ATJ
RENDER to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.—Mark 12:17. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.1
IT is not more legislation that the people need, but more religion. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.2
WE would not discount law; we want good laws, and we must have them; but we want also something to make such laws effective. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.3
LAW is the instrument and public sentiment the power which makes it effective. There can be no good government without a good public sentiment; and public sentiment cannot be created by legislation. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.4
THERE is but one genuine “sure cure” in the earth to-day, and that is the grace of God. The richest man has not money enough to buy it, and the poorest has not poverty enough to shut him from it. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.5
THERE are a great many people in this country who seem to be not yet convinced that two wrongs do not make right. A lynching, for example, is an effort to set one wrong right by perpetrating another. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.6
THE “sabbath laws” of the States are as numerous and as well enforced now as they were fifty years ago; yet they have not prevented the incoming of a flood of moral degeneracy since that day. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.7
“THE powers that be are ordained of God;” but this fact does not set the fiat of civil government above the commandment of Jehovah. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.8
NO MAN or assembly of men have the power to manufacture right, or to absolve any individual from the obligation to obey the dictates of conscience. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.9
THE weekly Sabbath is a holy day, because God made it holy, and it is impossible to change this fact. And being a holy day, its character cannot be other than religious. Any other kind of weekly sabbath is a counterfeit. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.10
THE Sabbath is God’s, but he forces no man to keep it. Why should men go further than God and try to force people to render to God the tribute of Sabbath observance. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.11
ATJ
“GOD sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.1
And to his disciples forever he himself says: “As my Father sent me, even so send I you.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.2
Then no Christian is ever sent to condemn anybody in this world. No Christian has ever been made a minister of condemnation. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.3
As to transgressors, the only office of law is to condemn. Then, as no Christian is ever sent to condemn, no Christian is ever sent to enforce law or to demand of others the enforcement of law. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.4
As the only office of law, with respect to transgressors, is to condemn; as in this world there will be in every place, transgressors of law; and as no Christian has ever been made of Christ a minister of condemnation; it is certain that no Christian has ever been made by Christ a minister of the law. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.5
Therefore it is perfectly certain that all these preachers, people, organizations, and combinations, professing to be Christian, who are making such a clamor for the enactment and enforcement of law, have forgotten the mission of Christ and of Christians in the world and are engaged in a work to which the Lord never sent them. AMS September 23, 1897, page 577.6
The Son of God was not sent to condemn the world, and he did not condemn. He said: “If any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.1
When there was brought to him for judgment that woman who had been taken in the very act of gross sin, he said to those who brought her, “Let him that is without sin among you cast the first stone at her.” And when none could cast a stone because they themselves were wrong-doers,—none were without sin,—and they all had gone out and left him alone with the woman, he said to her, “Woman, hath no man condemned thee?” And she said, “No man, Lord.” Then said the Son of God, “Neither do I condemn thee. Go, and sin no more.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.2
Now all who believe on him are counted the sons of God. And to all such he says, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” “Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.3
Therefore it is perfectly plain that all these preachers, people, organizations, and combinations, professing to be Christian,—professing to be the sons of God—in all their work of throwing stones at supposed or even actual transgressors, in condemning them to arrest, fine and imprisonment, have forgotten the spirit and the method of the Son of God. In all this they have taken upon themselves an office, and are performing a work, to which the Son of God was not sent and which he never performed: and to which they as sons of God were never sent and which as sons of God they never can perform. AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.4
Condemnation is not what the world needs. The world is already condemned, overwhelmingly condemned, and needs no more condemnation. Every soul in the world is already condemned many times over; for all have done wrong many times over. For every wrong deed each soul is condemned by the law of God which he has certainly transgressed: and in addition to this, each one condemns himself, and has already many times condemned himself for the wrong things that he has done. With everybody thus doubly condemned, and many times at that, surely it is not condemnation that this world needs. AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.5
