Sin and Crime by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 11, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 23.

Sin and Crime

By Editor

Sin and Crime.—We call attention to an important little article in another column with the above title. The distinction is vital; it can not be too strongly emphasized,—sin the transgression of God's law; crime, of civil, human law. Daniel was guilty of the crime of offering worship to God, but he did not sin in so doing (Daniel 6). Three of his companions committed crime in that they did not bow down to the image that Nebuchadnezzar set up (Daniel 3), but they did not thereby sin. While men sought to punish them, God vindicated the criminality of both Daniel and his fellows. Jesus the Christ was a criminal, and died a malefactor, but He was not a sinner. The apostles were criminals, and many of them died because they were; but they were not therefore sinners. Their answers involve a mighty principle: "We ought to obey God rather than men;" "Whether it be right in the sight of God to harken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." Let not the people of California permit theological partizanship to turn conscientious conviction into a crime.