The Minority | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 4, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 27.

The Minority.

The prime object of civil government is to conserve the rights of the minority, to protect the weakest. In the earlier stages of society every man was a protection to himself. It followed that the most selfish, the strongest and shrewdest man, obtained more than his share, and tyrannized over his fellows. The rights of the strongest were respected; the weakest had no right that the strong were bound to respect. In order that the weakest might be respected, several weak ones confederated together to secure the rights of each weak one against the strong. Oftentimes when the weak thus combining have become strong, they themselves turn persecutors. Departing from their own basic principles, their organization comes to naught, because of injustice and oppression. The only true object of civil government is to protect and conserve the right of the weakest, the smallest person within the jurisdiction. For when the weakest is protected, when his rights are regarded as sacred—however limited his influence, capacity, or views may be—the rights of all are protected and conserved. But when the rights of the weakest person in the realm are protected, the rights of each one are protected.

Liberty to Believe or Not to Believe.

The absolutest and fullest freedom to believe or not to believe the Gospel of Christ is accorded by Christ Himself. "If any man hear My words," He says, "and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." John 12:47. In this is proclaimed a Gospel totally free from coercion. Love, and love only, is to be the drawing, persuading, impelling power to bring the sinner to salvation. Threats, trusts, boycotts, sneers, slights, Pharisaical righteousnesses and human laws, have no place whatever in the redemptive work. "I judge him not," that is, try, condemn, punish. Force does not save. Majorities do not count in the processes of the Word of life. Right only decides. And one of the glorious facts of the kingdom of God now is that, tho men possessed of a spirit from beneath may resort to all these worldly and oppressive measures in their mistaken zeal to force upon others their dogmas and views, yet they can not enter that spiritual realm and can not disturb the soul in its privileges there against its will. There the soul may revel in God-given freedom from sin and all its attributes, and live above and beyond the tribulations of the flesh.