p. 234 | Buying Indulgences

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 7, 1879

"Buying Indulgences."

IN some of our churches is a class of men who have means and who pay largely toward defraying church expenses. But when they do this they seem to think they have done their part.

They live loosely, and seem to care little for the worship of God or for the society of his people. They are found far more often in the company of wicked men, far more often at worldly gatherings than at the church of God.

Yet they seem to expect the church to disregard their disorder. The preacher has to depend on them largely for his salary, and they don't think he ought to bother them. The fact is he couldn't get along without them.

Nor could the church, they think, dispense with their services. They pay their money! They have bought and paid for the privilege of living disorderly!

Shame!! Shame!!!

What a cringing coward that preacher must be who will not denounce them, and what a servile thing that church must be which cannot stand for its Master in such case and maintain order in his house.

Let every Baptist church resolve that "no indulgence" to sin can be bought in the body.—Baptist Banner.