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Politics in Church

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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 26, 1879

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 5, No. 25.

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Politics in Church.

By Editor

WE have several times been asked if it is right to take part in political matters, to vote, etc. This we decline to decide for any one. Each must act as he thinks best in such matters. But one case has come to our notice which we must mention.
A brother wrote to us from a certain place saying that he could not do much for the church there as it was so divided on politics. Two of the members ran against each other for the same office, on different party tickets; of course the members took sides, and the result was a rent and torn body, with little prospect of any effectual healing. If this is the case, and we esteem our informant as entirely reliable, then it appears to us there is a clear cause for discipline. If ever members deserved to be disciplined for walking disorderly and creating divisions, then do these office-seeking members deserve it. If they have the requisite intelligence to fill any office they must have known that their course would distract and divide the church. "Mark them which cause divisions," said the apostle. His brethren were instructed to walk as they had him for an example, and his example was to abstain from everything which would cause his brother to offend, or more properly, to stumble.
Are we Adventists? Are we in the last days? Is God indeed gathering to himself a remnant to stand for the truth, and to escape the plagues soon coming on the earth? And does it become such to scatter the little flock, and to trail the banner of present truth in the dust for the sake of a little political honor?
This instance has led us to believe that our people had better have little to do with unhealthy excitements of politics. We have always rejoiced that the present truth separated us from the field of earthly politics, and united us to the work of God for these last days. We should be very sorry to make an exchange in the other direction at this late day.