Overacting by A. S. Hutchins

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 5, 1862

Overacting.

By A. S. Hutchins

"It is a good thing to be zealously affected always in a good cause;" yet it is possible to have a zeal of God "not according to knowledge." Wisdom is profitable to direct in winning souls to Christ; for he that "wineth souls is wise." "Behold," said the compassionate Redeemer, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents and

harmless as doves."

It is deeply to be regretted that there is such a ruling passion for argument with some, who have some knowledge of and love for the truth. In their effort to talk the truth, they often injure rather than advance the cause of God. For want of gentleness and meekness, they sour and prejudice the minds of those they seek to help. Had such persons never been spoken to on the subject of present truth only at the right time and place, and in a Christian manner, ere this perhaps God would have given them "repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."

To those who have thus retarded the work of the Lord, we may say, "How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?" Better watch and pray more, talk less, live nearer to God, and let your good works speak. "For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." 1 Pet. ii, 15. The precious reality of the religion of Jesus, is better told by the blameless life of its possessor, than by a multitude of words.

Again, the zealous brother may overact in the house and hours of divine worship. His anxiety to clinch every nail of truth, as the servant of God speaks, may lead him to strike too often. He may confuse the speaker and the congregation. He may trig the wheel on the wrong side, and hinder rather than help on the good work. In one instance David says, "And let all the people say, Amen." To the solemn, heart-felt and meaning "Amen," in its proper place, as the clear, consistent, and harmonious light and truth are brought out of the Bible, we do not object. But when we hear response after response added and multiplied, till one can hardly credit what he knows to be true, in regard to the number in one short discourse, we think it is altogether too much. Here is overacting, in respect to which we may use this proverb: "Too much of one thing is good for nothing."

A. S. HUTCHINS.