p. 62 | True and False Charity by D. M. Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 19, 1864

True and False Charity.

By D. M. Canright

SUNDAY, June 26, Bro. Lawrence gave a discourse on the duty to preach the Word, and in showing why it was necessary so to do, of course he had to expose the popular sins of the time, both of the world and the professed church. When he had finished, a minister, who said that he represented the M. E. Church, arose, and began to cry for "charity."

After calling Bro. L. a hypocrite, an ignoramus, &c., he concluded thus: "You are all the time talking about the corruption in the churches. This isn't a Christian spirit. If you would have a little charity for others you would do much better."

Then up jumped another one and echoed back, "Why can't you have a little charity;" and thus he continued to sound upon that delightful word "charity." Neither of them, however, pretended to deny the statements made in regard to the fallen condition of the churches. Indeed, the Methodist man, the next day, while in private conversation with me, acknowledged that it was all true. Still they plead for "charity, charity."

Now, this is no new thing to us; for wherever we go and begin to expose the popular sins of professors, the first thing we hear is the stale cry for charity. What do they mean by this? They simply mean this: You must keep still; you must not expose these fashionable sins; for if you do, you condemn the works of others; and that is uncharitable. "Charity coveteth a multitude of sins." Their definition of charity would be, to "Cover up all the sins you can, whether repented of or not; coax the Devil to do as little evil as possible." Peace, peace! this is charity, religion, holiness, everything! This has been preached so long that all the teachings of the churches summed up would read, "Conform to the world as much as you can, thus making peace." He who violates this truce of peace, say they, is uncharitable.

But what is charity? The following from the Hand Book of the New Testament, p. 136, is to the point: "Charity, from the exalted position which St. Paul has given it among the Christian virtues, has frequently been perverted in its application, and placed in opposition to truth. But the proverb says, 'Truth is the greatest charity;' and as charity aims, or should aim, at the welfare of mankind, and as the welfare of man is inseparably involved in their reception of, and adherence to the truth, it follows that that which is most true must be the most charitable."

This is the correct meaning of charity. If you see a person indulging in error or wickedness, tell him of it, and warn him of its consequences if persisted in. In short, be bold to speak the truth and reprove wrong at all times. So St. Paul taught. "Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." 1 Cor. xiii, 6. Will they accuse St. Paul of being uncharitable? Hear him again: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, (accursed)." 1 Cor. xvi, 22. Remember that this is the same apostle who has just been extolling charity so highly in chap. xiii.

John, the apostle of love, thus expresses his charity for those who willfully reject the gospel: "If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God-speed."

Listen to Stephen, filled with the Holy Ghost, as he talks out his charity for those who had rejected Jesus, and were now persecuting his followers: "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers; who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it."

Hear Jesus himself as he expresses his charity for the fashionable professors of his time, the scribes and Pharisees: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

Here, then, we have examples of Christian charity. Now, whom shall we follow? Shall we hold our peace when we see the false shepherds leading the people astray? When we see them with their eyes blinded by the smoke of their burning sacrifice to their tobacco god, their brain dizzy with the wine of Babylon, and themselves breaking the law of God, and teaching others to sin, shall we be "dumb dogs" when we know that the wolves are tearing the flock? No, never! But we will "cry aloud and spare not."

But, says one, The sheep themselves don't like to be rescued. So with the man who is nearly overcome with cold; his senses are all benumbed, his reason gone, and he wishes to lie down in the snow to indulge, as he thinks, in sweet dreams. If he is permitted to do so he must inevitably perish. Now, we ask the advocates for peaceable charity, what shall be done in this case? Let him perish for fear of incurring his displeasure? Or shall we use every means in our power to arouse him, let him feel and talk as he may? Judge ye. The command to the faithful watchman is, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew thy people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." This is true charity to shew a man his danger and arouse him to a sense of his condition. That charity which would hold its peace while a man was destroying himself, is a false charity. We must ever remember that "Truth is the greater charity."

So then, brethren, if you love your neighbors, and would be charitable to them, cease not to warn them at all times, whether they will bear or forbear. If you succeed in awaking them to their danger, they will with gratitude acknowledge that you exercised toward them true Christian charity.

D. M. Canright.