Danger of the Crowd by A. R. Bell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 2, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 18.

Danger of the Crowd

By A. R. Bell

Majorities Often in the Wrong—Truth Will Ultimately Triumph—Wrong Will Swing upon the Scaffold

By A. R. BELL

TRUTH has never been popular. History proves that in almost every instance, majorities have been on the side of wrong. As the poet wrote, “Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne.”

It is easy to go with the crowd. We first resist, then we follow, then we catch the spirit, and at last we defend the wrong. So it has ever been. The multitude followed Jesus. He fed them. He supplied their temporal wants. He gave them bread to eat. But when He besought them to labor “for that meat which endureth,” they “murmured.” Then they “went back, and walked no more with Him.” See John 6: 26, 27, 60, 61, 66.

CHURCH-SAVING EXPERIMENTS

When they found that to follow Jesus meant to stand for principle, instead of being fed upon the loaves and the fishes, it was easier for them to follow the crowd.

And truth is still unpopular. To stand for truth means to stand for principle. But God is on the side of principle, though it be unpopular. In the modern tabernacle fad, with its brass bands, and its great hurrah, and torch-light parades, and “hit-the-trail” conversions, we are reminded of the prophecy of Isa. 2: 2, 3 and Micah 4: 1, 2, which shows that in the last days, it will be popular to join the church under the excitement of the crowd. Tabernacle campaigns, social service conventions, church unity congresses, and laymen’s movements, and every other sort of church-saving experiment, are the order of the day.

But the study of these prophecies discloses the fact that God is in this very experience, calling attention to a people that “halteth,” who are “driven out” and “afflicted.” Of these He says, “I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth, even forever.” Micah 4: 6, 7.

THE UNPOPULAR REMNANT

Here is indeed a remnant. To follow the crowd would be easier than to endure their taunts and sneers, the ostracism and the persecution. But God is watching over His own. They are standing stiffly for the truth. They refuse to yield to the clamor that would have them violate conscience, and are living His truth and law in their lives.

God will not suffer them to be moved. In the trial of their faith, He is refining His gold, and removing the last particle of dross. It is the “little flock”—unpopular but faithful—to whom God will give the kingdom, and over whom He will delight to reign in His kingdom of love and light.

Under a form of godliness that denies the power of the gospel, the multitude is moved. The commandments of men, and convention resolutions, and legislative enactment, are taking the place of the commandments and word of the living God. Men are turning away their ears from the truth, and are turned to fables. But God has never left Himself without witness: and in spite of every hindering circumstance, He will triumph in the lives of a remnant people. Faithful though unpopular, loyal in the face of persecution, obedient to God in spite of oppression, willing notwithstanding the scoff and the scorn, they are dear to God, even as the apple of His eye.

They will overcome “even unto the end,” and “shall inherit all things,” having a part in that glad day when truth shall ascend the throne, and wrong shall swing upon the scaffold.