Responsibilities and Duties of God's People
The banner of truth and religious liberty held aloft by the founders
of
the gospel church and by God's witnesses during the centuries that have
passed since then, has, in this last conflict, been committed to our
hands.
The responsibility for this great gift rests with those whom God has
blessed
with a knowledge of His Word. We are to receive this Word as a supreme
authority. We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine
appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its
legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we
must obey God rather than men. God's word must be recognized as above all
human legislation. A "Thus
162
saith the Lord" is not to be set aside for a "Thus saith the church" or a
"Thus saith the state." The crown of Christ is to be lifted above the
diadems of earthly potentates.-- The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 68, 69.
{ChS
161.3}
We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed
to us. We are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the
Sunday
law will bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching
peril,
to arouse to action. Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil,
comforting themselves with the belief that this work must go on because
prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will shelter his people. We
are
not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve
liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to
heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work
which has so long been neglected. Let there be more earnest prayer; and
then
let us work in harmony with our prayers.--Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 713,
714.
{ChS 162.1}
It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger.
We should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper
light before the people. We should bring before them the real question at
issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to
restrict liberty of conscience.--Testimonies, vol. 5 p. 452. {ChS 162.2}
When God has given us light showing the dangers before us, how can we
stand clear in His sight if we neglect to put forth every effort in our
power to bring it before the people? Can we be content to leave them to
meet
this momentous issue unwarned?--Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 712. {ChS 162.3}
When the National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict
religious liberty, our leading men should have been alive to the
situation,
and should have labored earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is not
in
the order of God that light has been kept from our people,--the very
present
truth which they needed for this time. Not all our ministers who are
giving
the third angel's message, really understand what constitutes that
message.
The National Reform movement has been regarded by some as of so little
163
im****tance that they have not thought it is necessary to give much
attention
to it, and have even felt that in so doing they would be giving time to
questions distinct from the third angel's message. May the Lord forgive
our
brethren for thus interpreting the very message for this time.--
Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 715. {ChS 162.4}
We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our
land; and now that the movement is right upon us, we ask, Will our people
do
their duty in the matter? Can we not assist in lifting the standard, and
in
calling to the front those who have a regard for their religious rights
and
privileges? The time is fast approaching when those who choose to obey God
rather than man, will be made to feel the hand of oppression. Shall we
then
dishonor God by keeping silent while His holy commandments are trodden
under
foot? While the Protestant world is by her attitude making concessions to
Rome, let us arouse to comprehend the situation, and view the contest
before
us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen now lift up their voice, and
give
the message which is present truth for this time. Let us show people where
we are in prophetic history, and seek to arouse the spirit of true
Protestantism, awakening the world to a sense of the value of the
privileges
of religious liberty so long enjoyed.--Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 716. {ChS
163.1}
The people of our land need to be aroused to resist the advances of
this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty.--Spirit of
Prophecy,
vol. 4, p. 382. {ChS 163.2}
Shall we sit with folded hands, and do nothing in this crisis? . . .
God help us to arouse from the stu**** that has hung over us for
years.--Review and Herald, Dec. 18, 1888. {ChS 163.3}
A Wise Course to Pursue
To defy the Sunday laws will but strengthen in their persecution the
religious zealots who are seeking to enforce them. Give them no occasion
to
call you law-breakers. If they are left to rein up men who fear neither
God
nor man, the reining up will soon lose its novelty for them, and they
164
will see that it is not consistent nor convenient for them to be strict in
regard to the observance of Sunday. Keep right on with your missionary
work, with your Bibles in your hands, and the enemy will see that he has
worsted his own cause. One does not receive the mark of the beast because
he
shows that he realizes the wisdom of keeping the peace by refraining from
work that gives offense, doing at the same time a work of the highest
im****tance.--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 232. {ChS 163.4}
When we devote Sunday to missionary work, the whip will be taken out
of
the hands of the arbitrary zealots who would be well pleased to humiliate
Seventh-day Adventists. When they see that we employ ourselves on Sunday
in
visiting the people and opening the Scriptures to them, they will know
that
is useless for them to try to hinder our work by making Sunday
laws.--Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 232,233. {ChS 164.1}
Sunday can be used for carrying forward various lines of work that
will
accomplish much for the Lord. On this day open-air meetings and cottage
meetings can be held. House-to-house work can be done. Those who write can
devote this day to writing their articles. Whenever it is possible, let
religious services be held on Sunday. Make these meetings intensely
interesting. Sing genuine revival hymns, and speak with power and
assurance
of the Saviour's love. Speak on temperance and on true religious
experience. --Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 233. {ChS 164.2}
Let the teachers in our schools devote Sunday to missionary effort. I
was instructed that they would thus be able to defeat the purposes of the
enemy. Let the teachers take the students with them to hold meetings for
those who know not the truth. Thus they will accomplish much more that
they
could in any other way.--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 233. {ChS 164.3}
The Triumph of Truth
Skepticism may treat the claims of God's law with jest, scoffing, and
denial. The spirit of worldliness may contaminate the many and control the
few; the cause of God may hold its ground only by great exertion and
continual sacrifice;
165
yet in the end of the truth will triumph gloriously.-- Prophets and Kings,
p. 186. {ChS 164.4}
In the closing work of God in the earth, the standard of His law will
be again exalted. False religion may prevail, iniquity may abound, the
love
of many may wax cold, the cross of Calvary may be lost sight of, and
darkness, like the pall of death, may spread over the world; the whole
force
of the popular current may be turned against the truth; plot after plot
may
be formed to overthrow the people of God; but in the hour of greatest
peril,
the God of Elijah will raise up human instrumentalities to bear a message
that will not be silenced. In the populous cities of the land, and in the
places where men have gone to the greatest lengths in speaking against the
Most High, the voice of stern rebuke will be heard. Boldly will men of
God's
appointment denounce the union of the church with the world. Earnestly
will
they call upon men and women to turn from the observance of a man-made
institution to the observance of the true Sabbath.--Prophets and Kings,
pp.
