“Affront none—but forgive. In making friends, consider well first, and when you are fixed, be true, not wavering by reports, nor deserting in affliction.”
NONESSENTIALS
By John M. Hopkins
JOHN M. HOPKINS
(West Port, Minn.)
When we urge a strict conformity to the plain teaching of God's word,—the observance of the seventh day instead of the first as the Sabbath; baptism by immersion instead of the man-made substitutes, sprinkling and pouring; or obedience to the teaching of Jesus in the matter of feet-washing, as found in John 13,—we are often told that these questions are “nonessential.” “It is not necessary to be so particular in these matters. The Lord is not particular.”
We are shocked at the idea that men, teachers of the Word, and ministers of the gospel, will take such positions. To say that a thing is “nonessential,” is equivalent to saying that it is not important, and is of little or no consequence. We wonder how any man can be so presumptuous, how any man can dare so to trifle with the word of God; for it is written, “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Ps. 138: 2.
We ask, Has the Lord spoken foolishly? Shall we, dare we, charge the Lord with folly? Has He not declared, “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar”? Prov. 30: 6. And again, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Rev. 22: 18, 19. It is dangerous to trifle with the Lord. He has not spoken in vain. He said just what He meant, and He meant just what He said. Every command, and admonition, and promise of His word is sure and sacred.
Do we regard any word of the Lord as nonessential? Does not the Lord speak to us plainly in regard to paying an honest tithe? Do we not act as if we thought this a “nonessential”? “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.” 1 Sam. 2: 3. By neglect in this matter we treat that part of the Bible and the Testimonies as “nonessential.”
And how about the matter of diet, bathing, ventilation, prayer, the study of the Word—are these “nonessentials”? The Bible and the Testimonies speak expressly on these points.
How about dress, jewels, finger rings, gold vest chains, etc.? Think about these things, and remember that “happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” Rom. 14: 22.
“A RIGHTEOUS MAN REGARDETH THE LIFE OF HIS BEAST”
By Mrs. B. J. Cady
MRS. B. J. CADY
(Papeete, Tahiti, Society Islands)
It is painful to see the indifference with which many parents allow their children to tease and torment domestic animals. Animals have feelings, and suffer pain in the flesh just as we do. Notice how a bird or a cat will often cringe when you reach out your hand to touch it. If your touch is always gentle, it soon learns not to fear you, but it will always shrink from a rough hand.
We should take a kindly interest in all the live members of our household, and see that they are properly cared for, and not ill-treated. Children who really love animals, often treat them unkindly, having never been taught why it is wrong to do so. We ourselves should have a regard for the feelings of the helpless, dumb animals, and should help the children to understand why these creatures should receive kind and gentle treatment.
The kitten should not be given to the baby for a plaything, to be squeezed and choked till it cries out with pain. There is no better way to teach a child to be cruel and hard-hearted than to let him abuse the cat as he may see fit. When he cries for it, then is the time to begin to teach him that animals are not to be ill-treated, but handled tenderly, that they may not be hurt. The baby can easily be taught to be kind and tender toward his pets, if the older ones set a right example before him, and take a little pains to teach him.
Children often have a sort of mania for pets, and are sometimes permitted to keep quite a number. When they first get one, they take the best care of it; but after the novelty wears off, they usually become quite careless and negligent. Their minds are occupied with other things, and they do not notice that the water cup in the canary’s cage is quite empty. Perhaps the bird is allowed to suffer thirst for several days, and also hunger, and its cage is seldom cleaned. The children are at last brought to a sense of their carelessness by finding their little pet lying dead in the bottom of the cage.
The cat and dog also often suffer from hunger and thirst, as well as from cold, but especially from lack of food. The responsibility should not be laid entirely upon the children; for they are inexperienced and thoughtless, and do not realize how much their pets may suffer. It is the parents’ duty to help the children to understand why their pets need food and drink and kind treatment, and that without it they suffer just as we should.
