Chapter 19—Worldliness in the Church
It is recorded of the holy men of old that God was not ashamed to be
called their God. The reason assigned is that instead of coveting earthly
possessions or seeking happiness in worldly plans or aspirations they
placed their all upon the altar of God and made disposition of it to
build up His kingdom. They lived only for God’s glory and declared
plainly that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth, seeking a better
country, that is, an heavenly. Their conduct proclaimed their faith. God
could entrust to them His truth and could leave the world to receive
from them a knowledge of His will.
But how are the professed people of God today maintaining the
honor of His name? How could the world infer that they are a peculiar
people? What evidence do they give of citizenship in heaven? Their
self-indulgent, ease-loving course falsifies the character of Christ. He
could not honor them in any marked manner before the world without
endorsing their false representation of His character.
I speak to the church at Battle Creek: What testimony are you
bearing to the world? As your course was presented before me, I
was pointed to the dwellings recently erected by our people in that
city. These buildings are so many monuments of your unbelief of the
doctrines which you profess to hold. They are preaching sermons
more effective than any delivered from the pulpit. I saw worldlings
point to them with jesting and ridicule, as a denial of our faith. They
proclaimed that which the owners have been saying in their hearts:
“My Lord delayeth His coming.”
I looked upon the dress and listened to the conversation of many
who profess the truth. Both were opposed to the principles of truth.
Dress and conversation reveal that which is most treasured by those
who claim to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth. “They are of the
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world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”
Puritan plainness and simplicity should mark the dwellings and
apparel of all who believe the solemn truths for this time. All means
needlessly expended in dress or in the adorning of our houses is a
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