In the New Testament due emphasis is placed on obedience to "the powers that be," and the fact is clearly set forth that the Christian sustains a relationship both to God and to earthly governments, and that these relationships are entirely separate. We are instructed to "render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." We are in the world, and must of necessity have a part in it, but we are not to be a part of it; and to act in harmony with this distinction at all times, requires that men shall be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
It is certainly proper and right that the citizen of any country should take his full share of the responsibility of citizenship in upholding the principles of righteousness; but this does not mean that the ambassador on the business of the King of kings should consider it his duty to spend his time in politics. The missionary in all lands should be very guarded in his conversation regarding matters of government, remembering that he is a "guest" of the government, and that courtesy demands the greatest respect for the government and its officials. In the methods of government the missionary may detect many things which he considers to be relics of medievalism; but silence regarding all such matters is the best policy. We cannot afford to bring the good name of the cause which we represent into disrepute by unwise comments.
In India, not long ago, an American missionary (not a Seventh-day Adventist) was deported because of his unwise and unwarranted activity in politics. Sometime later we came in contact with the military authorities in an endeavor to arrange with them for renting tents to be used in connection with a large meeting to be held in Poona. The authorities wanted to know at once if we were in any way connected with the American missionary whose conduct had required such drastic action by the government, and we were both glad and fortunate in being able to assure them that our people were loyal to the government whose protection we share.
Some years ago a young missionary was on his way to India. While stopping in England, he met the president of our General Conference. The president asked the young missionary if he had brought his American flag with him, and the young man enthusiastically assured him that he had several American flags in the bottom of his trunk. To his surprise, he was advised to leave the flags on the bottom of the trunk until he returned to America at the end of his period of service in India.
That was sound advice, applicable at all times to missionaries in any land. It never pays to make a parade of one's nationality, or to indulge in invidious comparisons. We must be "wise" in our relationship to foreign governments, and "harmless" in our dealings with all matters of politics, which are of secondary importance in the great task committed to us of proclaiming the everlasting gospel to the world.
Poona, India.