If the parents are unkind to the domestic animals, and regardless of their comfort, the children will be the same. But if the parents are kind to these creatures, and careful to see that they are properly fed, the children will readily learn to take an interest in them, and will enjoy caring for them. Children are quick to notice and imitate the habits of their elders.
Household pets afford the parent an opportunity to teach children lessons of kindness and thoughtfulness. And if parents will not take the trouble to see that their children care for their pets and treat them kindly, they had better not allow the children to keep any pets; for in doing so, the parents would be teaching cruelty and unkindness.
There is a great deal of unnecessary suffering among animals, caused by the hardness of men’s hearts. As Christ’s followers, we should seek to alleviate the sufferings of the dumb animals as well as those of mankind. We read about Jesus as a child, that “the little creatures of the grove, the patient beasts of burden,—all were happier for His presence. He whose word of power upheld the worlds, would stoop to relieve a wounded bird.”
Let it be so with us and with our children,—let us so treat every creature that it will be happier for our presence. When the animals confide in and love us, it gives us a sense of satisfaction and joy that we can not feel when they fear the sound of our voice and flee from our presence.
The Conceited Coins
By Priscilla Leonard
“I’m just as good as silver!”
The Nickel proudly cried;
“The head of Madam Liberty
Is stamped upon my side.
I am as white and shining
As any dime can be—
He needn’t put on any airs,
I’m twice as thick as he!”
“I’m every bit as good as gold!”
The Penny blustered loud;
“That tiny, thin gold dollar—
He needn’t feel so proud;
For all his airs and graces
I do not give a fig;
I’m burnished just as bright as he,
And half again as big!”
But when the Cent and Nickel
Went out upon their way,
Alas! the world still held them cheap,
Whatever they might say.
The Double Eagle smiled. “You’ll find,”
He said, “that par is par;
It doesn’t matter how you boast,
But what you really are!”
— Priscilla Leonard, in the Outlook.
CHRIST MAGNIFIED THE LAW
By H. W. Reed
H. W. REED
(Neenah, Wis.)
Christ’s relation to the law of God is told by the prophet Isaiah, in these words: “The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.”
Christ was to magnify the law of God, not to minify it. These words are too emphatic to admit of the idea that Christ, in the least degree, changed the law. He put a magnifying glass over it: not that more could thus be seen than was there, but that more of what was there could be seen.
This law He magnified during His entire life: not that He might destroy it at His death, but that it might ever live to condemn sinners, and hold them guilty of death who do not accept Christ. His life is our example. He kept the law, and Christians should keep it. In living our example, He kept the seventh-day Sabbath; and in following His example, we must do as He did.
In respect to this thought, a quotation or two from Peloubet’s “Select Notes on the International Lessons,” 1882, will be in place: “We follow Christ when we imitate His example, obey His words, walk in His footsteps toward heaven and God.”—Page 26. On page 27 we find the following words: “Jesus was accustomed to spend the Sabbath religiously.”—Whedon. This note follows the words, “Sabbath day, our Saturday, their Sabbath,” showing that the seventh day is meant. Now as “Jesus was accustomed to spend the Sabbath religiously,” that was His example in this matter. Then as “we follow Christ when we imitate His example,” we shall keep the Sabbath religiously.
If we do not do as He did, we are not following His example, and, therefore, are not His followers. Then let us follow His example, and thus be His followers. As He magnified the law, by precept and living example, let all who pretend to be His followers do the same thing in the same way. And as Christ made the law honorable, so should those who profess to be Christians—Christlike—make the law honorable.
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE
I HAVE had two reading racks in two depots. I took ten copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” to sell, and have sold nine of them, and I shall sell more if God wills.
Was pleased to receive your letter of December 30. Have not had a letter from my son since, but have learned from others that there has been a forward move on his part. Let us pray that the work may still go on.
