RAILING ACCUSATIONS by Chas. B. Reynolds

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 31, 1879

RAILING ACCUSATIONS.

By Chas. B. Reynolds

Fierce invectives are sometimes uttered under the delusion that it is but expressing righteous indignation.

Those in positions of trust and grave responsibility, after long prayerful study, and exercise of their mature judgment, make decisions or lay plans that do not happen to agree with our hasty notions; and heedless alike of the warning of the Lord, and of the proved purity of character, love of God, and zeal for his cause which these persons have ever evinced, their plans are fiercely denounced, and railing accusations brought against them.

It is true that after a little reflection, on learning the facts, there is apt to be some regret for the hasty words uttered, and hearty approval of what was so heartily condemned. But this does not always undo the evil influence, nor remove impressions made on some who heard the expressions of bitterness.

Says the apostle, “Presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these . . . speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.” 2 Pet. 2: 10-12.

But suppose we really have occasion for trial, and are justly grieved at the course taken by a brother. Wrongs cannot be set right by hard speeches. “Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus,” who, when contending with Satan, dared not bring a railing accusation against the author of all evil. Shall we, claiming to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, dare to bring railing accusations against our brethren in the faith?

Especially should we be guarded in our home life. Perhaps we are prone to meet the little trials and vexations of the home circle with harsh, loud, angry words; and it may be we sometimes say cutting things, or chide bitterly, because provoked at some trifle. At the moment we may imagine that such outbursts of passion will produce a better state of things; but this is a delusion of Satan. Although our kindest acts may be ignored, our most thoughtful offers of service ungratefully repulsed, yet harsh, loud, fierce words only increase the evil, and destroy our influence for good. Did we realize how aggravating in the sight of God must be our sins against him, we would offer fervent prayers for grace to evince the spirit of the Master, the gentle, forbearing, pitying love of Jesus; and this would make our daily life at home, spite of so-called incompatibilities, far, far, happier.

How many once happy homes have been blighted,—husbands driven to drinking and dissipation, sons to evil associations, daughters to hasty marriages and subsequent misery, or to lives of shame; wives, with crushed and bleeding hearts, to premature graves, from the piercing of cruel words that cut so deeply, though perhaps forgotten as soon as spoken by the one who uttered them. How many sacred friendships have been severed, not by acts of malicious unkindness, but by the thoughtless, hasty, passionate word. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Let us remember, when tempted, that Jesus himself dare not bring a railing accusation against even his great enemy, Satan. May God help us to heed the admonition of the apostle Paul, found in Eph. 4: 29-32. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

CHAS. B. REYNOLDS.