p. 120 | Debating Schools by John Byington

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1860

Debating Schools.

By John Byington

BRO. SMITH: It seems debating schools have become quite common in our land. As the following resolution was to be the subject for debate a short time since, I thought I would go in and hear what was to be said on the subject.

Resolved, That human law should be obeyed, though it may or does contravene the Divine law. The leading disputant in the affirmative took the ground that where human law does contravene divine law, the law makers only were sinners or accountable to God, and the subjects of the government were innocent, though God's law by them should be broken. The scripture that was brought to prove this point was Rom. xiii, 1, 2: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God." The leading disputant in the negative said that God's law was the great constitution to which all law-making powers were to be subject, and that we are not to be subject to the powers that be, only when they are subject to the Divine power or law in their edicts. And to profess to be the powers that God had ordained while making laws that did contravene his, was stealing the livery of heaven to do the Devil's work. The scriptures brought to prove this point were Ex. i, 16, 17; Dan. iii; and vi, 9, 10. The argument was clear that God should be honored and obeyed, but the darkness of the human mind is great. The chairman decided the question in the affirmative, making man first and God second. I doubt whether our brethren benefit themselves or others much by attending debating schools. The servants of God have not time to spend to sit and hear men use arguments to turn the truth of God into a lie.

John Byington.

Ceresco, Mich., Feb. 14, 1860.