I have thought of writing to you for some time to ask prayers for two wayward boys, that they may be converted. I read the Woman’s page with interest as soon as received, and pray for all who have asked for prayers.
I will remail my REVIEW to any address you may send. For some time I have been wishing for an opportunity to do good with my REVIEWS. It seems a pity to have them lying around, doing no good after we have read them. I am a poor woman, but believe the Lord will provide if I have a willing spirit to do my part.
We never want to do without the REVIEW, and expect always to take it. An invalid sister lives about eight miles from our church, with an opposing family. Although she can get around only in a wheel-chair, she has many callers. This affords her an opportunity to do a great deal of missionary work, which is well improved.
One Sunday, about six years ago, I went into a neighbor’s house, and asked if she had any good reading for Sunday. She loaned me a book called “Bible Readings,” saying she did not know what was in it herself. I brought it home, and my husband and I began studying the Sabbath question; and in due course of time, we became convinced that Saturday is the Sabbath.
I kept the book about six or seven months, and then had to part with it. It seemed as if some dear one was torn from me when it went. I could not find out where the book was published, and did not know how to get another. Soon after this, we moved to another place, and I searched diligently for the followers of the doctrine taught in the book, but failed to find them.
One year ago last summer, while taking a walk with my little boy, I saw a gospel tent being put up, and that evening I told my husband that I was going to the meetings to see if these were not the people who taught the truths set forth in the book. Every night we became more convinced that they were, and the fourth night my husband asked the ministers, and we greatly rejoiced to know that this was true, and that we could get the book from them. At the time the truth found me, I was in the world, driven into Spiritualism. I was seeking for light, but I could not find what I wished in the churches; and I am indeed thankful that the Lord sent the truth to me in this way.
The preceding is only one of many instances which show what our publications do. Let us be diligent in scattering them, and we may be sure that God will care for every seed of truth sown, and that it will not be without result.
—William Cullen Bryant
By William Cullen Bryant
O FATHER, haste the promised hour,
When at His feet shall lie
All rule, authority, and power
Beneath the ample sky;
When He shall reign from pole to pole,
The Lord of every human soul;
When all shall heed the words He said
Amid their daily cares,
And by the loving life He led
Shall seek to pattern theirs.
And He who conquered death shall win
The nobler conquest over sin.
—William Cullen Bryant
A MISSIONARY INCIDENT
A WORKER in a sailors’ mission relates the following experience:—
A few days ago, after attending the meeting at the mission, on my way home I passed the home of a man who receives good wages, but wastes his money, instead of supporting his family. As I passed the house, I heard this man abusing his wife, but instead of going in to interfere, I hurried home, and spread the man’s case before the Lord, praying to Him for deliverance for the one so bound by sin. Before night came, that same day, the man came to my house and begged me to go home with him. I did so, and he asked me, as well as his wife and daughter, to go down town to witness his signing the pledge. The poor wife had been so often and so bitterly disappointed, that she had lost faith in him, and declined to go. But the daughter and I went, and the man signed the pledge as strongly as he could make any contract, and had it legally recorded. It seemed as if he wished to burn the bridges behind him by making the matter public. There are earnest hearts burdened over this case, praying that he may be led to the Saviour, who can set him free indeed from the strong fetters that have heretofore bound him.
The worker also says that this experience has cheered him greatly, and that he would rather have such an experience than to be pastor in the finest and richest church of the land.
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
“I wish you all to pray for me, that I may have better health, so that I can serve God better.”
“Please remember my three sisters and their families at the hour of prayer, that they may be converted to the Lord; also my brother and his family.”
“My son is not in the truth, and I ask for the prayers of my dear sisters that he and his wife may receive the love of the truth and be among God’s waiting ones for Jesus’ sake; for He alone is worthy.”
“I have been reading the requests for prayer in the REVIEW. I am glad our sisters pray, and I wish our brethren would pray too. My wife suffers terribly with stomach trouble, and I am suffering much from catarrh and chest trouble. Will you please pray God to heal us?”
