Worldward by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1904

Worldward

By Editor

Worldward.—Dr. E. R. Dille, pastor of the First M. E. Church of this city, has voiced the sentiment that the people of his denomination have a determined set worldward. A San Francisco press despatch says that, in a paper read before the Methodist Ministers' Conference, on the 2d ult., he favored changing the amusement clause of the church's constitution so that the mandatory rule regarding dancing and theater-going should be merely advisory. He urged that the general disregard of the present rule made it ridiculous, and that it would be better to alter it. This is virtually saying, We must hold on to the membership, no matter what they do. If they will not adhere to the church discipline, we must alter the discipline to comply with their conduct. Some people argue that this is what God did; that because Israel broke the law, He abrogated it. But that is not God's way; His law is perfect, and can not be made to yield to the unstable, varying character of man. Every confession of sin is an acknowledgment of the unyielding nature of the law of God. No child of faith ever asks the Lord to take His law out of the way (and 'sin is the transgression of the law'); he invariably asks that the sin may be forgiven. Therefore, by the exercise of faith we concede the immutability of the law. Paul puts it in these words: 'Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.'