They Love to Fight by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1859

They Love to Fight.

By James White

It will be seen by Bro. Ingraham's communication in this number that Elds. Collings, Stephenson, and the like are still pursuing their peculiar mode of warfare against the truth and those who teach it. They love to fight! Contention, debate and strife seem to be their chosen element. They have lost all respect for good and honest men who differ from themselves, and more, self-respect is also gone. Fight, fight, fight! Rail, storm, misrepresent and slander!

We have met with Age-to-Come apostles of this stamp, East and West, and find them possessed of a spirit that is not found with any other class of professing christians. At Cleveland, Ohio, we met with some of them. Their object seemed to be to throw our meeting into confusion, and in this way destroy the influence of our discourse. At first they professed to be honest seekers for truth, and wished to ask a few questions for information. But before the meeting closed it was very apparent that they were hypocritical in their pretensions, and that the dragon spirit was in them. Such men generally have nothing to lose in a battle of words. They have no fine and tender feelings to be hurt; while the conscientious christian is likely to be wounded by abuse. They have but little or no influence as christians to lose, while the candid, devoted servant of Christ may be in danger here by talking with such men.

They love to fight. And being continually in the employment they love, and choose, they have become adepts at it. They will at one time appear very mild, and wish to learn, in this way to deceive a stranger, and fully open his heart to be pierced by the most irritating and provoking language. Then if you, being wounded and grieved, try to vindicate your position with a little warmth, you will be charged with an unchristian spirit, getting excited, angry, &c. Be assured, dear reader, that if Satan has men on earth inspired by his spirit to carry forward his work of destruction and confusion, we are speaking of some at least of the very men. We want you to view them in their true character, then you will not be in so much danger of suffering by their abusive course.

Question. Will honest seekers for truth break in upon the speaker, or ask questions to disturb a congregation? No. The good pretensions of such are the grossest hypocrisy. True, an honest man might ask a question before a public congregation; but in all cases an honest, conscientious seeker for truth will be satisfied when told that a private interview would be preferable. We should not suffer our meetings to be broken up by these disturbers of the peace, who carry on their work of confusion under the pious garb of "seekers for truth," and "free investigation."

J. W.