Editorial by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 9, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 10.

Editorial.

By Editor

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

WHILE the adherents of truth have often suffered villification, persecution, and even death, it is well to remember that these are not unquestioned badges or passports to a theory or doctrine. The champions of error have met these very things, and died bravely for the error they had espoused. The only standard of truth is God's holy word. The only example is the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE better way to celebrate what Christmas is said to be for,—the birth of Christ,—is not to keep a day for that purpose. Christ was "born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Gal. 4:4, Revised Version. It was for this purpose Christ was born. Let faith lay hold of that redemption, make his life our life, and we shall have every day a glorious revelation of the "glad tidings of good things" in Christ Jesus.

THE Spirit of Christ is one of unswerving devotion to moral principle and truth, to the principles of truth. The spirit of the world is one of compromise. Compromise, proper enough as regards mere methods where a moral principle is not involved, is manifest everywhere in all business circles. The worst of this is that it is seen in the church. The young Christian yields the service of God, that he may mingle with the pleasures of the world. He compromises his feelings of duty to speak for Christ when among his worldly associates, because someone might be offended. The Christian business man compromises moral principle and enters into partnership with those whose objects, aims, and motives are contrary to the Spirit of Christ. The young man or woman compromises principle in marriage with unbelievers. All these and many more examples are continually before us. The conscience of the world is benumbed till it wishes to make terms with God, and talks as though God would compromise with them. Loyalty and love to God are that unswerving devotion to his truth which knows no compromise.

Educators.—One of the worst characteristics about the journalism of the present day is its pandering to the depraved tastes and instincts of the brutal and wicked among men. It is said that the daily paper is an educator, and so it is, but it educates downward. It does not seek to bring the masses up, save in a little moral editorial now and then, but it deliberately panders to the most depraved and brutal tastes, because it pays. For instance, the Examiner, the leading daily paper on the coast, advertises a holiday edition with about thirty different writers, among which are President Harrison, Chauncey M. Depew, seven United States senators, and other noted men. Between the names of Edward Everett Hale and James Whitcomb Riley, and leading those of the seven senators, is the renowned name of James J. Corbett, a champion bruiser, and, if the newspaper stories are true, a libidinous libertine. Well, this is what a certain large class demands. The daily paper is a sort of general merchandise affair; and our magazines, and, sad to say, many present-day sermons are taking on the same complexion. Educators! May the youth be spared the education. And yet it is in just this school that the "Christian" youth of this "Christian nation" are receiving their education.