p. 16 | To Perdition - Why?

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 18, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 28.

To Perdition — Why?

AN influential religious organization that was recently in session adopted resolutions protesting against the operation of moving picture theaters on Sunday, and also against the use of public school buildings on that day. But if the moving picture theater is a demoralizing influence, why merely prohibit it on Sunday? Why not have it eliminated altogether?

The same body also proposed, through resolutions, to request schools and colleges to omit their recitations on Monday forenoon, so as not to place a temptation in the way of students to prepare their lessons on the Sunday before.

The idea seems to be gaining ground among all the great religious bodies, that much of the evil we find in the world comes because people are neglecting to observe Sunday strictly. The idea, from a superficial glance, appears plausible to many; but the facts in the case are that this world is going to perdition, not because it is disrespectful to the Sunday institution, which is nowhere commanded in God's word, but because the law of Jehovah has been rejected, which plainly teaches that the seventh day, commonly called Saturday, is the Sabbath.

And along with the teaching of Sabbath rest, this law of God prescribes honesty and uprightness as between man and man; and it also calls for the truest worship of the great Creator. It is because God's law has been set aside that the world is going to perdition, and not because men are refusing to observe some human tradition.

But regardless of the lack of Scriptural authority, men will continue to teach that many of our difficulties are brought about through a lack of Sunday observance. We are not far from the time when the prophecy will be fulfilled which shows that men will undertake to compel every one to observe the Sunday institution, under penalty of imprisonment, and finally of death itself. Prophecy is in process of fulfillment.

Keep these things in mind, and watch the trend of events. Do not allow yourself to be deceived by the theories of men which have no foundation in the teachings of the divine Book. The Sunday sabbath is not an institution of heavenly origin. The seventh day is the one sacred portion of time that is authorized by the Bible as the weekly Sabbath of Jehovah.