Chapter 9—Attitude to Civil Authorities
Bring No Attack—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
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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.
Condemned by Our Own Words—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 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
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