“I request an interest in your prayers for my aged and invalid husband. He has been an invalid nearly two years, and there seems to be no hope for him only as help is obtained from the great Physician. Pray that he may be restored to comfortable health again if it is the Lord’s will.”
A sister in South Dakota requests prayer for her daughter who is not favorable to the truth. She at one time belonged to the Baptist Church, but has withdrawn her membership. Pray for her and for her husband and little boy, that they may see and accept the truth. This sister also requests prayer for her husband, who is indifferent to religious things.
“Will you please pray especially for my husband? He is very indifferent, and given to using strong drink and tobacco. Pray that the dear Lord will take away the appetite for these things, and that he will not have a desire for the company of those who use them. I long to take him in my arms and carry him to Christ, but I know it is only by the Spirit of God that he can be drawn to Him.”
An aged sister in California requests prayer for two unconverted sons, for two sons in the truth, one of whom has become discouraged, and for the restoration to health of a daughter who has been in the work; also for two married daughters and for daughters-in-law and sons-in-law and grandchildren, and also for herself that she may cease worrying, and may meet all her dear ones in the kingdom. Let us help by the strength of prayer to lift the burden on this dear sister’s heart.
PIE CRUST
1 cup cream,
2 cups flour,
a little salt.
If cream is thin, or milk be used instead of cream, it will require two and one-half cups of flour for one cup of liquid.
Drip liquid into sifted flour with one hand; shaking the flour and liquid up with spoon with other hand, gather out a few crumbs on board, and roll out thin. Work fast, and never WORK the dough. Bake bottom crust slightly before filling is added. Scatter a part of the sugar over the top of crust, and then bake the pie on top first, and then set in bottom of oven to finish baking. The crust will not soak up and become leathery if made and baked in this way.
God’s Servants Everywhere
“SAY not, my soul, From whence
Can God relieve my care?”
Remember that Omnipotence
Hath servants everywhere.”
PRAYER
Secret Prayer
THE “hour of prayer” must have a place on the schedule of the most crowded life if that life is not doomed to make a spiritual failure. I speak to busy women and busy men. Sometimes we feel that we owe so much to our immediate duties and surroundings, that we must curtail the hour of prayer. Friends, it is a failure.
We shall pay in sadness and weakness for all that we cut off from the hour of prayer; and when we have once come to realize what the hour of prayer can do for us, how it can lift us from weakness into strength, who that hath known the full power of that hour would give it up at any price? It is the hour of growth, the hour of vision; it is the hour of trust, of happiness, of peace. It is the hour of refreshing and the renewing of powers and faculties taxed and exhausted by the drive of our work. Most marvelously, it is the hour of renewing.
“Lord, what a change within us
One short hour spent in thy presence will avail to
make!
What burdens lighten, what temptations slake,
What parched grounds refresh as with a shower!
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower,
We rise, and all the distant and the near
Shines forth in sunny outline brave and clear.
We kneel, how weak!
We rise, how full of power!
Why, then, should we do ourselves this wrong,
And others, that we are not always strong?
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or faithless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer;
And strength and joy and courage are with Thee.”
As Paul says to us, in Philippians, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Take God into your closest friendship and fellowship. Make Him your confidant in everything; have no secrets from Him; tell Him every thought: and what then? “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The fifteenth chapter of Revelation is an introduction to the sixteenth. In the hands of the seven angels are the seven vials containing wrath, and nothing but wrath. Mercy has taken her flight from the earth, and these angels are given their work. But before the plagues are described, the prophet sets before the people of God the reward of the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have obtained the victory over the Beast and over his Image by heeding the warning of the third angel. “Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass, as it were mingled with fire, so resplendent is it with the glory of God, are gathered the company that have ‘gotten the victory over the Beast, and over his Image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.’ With the Lamb upon Mount Zion [sea of glass], ‘having the harps of God,’ they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, ‘the voice of harpers harping with their harps.’ And they sing ‘a new song’ before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb,—a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty and four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience,—an experience such as no other company have ever had.” — “Great Controversy,” pages 648, 649.
