p. 534 | CHARITY by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1880

CHARITY.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

BY E. J. WAGGONER, M. D.

"AND above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 1 Pet. 4:8. Many persons suppose that this text teaches that it is wrong to point out the errors of individuals. When a person is guilty of sin either intentionally or ignorantly, he cries out against the one who would reprove his course, and accuses him of a want of charity. Now, although the Bible teaches that charity "thinketh no evil," and that we should be very cautious about judging the motives of others, yet it nowhere teaches that it is any part of charity to uphold wrong-doing in any manner whatever.

Charity "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." The spirit which would shield the evil-doer from justly merited censure is not charity, but perverted sympathy. He has the most true charity who is the most faithful in reproving sin. How then can charity be said to cover a multitude of sins? A few texts will make this plain. We read in Jas. 5:20 that "he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." By comparing this text with 1 Pet. 4:8, we learn that the exercise of charity results in the conversion of sinners. But sin is the transgression of the law, 1 Jno. 3:4; and the law of God alone will convince a man that he is a sinner. "I had not known sin but by the law." Rom. 7:7. The law, then, is the active agent in conversion. (See Ps. 19:7). When the sinner, by means of the law, realizes his guilt, and is led to exclaim with Paul, "who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" he finds that it is only "through Jesus Christ our Lord." He comes to "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world," and obtains forgiveness for his sins. If he continues faithful his sins will be finally blotted out, Acts 3:19; and thus his "multitude of sins" will be covered. We conclude, therefore, that Bible charity, or love, consists in keeping God's law and leading others to do so. This is verified by the following texts: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous," 1 Jno. 5:3; "love is the fulfilling of the law," Rom. 13:10; and, "the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned," 1 Tim. 1:5.

We are not to suppose, however, that we are to be ever on the alert to point out some defect in our neighbors. If our eyes are opened to behold "wondrous things" out of the law, we shall have quite enough to do to bring our own lives up to the proper standard; and this will generally prove the most effectual, and for most persons, the safest way to reprove others. The godly life of a humble follower of Jesus will often send conviction to the heart of the sinner when words would simply harden his heart. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Matt. 5:16.