Power of Example
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to appear before the jealous God, who is offended at uncleanliness
and disorder, and who marks every token of disrespect. Some have
thought it wrong to wear anything upon their heads but a sunbonnet.
Such go to great extremes. It cannot be called pride to wear a neat,
plain straw or silk bonnet. Our faith, if carried out, will lead us to be
so plain in dress, and zealous of good works, that we shall be marked
as peculiar. But when we lose taste for order and neatness in dress
we virtually leave the truth, for the truth never degrades, but elevates.
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Unbelievers look upon Sabbathkeepers as degraded, and when persons
are neglectful of their dress, and coarse and rough in their manners,
their influence strengthens unbelievers in this conclusion.
Those who profess to be Christians amid the perils of the last days,
and do not imitate the humble, self-denying Pattern, place themselves
in the enemy’s ranks. He considers them his subjects, and they serve
as important a purpose for him as do any of his subjects, for they
have a name to live, and are dead. Others take them as an example,
and by following them lose heaven, when, had these not professed
to be Christians, their example would have been shunned. These
unconsecrated professors are not aware of the weight of their influence.
They make the conflict much more severe for those who would be
God’s peculiar people. Paul, in
Titus 2:15
, refers to the people who
are looking for the appearing of Christ. He says: “These things speak,
and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”
As we bear testimony against pride and following the fashions of
the world, we are met with excuses and self-justification. Some urge
the example of others. Such a sister wears hoops; if it is wrong for me
to wear them, it is wrong for her. Children urge the example of other
children, whose parents are Sabbathkeepers. Brother A is a deacon of
the church. His children wear hoops, and why is it any worse for me
to wear them than it is for them? Those who by their example furnish
unconsecrated professors with arguments against those who would be
peculiar, are laying a cause of stumbling in the way of the weak; they
must render an account to God for their example. I am often asked:
“What do you think of hoops?” I reply: I have given you the light
which has been given me. I was shown that hoops are a shame, and
that we should not give the least countenance to a fashion carried to
such ridiculous lengths.
I am often surprised to hear that “Sister White says it is not wrong
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