p. 7 | Honoring Men Instead of God by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1914

Honoring Men Instead of God

By F. M. W.

THE great heathen systems of worship have been built up around the one central idea of man worship. The gods of these systems are deified men, usually great heroes, who through human achievement have attained to the eminence of deities. But the operation of this principle is by no means confined to heathen religious systems. We see it in the Church of Rome, in the Greek Church, among the followers of Islam, and it is fast permeating the great Protestant church. Man is put in the place of God, man's opinions in the place of God's Word. God is brought down to the level of man by the exaltation of man to the place of God. Upon poor, fallible humanity are bestowed the praise and adulation which belong alone to Deity.

The operation of the same evil principle is seen in the industrial, political, and social life of the people. Captains of industry, politicians, and society leaders exert an influence over their fellows and are accorded a servile respect and leadership which Heaven never intended one mortal should render to or receive from another, and which leaves little place for God in the heart and life.

It was to meet this very situation, to call the human family from the worship of man to the worship of God, that this movement with which we are connected was called into existence. The opening words of the message of the first angel of Revelation 14 are: "Fear God, and give glory to him." Men are looking to men for salvation. The call of God is for them to turn from this idolatry to the worship of the only true object of worship, God himself. Because the great Christian church rejected this saving message, the second message was made necessary: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen." In her fallen condition she goes blindly on, finally giving her worship to the beast and to his image, receiving in her forehead the mark of her apostasy.

This message, calling men from the worship of self to the worship of God, has been intrusted to this people. While professedly standing against this principle, are we unconsciously yielding to its subtle, insidious workings? Is there danger that Seventh-day Adventists will put man in the place of God, and render to humanity the honor belonging to their Redeemer? Israel of old did it; Israel of today is compassed with the same danger.

Said Christ to the Jews: "How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" John 5:44. The reason why they sought the honor of men is revealed in the further record by the evangelist in describing the character of some of God's professed people of his time, "They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

How easy it is to come to feel that the blessing of Heaven to our souls must come through certain channels, that certain men alone are God's almoners of grace, that instruction in Christian duty and doctrine must come through official sources, and that office bestows upon its holders some power or grace not possessed before. We believe that Heaven recognizes order and system and organization. We believe in the doctrine of the laying on of hands, and recognize it as in God's order. God has set in his church apostles and prophets and teachers. These appointments of God should be recognized, and these gifts greatly appreciated.

But to no man, whatever his position, may we look for salvation. Every man must "give account of himself to God." Nor can we limit the choice of God's channels of blessing. He may be pleased to pass over apostle and prophet and teacher as so recognized, and send his message through the humblest of his children. It may come through the farmer or mechanic instead of the preacher, through the weakest member of the flock instead of through the leader, through the little child instead of through the man of mature years. It is for us to see God back of the messenger, whoever he may be, and to stand in that spirit of consecration and attitude of listening where we may say, Speak, Lord, through whom thou wilt and in any way thou wilt; thy servant heareth, and will do thy bidding.

How easy it is in our receptions, our social gatherings, our friendly calls, to give and "receive honor one of another." We give praise expecting to receive praise. We flatter our brethren and sisters, hoping to receive flattery in return. We laud and praise the brother in responsible position, hoping it will redound to our advantage. We might be unwilling to admit, even to our own hearts, that these motives prompted our praise and adulation, and yet after all the spirit of selfishness and man worship is the inspiration of much of these manifestations of regard. In any event, God is forgotten, and his glory but little thought or subserved.

We need to speak words of appreciation. We need to reach out the helping hand, and assist our fellows by kindly words of encouragement; but this may be done without fulsome praise or flattering words. Let us look beyond the minister who preaches a sermon that

thrills our hearts and awakens us to higher and holier impulses and purposes to the great God, whose servant he is, and who gave him the message to deliver.

Let us look beyond the man in official position who possesses genius for planning and for executing to the One who endowed his mind for his special work. He is but God's instrument, a vessel of clay made meet for the Master's use only by Heaven's endowment. Let us see behind the physician who has wrought a mighty cure the great Healer who steadied his servant's hand in the critical operation or suggested to his mind the particular remedy to employ, and who, not because of the physician's abilities or talents, but in spite of his frailties, honored him by making him a channel of divine blessing to his fellows.

The more truly we honor God, the more sincerely we shall love our brethren. But flattery and praise are not evidences of true love. Love sometimes wounds, sometimes faithfully reproves. It points out the path of danger, the evils threatening the life, that the soul may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

True Christian unity is not that which comes through human fellowship, through fear of position and office, through subordination of mind to mind, of the weaker to the stronger. The center of Christian unity is Christ Jesus. "One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." When the believer is one with his Master, he will be one with every other follower of the Master. For this kind of unity, for this relationship to God, and for this fellowship with one another, we need today to pray devoutly and labor earnestly.

F. M. W.