p. 1 | Editorial by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 21, 1892

Editorial.

By Editor

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable."—2 Tim. 3:16.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

It may be safely asserted that no live, spiritual church of Christ ever used or desired the civil law to enforce religious dogmas or promote morality; and, furthermore, the "institutions" for which backslidden churches desire the aid of the civil laws are always those which find no support in the Scriptures. Fellow-Christian, think of this.

There is no coercion in religious matters in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The invitation, the entreaty, is, Come. The office of the ambassador of Christ is to persuade men. Jesus says, "Whosoever will, let him come." All Heaven pleads: "Turn ye, oh, turn ye, for why will ye die?" This is the gospel plan, and it may safely be set down that whatever law it is, from whatever alleged source, which would compel a man to observe any religious ordinance whatsoever, is not of the gospel.

Personal responsibility to God ought to be a principle which should enter into every transaction of life. That "every man must give account of himself to God" is a solemn truth of Scripture. We are therefore personally responsible to God. No society or organization or body politic of which we may be a part has any claim upon us which ought for a moment to transcend this obligation. In mere matters of opinion, where moral principles are not involved, in matters where our duties lie in the same lines and are based on the same principles as these organizations, it is good to have company, and in union there is strength. But where moral principle is involved, we should not follow a multitude to sin. Let personal responsibility to God rule. Acting as in his sight, for his sake who bought us, will but unite us in God's own better way with all the good in the universe. Although under the power of the enemy this may seem to leave us alone, leave it with God, and endure "as seeing Him who is invisible."

The New York Observer well says: "Every now and then the daily papers report that such and such a person has become insane through religious excitement. While these reports are true in one sense they are very misleading in another. An eminent physician in the East, who is not identified with any church, expressed the opinion some time ago that in nearly every case those persons who lost their reason while attending revival meetings were on the verge of insanity, and that any strong excitement would have brought about the crisis." The religion of Christ gives soundness of mind, calmness of judgment, and peace in great tumult.

The great question is not the amount of good that has been accomplished through some society or organization, but whether all the good would not have been accomplished in some better way without the organization. God often works in spite of man's devices to help him, not because of them. The very thing to which men often ascribe glory is that which God simply tolerates for a time as an excrescence, an abnormal growth, upon his own better, perfect plan. It makes a great difference from what standpoint we judge. The boy, sitting in his little skiff, who plies his paddle at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, may imagine that he is helping the steamer which is towing him through the water at the rate of twenty miles an hour, but he really retards the progress of the noble vessel. It is even thus with many societies.

The Fullness of Christ.—Reader, are you weary?—Jesus says, "I will give you rest." Are you hungry?—He says, "I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger." Are you thirsty?—"If any man thirst," says Jesus, "let him come unto me and drink." Are you in darkness?—He says, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Are you naked?—He will clothe you "with the garments of salvation," he will cover you "with the robe of righteousness." Are you mourning over your sins?—He has appointed "unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Are you sick? Are you weak? Are you afflicted with incurable disease? Are you poor?—Christ is healing, and strength, and life, and eternal riches of good. Have all forsaken you?—He has declared, "I will never leave nor forsake you." Is there none to pity or sympathize with you?—He can be touched with all the feelings of our infirmities, for he was tempted in all points like as we are. Who would not forsake all else and accept of this Jesus in whom "all fullness" dwells.