p. 580 | WHY THIS CHANGE? by John M. Cole

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 23, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 37.

WHY THIS CHANGE?

By John M. Cole

WHEN it is shown by line upon line that we are truly living near the time when He shall come whose right it is, and that the time is upon us when every man's work will be tested by the standard of God's word, many admit it and say, "That is the truth." But it is to "them as a very lovely song, of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well upon an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not." "They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." Eze. 33:31.

The law of God is clearly set forth as the rule or standard of the judgment. Eccl. 12:13, 14. Then many object and say we "see not," our "itching ears" want watchmen who "speak unto us smooth things." But "sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. The law of God must be preached to bring the sinner to a recognition of his sins, and show him the fearful doom that awaits him except he repent of this sin.

The fourth commandment is part of that holy law which points out sin. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Prov. 28:13. As soon as the claims of the Lord's holy Sabbath are presented, and its observances urged upon men, we soon begin to hear "fallen from grace," "cursed if you keep the law," "nailed to the cross," and such like expressions. The time was, and that not many years in the past, when all the leading denominations taught and believed that "the law of God is a copy of the eternal mind, a transcript of the divine nature." But now every term of reproach is applied to it and few recognize its claims.

The "Guide to the Doctrines and Practices of Baptist Churches" on page 24 says, "The law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen man to fulfill its precepts, arise entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is the one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church."

We would suppose when it was shown that their "practice" was not in harmony with their "guide" they would at once make their "practice" consistent with their "guide." But no; the way they get out of this inconsistency is to deny the immutability of God's law which the Bible and their own creed says is "holy, just, and good."

Why this change in belief the last few years? Let a leading Baptist paper give the reason. Under the heading of "A Common Error," the Pacific Baptist, of East Portland, Oregon, dated February 15, 1888, gives the following reason:—

"Christians, too, generally have the notion that the laws of Moses in part at least are still in force. The ten commandments especially are clung to with great tenacity, and we presume some of our readers will be somewhat shocked when we say that these commandments are no more a part of the laws of the Christian dispensation than are the commandments to be circumcised or to keep the Jewish passover. . . . Of course we recognize the fact that in most cases the things required by the ten commandments are still required, or rather that the things forbidden are forbidden still. But not because they are found in the ten commandments. It would have been wrong to steal or kill if Moses had never said so. If Christians would only remember that we are no longer under the Mosaic dispensation they would have no trouble whatever over the Sabbath question, and there would be no religious sects whose mission it is to contend for the seventh day of the week as the one which should still be observed according to the requirement of the fourth commandment. . . .

"But the fact is the Jewish Sabbath with all that system of laws and institutions of which it was a part have been done away. Hence the apostle says: 'And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days; which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.' Col. 2:15-17. And since Christ has come we now have, instead of the Jewish Sabbath, the Lord's day—the day on which he arose from the dead—which we find was observed in New Testament times and ever afterward throughout Christendom.

"But is not mischief often done by making so much of the ten commandments and presenting them in Sunday-schools and elsewhere in such a way that the children receive the impression that these commandments are still in force? These commandments printed on large charts are sometimes hung on the walls of Sunday-schools, they are committed to memory by the scholars, they are printed on cards, and in various ways are made very prominent in the Christian teaching [until the Sabbath is presented].

"This we contend is wrong and has evil results. [Why?] It is giving undue prominence to something which has been done away. Further, such a course is calculated to cause much perplexity upon the Sabbath question of which we have spoken, and is preparing the way for the Seventh-day Adventists (who are great on the commandment) to make converts to their theory. The fourth commandment plainly requires the observance of the seventh day and if these commandments are still in force it requires a great deal of ingenuity to show that the same day should not still be observed."

President Asa Mahan once truthfully said, "Admissions in favor of truth, from the ranks of its enemies, constitute the highest kind of evidence."

The above we believe is the true reason why men at the present time say the holy law of God is not binding. But all the skill and "ingenuity" of men "to show that" "these commandments are [now when the Sabbath is urged upon us] no more a part of the laws of the Christian," does not change the fact that they are binding. Jesus says, "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away." Simple obedience to God's commandments will save all this "perplexity upon the Sabbath question of which" God has spoken so "plainly." Yes we are "somewhat shocked" to read from a Christian paper that the ten commandments are "no more a part of the laws" binding upon Christians. "They that forsake the law praise the wicked." Prov. 28:4.

Is there not danger that those who now have to use "a great deal of ingenuity" to get around a "plainly" commanded commandment, will be themselves more than "somewhat shocked" to find at last that they are not permitted to go through the gates into the city? Rev. 22:14. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them I never knew you." Then men who have practiced "ingenuity" will be disappointed and "somewhat shocked" when they hear "depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. 7:22, 23. "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." JOHN M. COLE.

East Portland, Oregon.