BY ELD. W. C. WALES.
(Rockford, IL.)
“AGITATION” is inseparable from the advance of truth. “TO move,” “to shake,” “to arouse,” ”to excite,” “to revolve,” “to discuss,” “to controvert,” ,, to examine” are among the synonyms of this word. All these processes must be marshaled to the front in successfully advocating unpopular reform. But many, while professing allegiance to Bible truth, retreat in dismay before the first bugle call of religious controversy. They prefer the camp of peace to the painful marches, vigilant bivouac, and exciting combat of the moral reformer. But conquest involves war; and the true warrior, while maintaining and strengthening lives already established, aggressively advances his forces still nearer the enemy’s gates.
So with the Christian warrior, whom God calls to storm the popular citadels of unscriptural tradition. The forces of Christ must be set and kept in battle array. No compromise with error, no cessation of hostilities, no armistice or capitulation, nothing but unconditional surrender can be accepted. No man can maintain silence in the presence of wrong-doing without being false to his generation, a traitor to his own soul, and an enemy to God. A knowledge of truth demands that such truth be communicated to others. An enlightened conscience irresistibly impels its possessor to bear faithful witness to truth concerning which others are in darkness. This is Christlike. He says, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.”
Every true reformer of the past has found more or less controversy unavoidable. When Israel violated the Sabbath, Nehemiah says, “Then I contended with the nobles,” etc. When the merchants sinned, he says, “Then I testified against them.” Nehemiah 13. “They that forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.” Prov. 28:4. The work of John the Baptist did not consist simply in holding a revival to save the unconverted. An important part of his mission consisted in waging a vigorous and uncompromising warfare against the errors of the popular religionists of his day. His most terrific thunder-bolts were hurled against those whose outward lives seemed fairest, and whose standing in the Church was highest. These, not the heathen, he called a “generation of vipers.” Christ, the perfect missionary, did not remain silent concerning the doctrinal errors of the day. He fearlessly arraigned the traditions of even the best, because they rendered null the commandment of God. The apostles were accused of turning the “world upside down” by their agitation. The clergy, doubtless, all felt that no good came from such methods. Paul was a persistent agitator. He “disputed . . . with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily.” Acts 17. Because persons were “devout,” was not sufficient with Paul. They must receive all the truth. Such aggressive zeal we may profitably imitate.
We have reached the last days. No age has witnessed such a Babylon of discordant and anti-scriptural theories as the nineteenth century presents. The duty of the faithful watchman is unequivocal. Close, patient, prayerful study of God’s word has revealed the truth for every age. This foundation still stands sure. The Bible is the sword of God and of his Spirit; and with this almighty weapon the most formidable strong-holds of error may be stormed and demolished; the standard of truth may then be planted high above the battlements of men; and a people will be gathered from every clime to stand without fault in the day of impending wrath.
But with this necessary agitation, practical, daily piety cannot be neglected. Holiness of heart and life must not be undervalued. “Jesus Christ, and him crucified,” must be exalted to primary and pre-eminent importance. The meek and quiet spirit of the Great Teacher must be exemplified and inculcated. Any pretended reform that neglects the heart for the education of the head would result in more harm than good. Cultivate the head alone, and the product is a cold, spiritless, Christless debater. Cultivate only the heart, and you make a bigoted fanatic. Combine the two, and you have exemplified a symmetrical Christianity,—”the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove, charity out of a pure heart, sanctification through obedience to the truth. A man of God, perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”