HINDERING OTHERS by C. G. Bellah

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 20, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 25.

HINDERING OTHERS

By C. G. Bellah

"WOE unto you," Christ said; "for . . . ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered." Luke 11: 52.

A minister of the gospel is surely untrue to his trust as God's watchman when he does not take an active part in any true reform measure agitated in his community. And when he not only refuses to coöperate, but deliberately blocks the wheels by his own inconsistent actions, he is doubly guilty.

A year ago, the board of education of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, employed Dr. Dora Martin to work against the cigarette evil in the public schools. Miss Martin is field secretary of the Anti-Cigarette League of Oklahoma. She stated that the press and the public schools did their part nobly against this great evil. But the churches held back, because two thirds of the ministers themselves use tobacco, and did not want to give up the habit.

Recently, in a town where the writer held a series of meetings, pastors of two leading churches attended theater almost every evening. One, attired in rags, with a bottle in his hand, played the drunkard for the photographer, that his picture, thrown on the screen of the "movie," might lend added local attraction. Another urged his congregation to attend theater, presumably because his own son furnished the music. Many of his congregation refused to go, and remonstrated with their pastor about his course. It does seem strange that the sheep were evidently forced to the unusual task of endeavoring to lead a blind shepherd.

The minister does not cry very loudly against the sins of his own life. Sin compels silence. Isaiah speaks of such when he says, "His watchmen are blind, . . . ignorant, . . . dumb dogs, they cannot bark." Isa. 56: 10. If the watchdog is friendly to the thief, he'll keep silent, and let his master's valuables be taken by the marauder. So the minister who becomes friendly with the world, and remains silent toward its sins, by his treacherous silence lets the enemy enter the flock of God with destructive power. May God help His faithful watchmen to "cry aloud" and "spare not." C. G. BELLAH.