. But law without penalty is void. Therefore, any acting association without the observance of law or rule becomes a mob. This mob spirit prevails in gossip and slander in some of our churches. It is led on by Satan. It has no regard for the words of Christ under consideration. Its mission is to distract and divide, and break down the influence of those who would build up the cause. It dodges investigation.
Our leading men must be those who love mercy, deal justly, and walk humbly with God. And our people must have confidence in such men, in order for the cause to move forward. No official in the church, or financial manager in the cause, should object to the most careful investigation of his course and management. If he is faithful and true he will covet investigation of his course. And there is a way to come at this without the assistance of the vulgar ignorance of gossip, or the malice of slander. Wherever doubt exists as to the management of an official, there should be a call for investigation before the very body to which he is amenable. If it be to his own State Conference, let the matter be brought before the Conference in a proper manner. And let the accuser and the accused be brought face to face before the proper persons appointed by the Conference to sit on the case and make an official decisive report. And if the accused be amenable to the General Conference, let the accuser and the accused be brought face to face before that body. Let both be fairly heard, and let an official report be made. And this should decide the case in the minds of all who regard the General Conference as the highest earthly authority of our people.
The above we believe to be in strict accordance with the words of Christ. It gives all parties a fair chance. No man should be condemned unheard. And at the same time it shuts the mouths of those disorderly persons who give themselves up to wholesale backbiting. All decent persons, who revere the words of Christ, and are in favor of order and equal rights, will adopt the positions set forth. They will regard those who dodge investigation, and choose to lead on the mob spirit, as wicked and designing men.
“Mark them,” says Paul, “which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrines which ye have learned, and avoid them.” Let honest men and women, who wish to be in harmony with the words of Christ and of Paul, first mark these disorderly talkers, and then labor to avoid them. The poison of asps is beneath their tongues. Avoid them. If they press their complaints, cite them to their Conference, or to the General Conference, as the case may be, as the only proper place for them to be heard, and turn from them.
The crisis is coming. And the sooner it shall come, the better for the cause. But, judging from the past, some have gone too far to return. The spirit of fault-finding, rebellion, and railing, has taken so strong a hold upon them that they will never shake it off. But let the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” cut its way through. Let the words of Christ test, and shake, and sift, his professed people, until the leaven of jealousy and malice be purged out, and let a testimony ripen in the ministry, and among all others who have wisdom to bear it, that will bring freedom to burdened souls, and the Spirit of God into all our assemblies throughout the land, such as we used to enjoy.
The time has fully come for the proper administration of discipline, and the full establishment of order in all our churches, in accordance with the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then will the Lord return to his people, and success will attend the labors of our ministers. And then will the church be clothed with the power and authority given her by Christ.
Verses 18–20: “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them.”
These words of our Lord were spoken in direct reference to the definite orders he had given in cases of trespass, and show the authority invested in that church which walks in strict obedience to those orders. Such a church has more power in the sight of God than any government on earth. But that church, whatever may be its name or its tenets, that disregards these explicit orders of the Son of God, is clothed with no more authority in the sight of Heaven than a disgusting mob. Such a church is ever in confusion, and is a disgrace to the holy religion of Jesus Christ. But let us definitely notice these important words:—
1. “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven.” These words refer to the action of the church in the case of trespass. Every other step must first be taken, then if the offender refuses to hear the church, he is to be regarded as a heathen. And this decision of the church, after the plan of Christ has been strictly carried out in every particular, is ratified in Heaven. In this sense, what the worthy church of Christ binds on earth is bound in the court of Heaven.
2. “And whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” If the stubborn offender repents of his rebellion, and returns to the church with confession and true repentance, and submits to the proper discipline of the church, the action of that church in receiving him back again, is ratified in Heaven.
3. It is no small thing to be an obedient member of a true church. It is a fearful thing to be a disorderly, meddlesome, burdensome, rebellious member of any church. As this subject opens before us, and the real condition of many of our churches and people appears in true colors, the picture is frightful. Here we stand, with the responsibilities of the message upon us, and the powers of darkness gathering around us, and as a people we are almost as powerless as babes. We never traced lines on paper with such feelings as move us to write these words.
As a people we have insulted Christ by our neglect to keep his words, and he is taking his Spirit from us. In this state of things the most disorderly walkers, and the most unreasonable fault-finders, can gain the sympathy of certain ones, and can play off the most insulting impositions upon God’s people in a manner to injure the influence of those whom they have put in responsible positions in the cause. Allegan County, Mich., and Niagara County, N. Y., are not the only places where this poison has been diffused through the body of the church. It was this that grieved the Spirit of God away from the California camp-ground, and caused the weary servants of God to go away from that meeting under a terrible weight of grief and in agony of spirit. May God have mercy, and open blind eyes and touch hard hearts. When our people shall return unto the Lord with true repentance, confession of sins, and weeping before God, and let the words of Christ dwell in them richly, then will he return to us graciously, and we shall realize in our labors and experiences the wonderful fulfillment of his precious promises.
4. “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven.” But this promise is to be fulfilled only to the members of that church who obey, not only the commandments of God, but the commandments of Christ, and the commandments in the epistles of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The promise and the conditions are found in another place in these words: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. When the words of Christ are engraven on our hearts, and strictly obeyed in our words and actions, it is then that they abide in us. Then, and only then, is the promise sure. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21. J. W.