God’s Word to be Supreme
The people of God will recognize human government as an ordi-
nance of divine appointment and will teach obedience to it as a sacred
duty within its legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with
the claims of God, the word of God must be recognized as above all
human legislation. “Thus saith the Lord” is not to be set aside for
Thus saith the church or the state. The crown of Christ is to be uplifted
above the diadems of earthly potentates.
The principle we are to uphold at this time is the same that was
maintained by the adherents of the gospel in the great Reformation.
When the princes assembled at the Diet of Spires in 1529, it seemed
that the hope of the world was about to be crushed out. To this assembly
was presented the emperor’s decree restricting religious liberty and
prohibiting all further dissemination of the reformed doctrines. Would
the princes of Germany accept the decree? Should the light of the
gospel be shut out from the multitudes that were still in darkness?
Mighty issues for the world were at stake. Those who had accepted the
reformed faith met together, and the unanimous decision was: “Let us
reject the decree. In matters of conscience the majority has no power.”
The banner of truth and religious liberty which these Reformers
held aloft has in this last conflict been committed to us. The responsi-
bility for this great gift rests with those whom God has blessed with
a knowledge of His word. We are to receive God’s word as supreme
authority. We must accept its truths for ourselves. And we can appre-
ciate these truths only as we search them out by personal study. Then,
as we make God’s word the guide of our lives, for us is answered the
prayer of Christ: “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.”
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John 17:17
. The acknowledgment of the truth in word and deed is our
confession of faith. Only thus can others know that we believe the
Bible.
Those Reformers whose protest has given us the name Protestant
felt that God had called them to give the gospel to the world, and in
doing this they were ready to sacrifice their possessions, their liberty,
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