186, 187. {ChS 165.1}
Light in the Darkness
Among earth's inhabitants, scattered in every land, there are those
who
have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear
only
at night, these faithful ones will ****ne forth when darkness covers the
earth and gross darkness the people. In heathen Africa, in the Catholic
lands of Europe and of South America, in China, in India, in the islands
of
the sea, and in all the dark corners of the earth, God has in reserve a
firmament of chosen ones that will yet ****ne forth amidst the darkness
revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience
to His law. Even now they are appearing in every nation, among every
tongue
and people; and in the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan's supreme
effort
is made to cause "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond,"
to receive, under penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false rest
day, these faithful ones, "blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without
rebuke, " will "****ne
166
as lights in the world." The darker the night, the more brilliantly will
they ****ne.--Prophets and Kings, pp. 188, 189. {ChS 165.2}
When the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, the true sheep
will hear the true Shepherd's voice. Self-denying efforts will be put
forth
to save the lost, and many who have strayed from the fold will come back
to
follow the great Shepherd.--Australian Signs of the Times, Supplement,
Jan.
26, 1903. {ChS 166.1}
The Divine Protection
But though the conflict is a ceaseless one, none are left to struggle
alone. Angels help and protect those who walk humbly before God. Never
will
our Lord betray one who trusts in Him. As His children draw near to Him
for
protection from evil, in pity and love He lifts up for them a standard
against the enemy. Touch them not, He says; for they are Mine. I have
graven
them upon the palms of My hands.--Prophets and Kings, p. 571. {ChS 166.2}
Heaven is very near those who suffer for righteousness' sake. Christ
identifies His interests with the interests of His faithful people; He
suffers in the person of His saints; and whoever touches His chosen ones,
touches Him. The power that is near to deliver from physical harm or
distress, is also near to save from the greater evil, making it possible
for
the servant of God to maintain his integrity under all
cir***stances.--Prophets and Kings, p. 545. {ChS 166.3}
At times the Lord may seem to have forgotten the perils of His
church,
and the injury done her by her enemies. But God has not forgotten. Nothing
in this world is so dear to the heart of God as His church. It is not His
will that worldly policy shall corrupt her record. He does not leave His
people to be overcome by Satan's temptations. He will punish those who
misrepresent Him, but He will be gracious to all who sincerely
repent.--Prophets and Kings, p. 590. {ChS 166.4}
When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to
enact
a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery; it
will
be nothing else than giving life to the tyranny which has long been
eagerly
watching its op****tunity to spring again into active
despotism. --Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 712. {ChS 160.3}
By the decree of enforcing the institution of the Papacy in violation
of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from
righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf
to
grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to
clasp
161
hands with Spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold
union,
our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a
Protestant and Republican government, and shall make provision for the
propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the
time has come for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is
near.--Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 451. {ChS 160.4}
The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall
be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege
of
Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean
Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation, in the
decree enforcing the papal sabbath, will be a warning to us. It will then
be
time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones
for
retired homes in secluded places among the mountains.--Testimonies, vol.
5,
pp. 464, 465. {ChS 161.1}
Many With Blinded Eyes
There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sunday
enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this action.
They do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty.
There are many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath,
and the false foundation upon which the Sunday institution
rests.--Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 711. {ChS 161.2}
http://egwdatabase.whiteestate.org/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$vid=default
|