As with Christ, their Creator and Redeemer, they visit worlds upon worlds and behold His handiwork, they exclaim: “Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” In verse 5 the prophet’s mind is carried back to the ending of probation; he saw the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven open, and seven angels come out to do their work. Their clothing was a full representative of Christ’s. Compare verse 6 with chapter 1:13. They were delegated to pour out God’s wrath when there was no more mercy. Christ had laid aside His priestly attire, clothed himself with the garments of vengeance, and come forth as “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” See Rev. 19:11-19; Isa. 59:16-18.
Two things worthy of notice are mentioned in the eighth verse: “The temple was filled with smoke,” and “no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”
As when Moses had erected the first tabernacle, “a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, and Moses was not able to enter the tent of the congregation” (Ex. 40:34-36); and as at the dedication of Solomon’s temple the glory of the Lord “filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10, 11),—so now when the ministration for mercy is over, the glory of God filled the temple, and no man was able to enter the temple to officiate as priest for the human family. “Then ceases His [Christ’s] intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands, and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done;’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ Rev. 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people, and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up; ‘the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,’ is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.” — “Great Controversy,” pages 613, 614. It will be noticed that it is Christ who says, “It is done,” when He finishes His intercession in behalf of the human family.
God the Father alone is left in the sanctuary. He remains there during the outpouring of the seven last plagues. It is under the sixth plague that “streams cease to flow. Dark, heavy clouds come up, and clash against each other. In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear place of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God [not Christ] like the sound of many waters, saying, ‘It is done.’” — “Great Controversy,” page 636. Let the reader carefully study the two chapters of “Great Controversy,” The Time of Trouble, and God’s People Delivered, and there will be no confusion over the ending of probation before the seven plagues are poured out.
It is one of the “four beasts” that give unto the seven angels the vials full of the wrath of God. They are with Christ as He offers the prayers of the saints on the earth, and even they also have vials full of odors. Rev. 5:8-10.
It is humanity in behalf of humanity that says there are no more prayers to be offered. The last prayers have been offered for others, the last tear has been shed. The last effort has been made for the salvation of souls because they have refused the offer of pardon, and turned their ears away from the call of mercy. It is then that Christ takes the censer, and fills it with fire of the altar, and casts it into the earth, and there are voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Rev. 8:5. It is then Christ says, “It is done.” That time is near to come. May the Lord help us all to get ready; for it will come as a thief in the night.
TO THE READING CIRCLE MEMBERS
By Mrs. L. Flora Plummer
MRS. L. FLORA PLUMMER
Upon whom is the Lord depending to carry on the work of the gospel? — Upon you and me. He calls us His ambassadors, and He has intrusted to us the great ministry of reconciling the world to God through Christ. Every one who has heard the message may repeat it to others. “Let him that heareth say, Come.” The Reading Circle members have spent a number of weeks in carefully “hearing” the message, and the question now is, Are we saying, “Come”? The only essential qualification is that we shall have truly heard. We may not be wise, or rich, or great; we may even be unlearned, poor, and of no esteem in the eyes of men, yet the Master of the vineyard has apportioned us our work. No other servant can take from us the privilege of doing that which He has given us to do, neither can we place our responsibility upon another, and so excuse ourselves. In the Lord’s army of workers there are none who are there as substitutes, and none have been drafted into service. It is God who has given “to every man his work.” And it is God who will “reward every man according to his works.”