Now what kind of a spirit can it be anyhow that cannot be content without heaping more condemnation upon people who are already condemned, even to death, many times over? Surely it can be only a spirit of vindictiveness akin to that of the devil himself, that cannot be satisfied with seeing people twice condemned many times over, but must hunt out and spy and set traps for opportunities to condemn them yet more. AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.6
In no such business as that will or can the disciples of Christ ever be engaged. These are of another spirit. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world.” And “As my Father sent me, even so send I you.... Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” This is the spirit that characterizes the children of God, the church of Christ. It is the Spirit of Christ; and “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” The Spirit of Christ, it does the work of Christ. He condemns not. AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.7
God knowing that men are so fully condemned already: and not being of such a vindictive spirit to want to put more condemnation upon people since doubly condemned; sent not his Son, nor his Spirit into the world “to condemn the world, but that the world through him MIGHT BE SAVED.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.8
It is salvation, not condemnation, that the people of this world need. And what a fearful perversion of the gift it is, when people professing the knowledge of Salvation, and professing to be the preachers and ministers of Salvation, turn to preaching and ministering condemnation, instead of salvation—and this too upon people who are already doubly and many times condemned. AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.9
There is more power in salvation, than there is condemnation, to turn and hold people away from worse courses. When the Lord Jesus said to that woman who was actually guilty of gross wrong-doing, “Neither do I condemn thee, Go and sin no more,” there was more power in that gentle, forgiving word to turn her into the way of righteousness and to keep her there, than there ever could be in all the condemnation of all the Pharisees in Judea and in the United States put together. AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.10
Oh that professed Christians would be Christians indeed. Oh that they would study to represent Christ indeed. Oh that they would court his Spirit, instead of indulging the vindictive spirit that cannot be sent without condemning people who are already repeatedly condemned even to death. AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.11
“Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” “God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” “As my Father sent me even so sent I you.... Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” “As he is so are we in this world.” “Condemn not and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 578.12
ATJ
“GOD was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.1
The great trouble with men is that they have gone away from God, and have become enemies in their minds by wicked works. AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.2
They have gone so far away that they have lost sight of God; their minds have become so confused that they have forgotten him; their eyes have become so blinded that they cannot see him; their hearts have become so perverse that they cannot discern him even though they be standing in his very presence. AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.3
“There is none righteous, no not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.4
This is the kind of world that God had, and has yet, to deal with. Yet in Jesus Christ he came and dwelt among men to reconcile the world unto himself. He sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He made peace through the blood of his cross that he might reconcile all things unto himself. And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable [sic.] and unreprovable in his sight. AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.5
Thus to a world steeped in sin, God brought reconciliation: with a world overwhelmed with rebellion he made peace. To the people of this world, God send neither condemnation nor antagonism, but peace and reconciliation only. AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.6
In Jesus Christ is this peace and reconciliation given to the world. All who truly receive Christ truly receive this peace and reconciliation. And every one who receives this peace becomes a peacemaker in the world and to the world—he preaches only peace, peace to all, by Jesus Christ. Every one who receives this reconciliation, in it and with it receives also the ministry of reconciliation—he antagonizes nobody, he condemns nobody, he ministers reconciliation to all, he persuades men to be reconciled to God. AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.7
“All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit: that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.8
“So then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” Thus every Christian is an ambassador for Christ to the world: he is an ambassador of peace, an ambassador of reconciliation. No Christian is ever an ambassador of condemnation, of legislation, nor of law: every Christian is an ambassador of salvation, not condemnation; of justification, not legislation; of gospel, not the law. AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.9
