Our Attitude Toward the Civil Authorities
By some of our brethren many things have been spoken and written
that are interpreted as expressing antagonism to government and law.
It is a mistake thus to lay ourselves open to misunderstanding. It is
not wise to find fault continually with what is done by the rulers of
government. It is not our work to attack individuals or institutions. We
should exercise great care lest we be understood as putting ourselves
in opposition to the civil authorities. It is true that our warfare is
aggressive, but our weapons are to be those found in a plain “Thus
saith the Lord.” Our work is to prepare a people to stand in the great
day of God. We should not be turned aside to lines that will encourage
controversy or arouse antagonism in those not of our faith.
We should not work in a manner that will mark us out as seeming to
advocate treason. We should weed out from our writings and utterances
every expression that, taken by itself, could be so misrepresented as
to make it appear antagonistic to law and order. Everything should be
carefully considered, lest we place ourselves on record as encouraging
disloyalty to our country and its laws. We are not required to defy
authorities. There will come a time when, because of our advocacy
of Bible truth, we shall be treated as traitors; but let not this time be
hastened by unadvised movements that stir up animosity and strife.
The time will come when unguarded expressions of a denunciatory
character, that have been carelessly spoken or written by our brethren,
will be used by our enemies to condemn us. These will not be used
merely to condemn those who made the statements, but will be charged
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upon the whole body of Adventists. Our accusers will say that on such
and such a day one of our responsible men said thus and so against the
administration of the laws of this government. Many will be astonished
to see how many things have been cherished and remembered that
will give point to the arguments of our adversaries. Many will be
surprised to hear their own words strained into a meaning that they
did not intend them to have. Then let our workers be careful to speak
guardedly at all times and under all circumstances. Let all beware lest
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