Our Attitude Toward the Civil Authorities
341
Love Among Brethren
The characteristics most needful to be cherished by God’s
commandment-keeping people are patience and long-suffering, peace
and love. When love is lacking, irretrievable loss is sustained; for souls
are driven away from the truth, even after they have been connected
with the cause of God. Our brethren in responsible positions, who
have strength of influence, should remember the words of the apostle
Paul, spoken by the Holy Spirit: “We then that are strong ought to
bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every
one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even
Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of
them that reproached Thee fell on Me.”
Romans 15:1-3
. Again he says:
“Brethren, if a man be over taken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest
thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the
law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:1, 2
.
Bear in mind that the work of restoring is to be our burden. This
work is not to be done in a proud, officious, masterly way. Do not
say, by your manner, “I have the power, and I will use it,” and pour
out accusations upon the erring one. Do your restoring “in the spirit
of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” The
work set before us to do for our brethren is not to cast them aside,
not to press them into discouragement or despair by saying: “You
have disappointed me, and I will not try to help you.” He who sets
himself up as full of wisdom and strength, and bears down upon one
who is oppressed and distressed and longing for help, manifests the
spirit of the Pharisee, and wraps himself about with the robe of his
own self-constituted dignity. In his spirit he thanks God that he is not
[399]
as other men are, and supposes that his course is praiseworthy and
that he is too strong to be tempted. But “if a man think himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
Verse 3
. He
himself is in constant danger. He who ignores the grave necessities
of his brother will in the providence of God be brought over the same
ground that his brother has traveled in trial and sorrow, and by a bitter
experience it will be proved to him that he is as helpless and needy as
was the suffering one whom he repulsed. “Be not deceived; God is not