Every Christian preaches peace by Jesus Christ; for he is our peace and Lord of all. To the Christian is committed no ministry but the ministry of reconciliation. To him is committed no word but the word of reconciliation. No Christian has anything to do with governing or managing men: his business is solely to serve the Lord, to beseech other men to be reconciled to God, and to persuade them to serve the Lord. AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.10
The bane of Christianity, and the curse of the world, ever since the days of the apostles, has been the consuming desire of professed Christians to “boss” other people and to control and run the world. But God did not send Jesus Christ on any such mission as that, nor has he ever sent any Christian on any such mission. For “as he is, so are we in this world.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.11
“We have seen and do testify that God sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.” And he never attempted to save anybody by superintending the police, by running the politics of cities, by regulating the affairs of the State, nor by any other worldly means or method. He sought to save men only by spreading the knowledge of God and winning men to God. He did it only by ever revealing to men the Fatherly love and care of God for all mankind. When he found himself obliged to tell the scribes, the pharisees, and the lawyers, that they were hypocrites, it was not done in a spirit of denunciation: but rather with sorrow that such was the truth and that he was obliged to state it. AMS September 23, 1897, page 579.12
It is eternal life to know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. God desires that all men shall have eternal life. And as nothing but the knowledge of God can bring eternal life, the Lord Jesus came into the world to give to men the knowledge of God. This was his sole mission to the world. To this one thing all the faculties and energies of his whole being were devoted. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.1
This is the sole mission of Christians in the world. Men need the knowledge of God to-day as much as when Jesus was in the world. Yet Jesus is not now in the world as he was then. But believers in him are here in his stead. These are sent as was he. And as he is so are we in this world. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.2
Christians are sent, as verily as was Jesus, to be the saviours of the world—not of themselves nor by themselves, but of God and by God. Jesus said of himself, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” He did not come to save men of himself and by himself: he came to save the world by bringing and revealing to men the knowledge of God. So likewise Christians are not sent to save men of themselves nor by themselves, not by any plans or methods of their own; but by bringing to men and holding before the world the knowledge of God. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.3
This is the only mission, the sole purpose of existence of Christians in the world. To this one thing all their faculties and energies are devoted. And wherein any Christian comes short of this, so much he fails of being the Christian that Christ has sent him to be in the world. Here is the Lord’s design for every believer: “Now thanks be unto God who always causeth us to triumph, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.4
Thus the purpose of existence of the Christian in the world, is to glorify God, to make manifest the knowledge of God in every place, and so to bring to men eternal life. And every sincere Christian shuns, as he would a viper, anything and everything that would tend in the least degree to exalt itself against the knowledge of God. He brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, in whose stead he is in the world. The only person whom he ever has any ambition or desire to control, is himself. The only rulership he ever cares for is that over his own spirit. The only power that he ever chooses to exercise over flesh, is power over his own flesh. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.5
This is Christianity—the Christianity of Christ. These are Christians, for they are like Jesus. God is seeking for such. The world needs such, that it may find the knowledge of God and Jesus whom he sent, and may find eternal life. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.6
ATJ
WHAT the New York World, of September 16, styles “an extraordinary utterance,” was delivered in this city on the preceding Sunday, by a Roman Catholic priest “Father” Ducey. He said:— AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.1
“No law of man which conflicts with the law of God can exact obedience and submission from men. There is a higher law, as Seward said before he was stricken down for his efforts to preserve the independence of man. And we claim to-day, as moral teachers, that the higher body still exists. And no laws passed by corruption in the interests of trusts and monopolies, against the interest and welfare of God’s creatures in contradiction of the laws of God, are binding on the conscience of any man.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.2
The World says it feels in duty bound to protect against “the dangerous doctrine preached” in this utterance, and inquires:— AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.3
“What is it except an incitement to every man, no matter how ignorant or reckless, to become his own interpreter of the validity and the justice of laws? What practical difference is there between the anarchism of Goldman and Most, ranting against all law, and the broad assertion of the existence of a ‘higher law’ for the consciousness of men? Who is to decide when ‘the law of man so conflicts with the law of God’ as to keep men from obedience? Is it to be Father Ducey or his hearers? And what will become of government or of society if this doctrine of every man his own judge does not prevail?” AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.4
