True Christians Separate from the World
Bro. J. D. Hillis writes from Pleasantville, Marion Co., Iowa: “The brethren in this place are all firm in the cause of our Master, becoming every day more and more established in the great truths of the third angel's message. Notwithstanding professed Christians oppose God's holy law, which our brethren endeavor to observe, they cannot discourage us. The brethren here are are trying to be Christ-like, kind and courteous, humble and submissive. They mingle but little with the political excitement of the times. It is becoming more and still more difficult every day, to distinguish the members of the nominal churches from the world, by their daily actions with mankind. Many of them mingle and unite in almost everything, and especially that of pride, circus shows, political rabbles, &c. True Christians we think will abstain from such a course. Their lives are not hid with Christ in God who do such things. They do not observe the rule laid down in 1 Thess. v, 22, as Christians should. They think they have as good a right to engage in such things as the world. The enemy likes just such Christians, and claims them as his own. They are never persecuted, they cannot therefore claim the blessing spoken of in Matt. v, 10, 11. Christ tells us that if our righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and pharisees, we shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Then does our righteousness exceed that of the world while we engage in the same things, and do the same acts with them? We think not. We are admonished to come out from among them. Be ye holy, for I am holy, saith the saith the Lord. A word of caution or admonition to the reflecting mind is sufficient.”