Let your Light Shine by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 17, 1857

Let your Light Shine.

By James White

A correspondent says, “The church in this place have been invited by other denominations to join with them in prayer and conference meeting; but they are opposed to having present truth advocated. They say that there is not interest enough among their own members to keep up the weekly prayer-meetings, so they want our church to come over and help wake up an interest among them. Some have been from our church; but my mind is not settled as to its being right. Will some one tell me through the Review what is right.”

Said the Saviour, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” Matt. v, 16. This is the duty of all Christians, as far as circumstances will admit, and they have ability. When people shut their ears and their hearts to the truth, it is better to leave them than to disturb and to pain them with the sound of truth. “Let them alone.” For brethren to meet with, and try to worship God with such, and keep silent on the present truth, we think would be wronging their own souls and dishonoring the God of truth. Would it not be like putting a light under a bushel, or under a bed? True, it may not be duty in all places and at all times to introduce unpopular Bible truth; but, certainly, brethren should not engage in the worship of God with those who hold popular errors, and bind them so that they cannot give a free expression of plain Bible truths. J. W.