Does the World mean to deny that there is any “higher law” than the statutes of men? If so, it is most certainly in the wrong. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.5
And if there be a “higher law” which is binding upon the consciences of men—even the law of the Most High God—what attitude shall men assume toward it? When man’s law comes in conflict with it—as it has very often done in the history of this world—who is to point out the duty of the individual? Will the State do it? The State says, Obey my laws. But in case of a conflict between them and the law of God, the individual’s duty is to the latter. There is no condition or circumstances whatsoever under which any individual is absolved from the duty of obedience to the law of God. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.6
How then is the duty of the individual to be determined? That is the inquiry of the World. Does the individual become “his own interpreter of the validity and the justice of laws?” No; not in the case of the Christian; far from it. But that is the way it appears in the eye of the State. And the State usually proceeds to deal with him accordingly. This is precisely what happened in the case of the martyrs who went to the dungeon and the stake for conscience’ sake. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.7
It is the function of conscience to guide an individual in choosing between right and wrong. It is not the business of the State to define right and wrong. The State is exercising its legitimate function when it is protecting the individual in the enjoyment of his rights. Nor can conscience, alone, define right and wrong. Conscience must be educated in the principles and precepts of right and wrong, as revealed by a higher authority, before it can become a safe guide. The Word of God defines right and wrong for every individual; the Spirit of God illuminates the Word of God in the mind, when its meaning is earnestly and prayerfully sought, so that the pathway of right and duty is clearly seen. And thus the individual is not alone,—a self-constituted “interpreter of the validity and the justice of laws”—though he appears to be so in the eye of the State. The State deals with him as such; but God sees to it that nothing befalls such an individual that is not for his own good. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.8
The genuine Christian is never an anarchist. His doctrine is the doctrine of the Prince of Peace. No anarchist, no foe of law and order and peace, was ever at the same time a humble, conscientious, prayerful student of the Word of God. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.9
The really “extraordinary utterance” is not that given by “Father” Ducey, but that made by the World, in asking “what practical difference” there is between this obedience of conscience to the higher law of God, and “the anarchism of Goldman and Most, ranting against all law.” That is an extraordinary question, indeed. AMS September 23, 1897, page 580.10
ATJ
NO small amount of discussion has arisen in the religious world over the alleged discovery of certain unknown, or lost, sayings of Christ, one of which relates to the Sabbath and has been designated as the “Sabbath logion.” “Except ye keep the Sabbath,” it declares, “ye shall not see the Father.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.1
Whether one of Christ’s sayings or not, it is true, and it may well be read with an emphasis on the word “keep.” Not everything is Sabbath-keeping which claims to be such. God has not left it to the caprice or short-sighted wisdom of man to determine what is a proper observance of the Sabbath. In the fourth commandment he has said, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”; and a further commentary upon this point is given in Isaiah 58:13, 14. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.2
God made the Sabbath for a purpose: and that purpose must be fulfilled. Only that is true Sabbath-keeping which fulfills that purpose. What that purpose is we are told in the words of God to his chosen people: “Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.” “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever.” Exodus 31:13, 17. See also Ezekiel 20:12, 20. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.3
The Sabbath is a “sign” between God and his chosen people. His chosen people are the children of faith, the seed of Abraham, or children of Israel. See Galatians 3:7, 29; Genesis 32:28. But of what is it a sign? We find an answer in the words, “In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.4
The Creator is the true God; and in the keeping of his Sabbath we find a sign that we are worshipers of the true God. It makes all the difference in the world to the worshiper whether he is worshiping the true God, or some other. And in the Sabbath he is to find an evidence that he is truly a worshiper of Jehovah. But this he cannot do unless he keeps it holy, as God has specified. Otherwise he will see nothing of God in the Sabbath, and it will be to him but as any other day of the week. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.5
ATJ
A WRITER in The Vanguard, Mr. John Ratliff, argues for the union of religion and politics, and lays down the principle that a man’s religion and his politics are not divorceable. This is a principle that is getting a good deal of sanction in the religious world at the present time. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.1
