"More and More to the Perfect Day"
By Editor
The thought expressed in Prov. 4:18, that "the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day," is suggested by an article in "The Word and Way," a Baptist journal published in Kansas City, Missouri,—an editorial on Baptist Assets and Liabilities. It speaks of their assets, the first of which is named as all the wealth of the Scriptures: "They have the authority of the Scriptures for their faith, polity, and practise; do not have to pervert, dodge, ignore, or explain away any part of God's Word. Their position does not require them to add to or take from that which has been written; authorized by a conformity to the Scriptures, they have the promise of the divine presence and blessing. 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them, . . . teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway.' With their correct interpretation of this commission, and counting every part of it as important and binding, Baptists in their purpose and effort to execute the will of their divine Lord have the blessed and sure promise of Jesus to be with them. What a magnificent and valuable asset." And it is; but it seems to us that that very thing ought to lead Baptists beyond their present position. In this time of struggle between tradition and truth, they should still walk on in the path of truth, and accept of the Sabbath of the Lord in preference to that of tradition. Surely the Scriptures teach that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and Jesus confirmed the Scriptures in example and teaching. Why should not our Baptist brethren walk on in the path of advancing light? It also speaks of their liabilities, and some of these liabilities will come very close home to Christian denominations everywhere. For instance, take this sentence regarding mere formal professors: "They seem to depend upon the correctness of their position, apart from any effort or sacrifice upon their part to promote the principles of their position, to win the day. They prate of their orthodoxy, and berate heresy, while they themselves are not vitalized, nor energized, nor moved out on the field of service, by the doctrines which they so lustily champion." That is something that every believing Christian ought to take home to his heart. Another liability is that they lack harmony. They have among them "those wearing the Baptist name, occupying positions of honor and influence, who are clearly out of sympathy with Baptist ecclesiology. 'The Word and Way' has no sympathy with higher critics." This is good. We hope it will continue in the fullest sympathy with the Bible.