GOING WITH THE CROWD by E. H. Gates

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 14, 1879

GOING WITH THE CROWD.

By E. H. Gates

“I believe they are right about the Sabbath; but I am going with the crowd.”

These words were spoken by a man who professed to be a follower of Christ. Not being able to get around the strong proof for the Sabbath, he excused himself in this way. Is it possible that he realized the full import of his words? The crowd is going down the broad and easy way that leads to eternal death. “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7: 13, 14.

Those who are unwilling to meet with opposition here, will certainly have the privilege of going with a large crowd at the second resurrection. Rev. 20: 8. But then they will “see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God,” and they themselves cast out. Luke 13: 28. Then it will not seem so agreeable to be with the crowd. Christ never promised his followers that they should be in the majority in this world. He said to them, “Fear not little flock.” True, John saw “a great multitude which no man could number” before the throne; but they were the few out “of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.” Rev. 7: 9.

It is now very convenient to go with the crowd; it saves so many unpleasant experiences, such as being laughed at for being “peculiar,” or perhaps being scoffed at and ridiculed. In all the great reforms of the world but a few have moved out, while the masses have gone “with the crowd.” Noah gave a solemn message to the world, which was scoffed at and derided by all. They wanted to go “with the crowd;” and certainly they did; for “the flood came and took them all away.”

The same class of people have been in existence ever since that time. If the rest of the world would be obedient, they would. The wicked Jews killed the prophets of God, because their message was unpopular. When Christ was on earth the question was at one time asked, “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?” John 7: 48.

If the rulers did not receive Christ, that was deemed sufficient reason for others not doing so. The same ones who asked that question, believed that the prophets who had been slain were men of God. It was very easy to believe it then, for every one else believed it. The burden had been borne, and time had demonstrated that the work was of God. Then the Pharisees garnished the sepulchers of those good men, and said, “If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.” Matt. 23: 29, 30. At the same time they were plotting how they might put the Son of God to death.

Men do not love to be opposed and laughed at for their religious belief. But such men should remember that the reason why we have religious liberty, and are not blind followers of a corrupted priesthood, is that a few noble men have dared to stand up for the right, in spite of what the “crowd” may say. Many at the present time reverence the names of those great men; but they show by their actions that the principles which governed the lives of the reformers have no place in their hearts.

E. H. GATES.

Staunton, Ohio.