SACRIFICING PRINCIPLE by Geo. C. Tenney

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 12, 1876

SACRIFICING PRINCIPLE.

By Geo. C. Tenney

There are, we may safely say, hundreds who refuse the light of the Sabbath from fear of being called unstable. “I am not to be carried about by every wind of doctrine,” they say, though they may be thoroughly convinced of the requirements of the Bible in regard to this point. How often we hear it said, “Oh, yes! it looks plain; but I have always kept Sunday, and I cannot think of changing.”

Who is it that really changes his principles? Let us see. Two persons experience a change of heart, and set out to serve God with singleness of purpose, fully determined henceforth to live lives of obedience to his will and word, and to perform every duty which presents itself. This is the position which every one takes who is truly converted. One after another, duties are performed and crosses borne; and the Lord blesses these persons in so doing. Finally the fourth commandment and its requirements are brought to their consciences. Both confess that the teachings of the Bible are plain and harmonious, and there is no chance to evade them.

Now we ask, Which of the two has sacrificed the principles upon which they set out to serve the Lord, and which has adhered to them,—he who humbly seeks the will of God and follows the advancing light of truth, or he who will not be led by the plain teachings of God's word, lest he should be called weak-minded? There can be but one answer. GEO. C. TENNEY.