WHICH IS THE MORE DISHONORING?
By M. C. W.
WE are accused many times in presenting to the world the teaching, as we believe, of the word of God concerning the second coming of Christ, the nature of man, the Sabbath, and the matter of religious legislation, of dishonoring Christ. Arguments are not met, evidence is not disproved, but motives are impugned, and irrelevant and illogical conclusions drawn. It is dishonoring to Christ, they say, to oppose the conversion of the world; it is dishonoring to Christ to say that man has not an immortal soul; it is dishonoring to Christ to labor upon Sunday; it dishonors him to oppose Sunday legislation. Let us candidly examine this:— What we know of Christ, his person, his work, his teaching, the objects God designs to effect through Christ, are revealed in the Holy Scriptures. All subsequent work must be tested by that; all experiences and manifestations of the future are true only as they are in harmony with the word of God. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. The Scriptures are given as a complete guide, "that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:17. This does not preclude future revelations, but it forms a standard whereby they are to be tested. These Scriptures came through Christ, the Living Word. John 1: 1-3; 1 Cor. 8:6. All, therefore, which would honor Christ is revealed in that word by expressed principle or fact; and all that would dishonor him is forbidden by declared principle or fact. And the fact is ever in harmony with the principle. 1. We teach that Christ's coming is near; and more than one dozen different lines of prophecy, compared with history, prove that this teaching is correct. This is confirmed by a multitude of signs, predicted at various times by prophets of old and fulfilling in our days. These same prophecies predict that the world will grow worse instead of better, that wickedness will increase, that the wheat and the tares will grow together until the end, or till Christ comes. They disprove the good time predicted for this world in its present condition, placing the glory of the earth after Christ's coming and the destruction of all earthly kingdoms and wicked men. Is it dishonoring to Christ to preach what he has so clearly revealed, even though it is not a message of cheer and peace to the heart which loves sin? Is it not more dishonoring to cry peace and safety when there is no peace? Eze. 13:10, 11, 22. 2. We believe that man is mortal. The Bible expressly declares that he is mortal, dying, corruptible. It declares that the soul that sinneth it shall die, and that all have sinned. It predicates immortality of God and Christ, but never of man. It foretells a time when the righteous, those who have accepted Christ, will put on immortality, that God will bestow it at that time as a free gift of his grace, and that it all comes through Christ, and Christ alone, who is not only the way and truth but the life. Which is the more dishonoring to Christ to acknowledge man's mortality, littleness, and nothingness, as he has expressly declared, and to look to Christ for all these things, as he has invited us to do, or to clothe man with an attribute of Deity, make God responsible for an endless hell, forever marring a redeemed universe? Which is the more dishonoring to ascribe life, blessing, and the glory of a clean universe to God through Christ, or to arrogate to mortal man endless life, and to ascribe to the power and wisdom of God a place of never-ending woe and pain and sin? 3. The Scriptures expressly declare that the Sabbath originated at creation, before sin entered our world; that it was made and set apart by three distinct acts on the part of the Creator; that it was embodied with nine other moral precepts in God's immutable and holy law, spoken with his own voice, engraven with his own finger on tables of stone; that this law was magnified, honored, and established by Christ and all the teaching of the New Testament; and that, therefore, the Sabbath as a part of that law shares in the immutability and perpetuity of the law. And the Scriptures likewise declare all this of the Sabbath, which was honored and observed by our Lord. On the other hand, we have neither precept nor example in God's word for Sunday observance. We have many fine theories of men as to what might have been, but, unfortunately for the theories, God's word does not sustain them. Which is the more dishonoring to Christ, to observe the day set apart through him, supported and protected by his word, honored by his example, confirmed with the rest of the decalogue by his death, kept by all the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, servants of God and of Christ, or to observe and to uphold a day for which we have no scriptural or divine authority? 4. God has declared that his Spirit will be given to those who preach his truth, and build up his church in the earth. He has sent forth his ambassadors with weapons not carnal, to beseech, entreat, and persuade men to come to Christ, and to turn from all sin. He has told them to pray for rulers that they might live godly lives in peace, to render unto earthly governments their due, but at the same time to render to God the things that are his. It is their duty to do by all men, by every man, as they would be done by, were circumstances reversed. Christ has said that the church which leaves him, and consorts with the world, is an adultress, and guilty of fornication. In all time of persecution and sore trial, when we see our rights trampled down, and these rights are not protected by law, we are to submit to God, and rejoice that we can bear persecution for his sake. But never is the gospel, or any institution of the gospel, to be propagated or enforced by the sword, or the civil power. Christ's kingdom is not of this world. Which is the more dishonoring to Christ, to repudiate earthly measures for the propagation of faith and morals, to turn aside from carnal means and weapons, or to reject Christ by turning to the world? We have not given references, because we have referred to so many scriptures, and most of them will be recognized by the Bible student. These evidences we are giving continually. Are these evidences from the word of God of worth? If so, accept them. God will care for results. It is ours to do his will. Which is the more dishonoring to Christ, obedience or disobedience? to regard his sayings, or to despise them? M. C. W.