When it is once settled that “I” am to work, the next question is, Where shall I begin? Much perplexity might be cleared away by remembering what God has said to us upon this point. He does not ask us to do all that we see should be done; for we can see much farther than we can reach. He does say, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” The work our hands can reach is what God would have us do. He has scattered His people, that the knowledge of Him might be revealed to all the world. When I work out in every direction as far as my hands can reach, I shall feel the tips of other fingers in the same blessed ministry; and on and on these outstretched hands will work, in love and unity, until the hands encircle the earth, and the everlasting gospel has been given “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”
Reading Circle Studies in Springfield
By Sadie Baker
SISTER SADIE BAKER, a Bible worker at Springfield, Ohio, writes: “Our Reading Circle class meets on Sunday afternoons. The church-members here take a lively interest in the studies. It is a pleasure to study with them. Some, at least, are learning to study the Bible for themselves. The Circle lessons are to the church a real training school. It is remarkable how much better the friends here understand the message and the different points of our faith since we have begun these studies. The third, fourth, and fifth chapters of Revelation were of special interest to us. These Bible studies are of practical help in enabling all to get such a hold of the message that they can give it to others. Of what use is our knowledge if we can not impart it to others?”
The Great Object of Christ’s Mission
CHRIST continually pointed His disciples to the “great object of His mission. It was that that He kept ever before Him.” And the quenchless zeal of the same mighty purpose has burned its way down through the centuries, and will never cease to fire the hearts of man.
BEREAN LIBRARY STUDY
Revelation 15; “Thoughts on the Revelation,”
Pages 638 - 640
DAILY READING FOR MARCH 17-23
Sunday, “Thoughts on the Revelation,” pages 638-640.
Monday, “Great Controversy,” chap. 39, The Time of Trouble.
1. What sign did the prophet see? Of what were the seven angels a sign? What are the seven last plagues?
2. Locate the sea of glass. Give Scripture proof. Identify this company with the 144,000 of Rev. 14:1.
3. What is meant by victory over the Beast? the Image? the mark? the number of his name?
4. Under what circumstances did Moses sing a song of deliverance? What is united with the song of Moses? Why will the 144,000 be able to sing this song? Give the song.
5. After receiving a view of the triumph of the remnant, what change did the prophet see in the temple in heaven? Who came out? What did they have?
6. From whom had they received the golden vials? With what was the temple filled when the golden vials were given the angels?
7. Was any man able to enter the temple, at this time? Would this exclude “the man Christ Jesus”? Would it also exclude the four and twenty elders, who officiated, as they are redeemed humanity?
8. For how long a time were they excluded from the temple?
THE KEEPING OF THE COMMANDMENTS
The First Commandment
“I AM the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Ex. 20: 2, 3.
The third of the three forms under which “the world” is embraced, and idolatry manifested, is—
“The pride of life.”
The word here used to express the thought of “life” is a form of the Greek word βίος, and signifies not animal life; not the breath of life; not spiritual life; not life itself, the life which comes from God; but “the life which we live; the life led; hence, manner of life, course of life.”
The word used to express the thought of “pride” is ἀλαζονεία (“alazoneia”), “the character of an ἀλαζών (alazon).” And an ἀλαζών is literally “a wanderer about the country;” hence, literally, “a false pretender, imposter, quack; hence, swaggering, boastful, braggart; and by implication, ostentation, arrogance, pride.” It is the same word that is used in 1 Tim. 3: 6: “Being lifted up with pride.”
The closest equivalent English word is “ambition,” which signifies, literally, “a going about, as of a candidate soliciting votes;” again, “the act of going about to solicit or obtain an office or other object of desire;” a “desire for some object that confers distinction;” “desire to distinguish one’s self from other men;” “desirous of obtaining power, superiority, or distinction.”
Another word that corresponds to this “pride of life” and “ambition,” is “self-exaltation,” self-aggrandizement. The Latin word that corresponds to the Greek word used to express “pride of life,” is gloriosus, and expresses the idea of worldly glory.