How is it when two “Christians” conscientiously vote, one the Republican ticket and the other the Democratic ticket, at an election? Is Christianity joined to opposing political principles? If so, there are occasions when it opposes itself. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.2
Mr. Ratliff speaks of “political sins.” What is a “political sin?” It is the support of the “other faction,” or the “other party,” of course. A definition of “political sin” would amount to this and nothing more. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.3
Who can make a just standard of right and wrong but God alone? Men have set up many standards of right and wrong, but they have all been unreliable, because they were the work of fallible beings. In politics we have only those standards of “right” which men have set up: and we find as many such standards as there are parties. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.4
To make men understand right and wrong,—to convict them of sin, in other words—is the office work of the Holy Spirit: and to impress the truth upon the soul, the Spirit uses the Word of God. But politics commands neither the agency of the Word nor of the Spirit. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.5
In Judea, over eighteen hundred years ago, Jesus Christ walked among the people, and taught them of the kingdom of God. He is the perfect example for every Christian. To the extent to which he engaged in politics, the Christian may rightfully engage in politics. To the extent to which he sought to get control of earthly power, the Christian may properly exert himself for the purpose to-day. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.6
Jesus Christ was the mystery of the manifestation of God in human flesh. And every true Christian presents the same mystery to-day, for in him Christ lives and manifests himself to the world. In his true followers Jesus Christ lives on earth to-day, and what he does to-day is what he did in Judea so long ago. For he changes not, but is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.” If he was a politician then, the Christian will be one now. But it not, then the Christian will not concern himself in that way. AMS September 23, 1897, page 581.7
ATJ
FROM statistics published by a reliable European journal, it appears that so far as concerns the cessation of Sunday work, the “Continental Sunday” will bear comparison with the “American Sabbath.” AMS September 23, 1897, page 582.1
In Germany, we are told, all employers of labor in industrial lines of work are forbidden either to compel or permit their employees to work on Sunday. This prohibition does not apply to persons working alone, or to those engaged in agriculture, fishing, or the professions or liberal arts. AMS September 23, 1897, page 582.2
In commercial establishments (such as retail stores, banking, insurance, and similar institutions) all work is prohibited during the first days of the three special holidays of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, and is limited to five hours on all ordinary holidays and Sundays. AMS September 23, 1897, page 582.3
The individual German States may extend these restrictions at their pleasure. AMS September 23, 1897, page 582.4
In Austria, there is a general prohibition of Sunday work, the only general exception being for work that is deemed absolutely indispensable and for commercial establishments, in which Sunday work is permitted during six hours of the day. AMS September 23, 1897, page 582.5
In Switzerland, no woman can work on Sunday except at home or in a small shop, and no minor (a person under eighteen years of age), except in a few specified industries; and adult males are allowed to do Sunday work only in some specified industries, and in certain cases of emergency, the nature of which must be demonstrated. AMS September 23, 1897, page 582.6
In England, a distinction is made between the work of adult males and that of women and minors. The former are not restricted in the matter of Sunday work, but no woman, “young person” or child can work in factory or workshop on Sunday except in certain special cases. Jews are allowed to work on Sunday provided they observe Saturday as a day of rest. AMS September 23, 1897, page 582.7
In Germany, Austria and England, much of the legislation governing Sunday work is of recent origin, as late as the year 1895. AMS September 23, 1897, page 583.1
It will be observed that the prohibition of Sunday work is more rigid in Austria and Germany than in England; yet in the latter country the Continental Sunday is not nearly as conspicuous a feature of the week as in the former. Except in the matter of open public houses, Sunday is observed quite as well in England as in the United States. The “Continental Sunday” is not therefore a product of lax Sunday legislation. It is rather the result of the general indifference of the people toward religion; and nothing can more surely foster this indifference than the idea that the Sabbath is an institution that can be properly subjected to State regulation. AMS September 23, 1897, page 583.2
ATJ
ONE of the most curious mental phenomena of the times is the persistence of some good church people—men who essay to be ministers and teachers of divine truth—in calling the United States a Christian nation. Who would think of calling an individual a Christian who would spend more money many times over for strong drink, for tobacco, for firearms, for sports and amusements, for jewelry and for unnecessary display, than he would give to the cause of God! Yet this is precisely what is done by this “Christian” nation. AMS September 23, 1897, page 586.1