Christian Duty by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 19, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 46.

Christian Duty

By Editor

THE article in this number entitled "The Love of God" is worth many times the price of the paper. It will bear reading and re-reading, so full it is of precious, comforting thoughts.

SPECIAL attention is called to the articles on "The Controversy of the Ages." We hope they may be carefully read. Next week the various phases of the Papacy will be considered. This will be an important number.

IT seems from a writer in the Melbourne (Australia) Argus that Japan is talking strongly of, in case of war or necessity, invading Australasia. It regards England as an interloper in the eastern continent. It seems that the land-hunger disease has seized upon the "Sunrise Kingdom." Her association with Western powers has affected her.

Our Week of Prayer, or shall we call it Our Week of Thanksgiving? Rather, shall it not be both? It has been the custom among Seventh-day Adventists to hold a special prayer week at the time of the midwinter holidays, in connection with the modern transformation of the old Roman Saturnalia. It has been thought best, and it seems to us wisely, to hold it this year, and we hope all years to come while our work continues, in the latter part of November, at the close of the harvests of the year. The time is shorter, only four days, November 26 to 29 inclusive, of which Sabbath and Sunday are fast days. Of course this is suggestive and recommendatory. How every one keeps the fast will be determined between his own soul and God. We earnestly hope that all our people will make all those days special days of thanksgiving, prayer, and thanksgiving. Let them begin with thanksgiving, and end with thanksgiving; and let the thanksgiving be manifest in liberal gifts to the precious cause of God, that the Gospel may be carried to those in darkness. Seek out the poor and needy, and make their hearts glad, and let the week of prayer and praise be the beginning of new eras of blessings in many lives.

Christian Duty.

The duty of the Christian, nay of every man, is thus stated by our Lord: "The Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." Subject to this are all other duties. Love to God in word, thought, and deed is to actuate all things else. If a man yield to do this, he will do all duties growing out of this; so it is not only true as a commandment, but as a fact that he who loves God loves his brother also. 1 John 5: 21. This love, this duty, is summed up in the keeping of God's commandments. Eccl. 12: 13.

Profitable.

It will be disputed by none that from a Christian point of view it, and it alone, is profitable to do God's will, to love him as set forth above, to do those things that God has commanded. But it is a simple fact that God has nowhere told him to enter politics, to overturn governments, to use politic means to carry out the heavenly principles. God has set before man his duty in his holy law. He has given him an example in the life of Jesus Christ. He has furnished the power in the Spirit of God. On all political issues good men are divided. Is it probable that they are led by the Spirit of God? Is it profitable for the Christian to depart from the means and power furnished of God, and for the betterment of the world seek help in carnal means?

The Christian Minister.

If it be the duty or privilege of the Christian to enter the political field, is it not the duty of the Christian preacher to instruct his flock in respect to that duty? In other words, is not the field of teaching on the part of the Christian minister as broad as the field of practice on the part of the Christian in general? Paul, speaking as a Christian minister, said, "I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house." "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." Acts 20: 20, 27. He labored "to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." And yet he nowhere tells us that it is by "the gateway of politics" that the nation becomes Christian or the disciple does his duty. On the contrary he clearly sets forth that "our citizenship is in heaven," that here we are "pilgrims and strangers," that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal," that the foes we are to fight are principalities and powers, and spirits of evil.

The Matter of War.

It seems to us from the foregoing, and from many scriptures of the same import, that Christ calls us to peace, to proclaim that peace to others, and that, therefore, the Christian may not use carnal weapons. He is what is called a non-combatant. But if it is his duty to exercise his right (so far as man is concerned) of franchise, in order to carry out what seem to be beneficial political measures, is it not his duty to pursue it logically to the end? The ballot often means the bullet. The exercise of suffrage is often followed by the use of the sword. The latter may be the logical sequence of the former. This was the case in our civil war. Is the Christian prepared to carry out this line of "duty" to the end? How can he consent to yield up his blood-bought talents, time, ability, and strength to the control and manipulation of partisan politicians? We are aware that "Christian citizens" and "Christian patriots," and professional politicians will say that such religion is impracticable, looking to the future wholly instead of to the present. But it is not impracticable. It is the most powerful and practical thing in the world. It brings the life of God and heaven down to earth. Received, it makes of the receivers better fathers and mothers, better husbands and wives, better sons and daughters, better neighbors and friends, better men and women. By indirect influence through these, it uplifts even those who do not receive it, and all the betterment the world has ever received is by the means directly or indirectly of Christianity, not through force, but through faith.

The Los Angeles Camp-meeting.

It was the writer's privilege to be at the feast of tabernacles held in the beautiful and rapidly-growing city of Los Angeles during the ten days ending November 8. Everything, it seemed, was shaped by a kind Providence for the good of the meeting. The location was a good one, but when operations began the ground was covered with six inches of dust more or less, having been cultivated the season previous. But just before the meeting a heavy rain came on, which packed the dust and soil so hard that it remained firm and comparatively clean while the meeting lasted. While the rain postponed the pitching of the tents for a day, it was of great advantage to the meeting, and the weather following was all that could be desired, and more than could be expected considering the lateness of the season.

The preaching brethren present were Elders A. J. Breed, N. C. McClure, W. T. Knox, G. A. Snyder, B. Howe, S. Thurston, and the writer. Elder Breed did not reach there till the meeting was half over. Dr. W. H. Maxson, from St. Helena Sanitarium, was also present and spoke several times. The preaching was close, searching, cheering and practical, several speakers dwelling on the Spirit of God, its reception, and operation. All that was spoken seemed to be received with hungry hearts, eager to do the Lord's will.

The meeting was greatly blessed of God. The blessed spirit of unity prevailed over all discord. The laborers were united in God, and the people came to know and to do God's will. We do not remember of being present at a meeting where the desire to know just what the Lord would have done was more prevalent than there. The results were that backsliders were reclaimed, sinners were converted, the faithful were refreshed, and some of the sick were healed by the power of God. Many said in substance, We brought the Lord with us, and we have found him more abundantly here. Twenty-eight were, we believe, baptized, and twelve or more were to be baptized the following Sabbath in the Los Angeles church. It was a meeting which grew better from the first day till its close. A spirit of liberality was manifest on the part of our brethren toward the cause of education and missionary work, about $1,000 being raised for Healdsburg College.

The cause of truth in southern California, and especially in Los Angeles, is growing rapidly. There were about 400 Sabbath-keepers who encamped on the ground, and on the last Sabbath of the meeting there were probably 600 present. Altho held at election time, there was a good attendance from the outside. Los Angeles is a splendid field, and the church there has doubled its membership in a little more than a year. It now numbers 250 members. Such will ever be the case where the people have a mind to work.

May the Spirit that pervaded the camp-meeting continue with those who were there in their service for God even as in their worship at the meeting. This will be the case if they feed upon the word, and labor for others. M. C. W.