TRUE TO NAME by H. E. Giddings

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 17, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 45.

TRUE TO NAME.

By H. E. Giddings

WE often hear the listless expression, "What's in a name?" There is much in a name. Some names, invented for sound or oddity, may signify nothing, but there is a large class of expressive names which either tell the truth or a falsehood whenever employed. These names grow out and are indicative of some great truth or principle, to which they always direct the mind. To illustrate, Jacob was named Israel because of his steadfastness of purpose to prevail with God and earnestly seek his face until he secured the needed blessing. That is what Israel signifies, prevailing faith with God; "and so all Israel shall be saved."

When one bears the name Israel, he is either true to the name or the name is misleading. Paul said (Rom. 9:6), "They are not all Israel, which are of Israel." And when the Jews were boasting that they were the children of Abraham, Christ rebuked them, and laid down the principle that a significant name is, in its use, a wisely applied truth or a hypocritical lie. John 8:39-45. He said that if they were Abraham's children they would do the works of Abraham, and live as he did. But because they cherished Satan's spirit, they by right were entitled to and should bear his name. As they entertained murder, Christ said they were the children of the devil, and they would work on the same line as he did.

When Jesus Christ brought the light of God's character and purpose to earth, it was called the gospel. It was the good news that God purposed to use his infinite power to save sinners. Rom. 1:16. The way men were to act to secure this power, and live with its help, was called Christianity, because it was Christ's way of living. When a lost sinner learns of this salvation, and accepts it as his mode of life, he is properly a Christian, because he lives the life of Christ. Gal. 2:20; 1 John 2:6.

In Rom. 8:9 we are told that "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." When a man has that Spirit from God, and lives that kind of life, he is a Christian true to name, but if a man outwardly appears to be righteous, and professionally takes the name Christian, while his heart is full of evil plans, and his secret life is in harmony with the devil, the name of Christ is a lie in its use, for he has no right to it, and it is intended to mislead and deceive.

When the mystery of iniquity began to develop "antichrist" in the apostolic days (2 Thess. 2:4-7), it was only the beginning of the Papacy, or Catholic power, which was to adopt Satan's own plans and do his work in the earth. It would exalt itself above God. Verse 4. Satan did the same. Isa. 14:13. Back of this mystery of iniquity was Satan, who aided it on to consummation.

Rev. 12:9 states that the dragon is the devil and Satan, and chapter 13, verse 2, shows that this adversary gave a seat, power, and authority to an earthly organization, and that those composing it would worship him (verse 4), thus assimilating his spirit, who was a murderer from the beginning. John 8:44.

Those possessing his spirit would murder also; and Rev. 12:7 shows that the works of their father they did do. The long and bloody history of murder, in the name of Christ, shows that the papal hierarchy is the power specified. While they claim to be the true people of God, the work they have done, and the principle they maintain, show who is their father, and whose spirit they are cherishing.

The Papacy as an organization is founded on certain principles and adopted certain fundamental doctrines.

Prominent among these is the claim that she is endowed with infallibility and must therefore be absolutely right in all her conclusions concerning faith and morals.

This being true she argues that it is her duty to compel all men to conform to her standard of right. This is antichristian, for Christ said (John 12:47), "If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not." "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Verse 48. "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come." 1 Cor. 4:5.

The Papacy claims that the State exists in part, at least, to execute the decrees of the infallible church, to keep the peace by putting down heresy—everything distasteful to the church.

Protestantism, according to the Protest of Spires, 1529, condemned the two abuses, the arbitrary authority of the church, and the right of the civil magistrate to adjudge differences of belief. Those who adhere to the principles of this protest are Protestants, and those who advocate the fundamental dogmas of the Papacy are papal. It matters not what name they bear outwardly, whether they are true to name or not, their works determine what name would tell the truth. Where professed Protestants advocate the devil-born doctrines of the Papacy, do they not forfeit the name Protestant? The name, then, becomes a lie. They are not true to name unless they firmly adhere to the principles.

The so-called Protestant ministers, and a large per cent of their churches, are loudly claiming that they are so certainly right and positively infallible, because of their numbers and intelligence, that it is proper for them to demand that all other people be compelled to act as they do in the matter of Sunday observance. They are really frantic in their efforts to get the civil power to interfere in their behalf, and suppress the liberty of all who oppose them or hold different views. Will they be true to name, and when they leave the Protestant principle, lay off the name, and, adopting the papal dogmas, be honest and adopt the name, and manfully profess to be just what they are? If not they certainly wish to cover their design by wearing the sacred mantle of true Protestant Christianity, while doing the Satanic work of the Papacy.

Christ warned against such in Matt. 7:15,—ravening wolves in sheep's clothing. The Holy Spirit described the work of Satan's ministers, and said they would appear as the ministers of righteousness. 2 Cor. 11:13-15. By their works ye shall know them.

Gunn City, Mo.