p. 1 | Editorial by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 18.

Editorial.

By Editor

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

A MISSIONARY is one who has a mission. Christ had a mission, and that mission was to redeem and save man. Those who are missionaries for Christ have the mission of Christ to save men. And all those who have Christ's Spirit are missionaries; for the Spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit.

A BILL has been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature to repeal three sections of the Sunday law, one of which prohibits barbers from shaving people on Sunday. A retaliatory measure has been introduced in the Legislature, which fixes the penalty of Sunday breaking at $100 fine or ninety days in jail, or both. And about every State Legislature is suffering from the "moral" spasms of some people manifested in this way. It is not "moral," albeit it is many times called so; all religious legislation is immoral, and gendereth to bondage. It oppresses those who do not believe in it; and it binds those who do, who afterward may believe differently. The tendency of such laws is evil, and only evil; but uninstructed in the word of God, resting secure in the dead name of Liberty, the people suffer themselves to be bound in a greater tyranny than King George III. ever exercised.

The Spirit of Christ.—The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of humility; for, although "in the form of God, he counted it not a thing to be grasped to be on an equality with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross." Phil. 2:6-8, Revised Version. The Spirit of Christ is a meek or teachable spirit. He says of himself, "I am meek and lowly in heart." Matt. 11:29. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of justice. Christ gave to God all the glory. John 14:10; Isa. 11:1-4. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of faith and submission. Hear his prayer to the Father: "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." Mark 14:36. But why multiply proofs of what is found in so many places in the word of God. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of prayer, a spirit of self-denial, of self-sacrifice, of self-abnegation. He denied himself for our sake. He became poor that we might be made rich. He died that we might live. The Spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit. This includes all. Those who have the Spirit of Christ will have all these characteristics. Have we the Spirit of Christ? Then we will be humble, just, true, meek, teachable, faithful, submissive, self-sacrificing, self-denying,—true missionaries for God.