In the light of these definitions, it is easier to see the real nature of the temptation of Jesus, when “the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” And then all the fires of ambition, of worldly glory, that were ever manifested in human flesh—in Alexander, Napoleon, and all others like—poured like a driving storm upon Jesus, to entice Him to the desire of that which was before Him.
But by the Spirit of God, Jesus knew that none of all that “glory” which He saw was “of the Father,” but all “of the world.” He knew that it was only a false, fleeting glory. He knew that true glory lies not in “the pride of life,” not in ambition, not in self-exaltation; but in self-emptying, self-renunciation. And, therefore, He promptly answered: “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”
As pointed out in a previous study, the divine account of this temptation reveals the fact that worldly glory, the glory of the kingdoms of this world; the glory of rulership, of overlordship; the glory of position, of office,—all this, or any of it, can be had only by idolatry, only by the worship of “the god of this world.”
Christianity, the true keeping of the commandments of God, is not rulership, but service. The liberty wherewith Christ makes men free, the liberty in which Christians stand fast, is the liberty by love to serve one another; as it is written, and as it has been studied only lately, in the Sabbath-school lessons all over the world: “Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Gal. 5: 13, 14. And to love our neighbor as ourselves is to do good to him always, in all things, and by whatsoever means. In “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
And when, in this same “pride of life,” this spirit of ambition, the disciples were striving among themselves as to who should be the greatest, or who should be counted the greatest, “Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matt. 20: 25–28.
Thus, all desire for place or for position; all exercise of dominion or of authority in place or position; all national distinctions, all racial distinctions, all aristocratic distinctions, all class distinctions, all place or official distinctions, are only of the pride of life, are not of the Father, but of the world, and are idolatry. They are all vanity, which is only idolatry.
The greatest curse that has ever come upon the earth since the original curse itself, has been, and is, in men, in the world and in the Church, occupying places of authority, and exercising authority, who have no true authority. What has been the greatest curse that all history has known among men in the world, as they have existed in nations or organizations? What organization has been the most oppressive, and the most far-reaching in its oppression? Everybody can answer in a moment and in a word—the papacy. And what is the papacy?—It is summed up in a man in place of authority, who has no true authority. It is simply a man, having seized authority over men, and the means of enforcing it, and demanding respect and subjection to that authority, who yet has no authority at all except that which he has seized by unlawful means. And the Scripture description of the papacy is that he “opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” This is the extremity to which man can possibly go in the violation of the First Commandment. And yet it is all simply the desire for place, position, and to exercise authority.
But the papacy has no true authority, because it has no truth. Truth is the only source of authority. He who has the truth has authority. And he who has the most truth has the most authority. This is why it is that Jesus had all authority in heaven and in earth: He had all authority because He had all the truth—He is the Truth itself. “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” “I am the Way, the Truth.” Those two sentences belong together. Each explains the other.
And yet Jesus had no position: He occupied no place. And that simply expresses the eternal truth that position never gives true authority. And that is simply to say that, in the Church and work of God, position never gives authority to anybody. Authority may qualify a person for a position that he has not. But position never can give to a person authority that he has not without the position. Position entails responsibility, but never gives authority.
Jesus taught “as one having authority.” And that authority was readily recognized by those who heard. This was because the authority was in what He taught. The authority was in the truth that He had. And whosoever in the world has the truth as it is in Jesus, in that he has also authority in heaven and on earth—not to exercise authority, but to speak with authority. “The princes of the Gentiles exercise . . . authority,” “but it shall not be so among you.” God does give authority; but He gives it in the truth which He gives: and he who receives the truth of God as it is, as it is in Jesus, in that receives authority. The authority which he has is in the truth which he has, in the message which he bears.
Where, then, is the true position of greatness, and the position of true greatness? Here is the answer: “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” The greatest position is that of servant; and the greatest work is that of service. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” “I am among you as He that serveth.”
In Christ and the way of Christ is the keeping of the First Commandment. In the papacy and in the way of the papacy is the breaking of the First Commandment.
“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”