Lessons in Liberty by W. M. Healey

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 14, 1911

Lessons in Liberty

By W. M. Healey

VII. Personal Responsibility

HUMAN responsibility toward God centers in the individual. Obtaining or losing eternal life is a matter of personal choice and effort. It is true that sin and death have come upon the human family, and the individual has no choosing in the nature that he is to inherit; but Jesus Christ came that each individual might have liberty.

“For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:17.

There is no offer of this liberty to any special class or nationality. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28. God taught this truth to Peter to fit him for his mission to Cornelius and his people: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Acts 10:34, 35.

“And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:20.

From the creation of man God has been teaching him this lesson of personal trust, personal responsibility, personal choice, and a personal reward or punishment. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:12.

“National Reformers,” as the name implies, propose to reform the nation. This might be well in matters of civil law, in temperance, in social relations, in fact in all matters of the relation of one to another. But the work of these so-called “Reformers” is not confined to these issues, but they propose to reform the nation religiously. This, also, is no doubt a good work; but the method which they propose to use is not God’s way. God would have the truth taught to every “creature,” and then leave each to choose, or refuse, to worship Him. The “Reformers” propose to define what shall be done in worshiping God, and then leave no choice in the matter. A sample of their present work is found in their demand for Sunday laws to compel the nation to regard this institution of worship.

Have these “Reformers” never learned, or have they ignored the fact, that God does not accept of compulsory worship?

God does not compel any one to worship Him. Has He given into the hands of some men a power over other men which He Himself will not exercise?

These “Reformers” not only go beyond what the Lord has done in efforts to force worship, but they propose, by their laws, to take from man that which God has given to him,—the privilege of choice, by the individual, independent of what others may or may not do.

Thus spoke our Lord to His ministers: “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:25-28.