Discipline!—More is expected of the shepherd than of the sheep of his flock, and properly so. More is required of the minister than of the layman. Violations of clear denominational principle that might not be so serious in the case of a layman, call for decisive disciplinary action when a minister is involved, for "ignorance of the law" of the church cannot be pleaded for a teacher of its principles, which he has been officially ordained to proclaim.
Confusion! —There is no more effective way to hinder the progress of a genuine truth than for a prominent advocate thereof to apostatize; or lapse, into some unchristian conduct. Such a course will always be capitalized by reactionaries as the crowning evidence of the pernicious character and result of the teaching. But this is not sound reasoning, for many who introduced or developed some of the most cherished denominational positions—conditional immortality, the sanctuary, the seventh-day Sabbath, righteousness by faith, etc.—left us, to walk no more with us. Their defection, however, in no way affected the truths they formerly advanced. Truth or falsity is not gauged by the loyalty or perfidy of some human champion. Let there be no confusion here.
Discomfiture! —He who in discussion turns from the candid examination and answering of argument and fact presented, to ridiculing the knowledge or personal experience of his opponent, or who has recourse to diverting sarcasm concerning the arguments, instead of meeting them, thereby acknowledges the weakness of his own position, and should not complain if these tricks of the debater are turned to his personal discomfiture. He who thus exposes his own flank should not flinch when met with a devastating rejoinder.
Irresistible!—Nothing is more irresistible than a truth whose time has come. Neither folly of friend nor assault of foe, no, not even the relentless warfare of demons can stay its onward march. Repulsed, it is bound to rise. Submerged, it is sure to reappear. Ridiculed and repudiated, it pursues its course in harmony with the purpose and chronology of God, for He will raise up its proponents and defenders. If men were silent, the very rocks, as it were, would cry out. Thus with the heralding of God's final gospel message to men. The very invincibility of present truth assures its triumph, irrespective of any man's lethargy, apostasy, or fanaticism. That is the basis of our faith in its triumph.
Trends!—The spiritual stagnation or pronounced drift from founding principles of religious bodies two, three, or four hundred years old, is often noted. Yet these organized groups unquestionably constituted God's true church in the time of their inception and early witness. The situation leads to this sobering question: If probationary time were to continue two or three centuries longer,—which, of course, we do not concede,—just what would be our own denominational condition should trends intensify that are already a concern to the observer? We need to give earnest heed to our founding purpose. We need constantly to review the elemental principles of this final "everlasting gospel" movement. We need to ponder over present and future relationships to God's illimitable truth, and the consummating aspects of redemption. God's remnant people must not—nay, surely will not—lose their vision.
Differentiated!—This message is not antagonistic to many fine ethical ideals and principles enunciated by contemporary religionists, and which form part of the common heritage of all Christendom. On the contrary, it indorses and includes them, for our platform has a breadth that incorporates all recognized truth. But the basic distinction is this: we cannot stop with a lofty ethical idealism; but, including it, we stress as our fundamental message the everlasting gospel that saves, and join therewith the warning against all apostate principles and practices. In other words, we put the emphasis where God has directed. This very simple differentiation is, curiously enough, a source of perplexity and stumbling to some.
Interpretation!—The prophecies of the Word are among its most comforting and faith-confirming portions. Of incalculable benefit to the church, they are, however, sometimes sadly obscured. If the laws of prophetic interpretation were more faithfully observed, there would be fewer wild expositions of prophecy. Such are usually built around personal theories, conceived as to the course of fulfillment, and colored by the imagination of the advocate. We know the general outline and the ultimate outcome, but we are not warranted in prophesying the process of accomplishment. Our province and our safety lie in interpreting and identifying events foretold as they come to pass. Nor have we authority for going outside the precise specifications recorded for our learning. Prophecy was not given to gratify curiosity, nor was it recorded to forecast purely political movements except as they affect the church in its march through the centuries, and preeminently as earthly governments are involved in the closing events of the plan of redemption when God settles with the nations. Here is a wonderful field for reverent study.
L. E. F.