EWSPAPER.
Sor the
atchm an ware
Ma azine
An Interpretjer ofthe Times
Edited dy Robert Bruce Thurber
Vol. xxxvi11, No. 7
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
July, 1929
Wrong End ‘To
WRITER in Current History, com-
menting on the gloomy views of a
Socialist as to future wars, says: “In esti-
mating the value of Mr. Palme Dutt’s
views it should be remembered that, as a
Socialist, he believes that the present basis
of society must be changed. Holding that
belief, he must be a pessimist and, like
John ‘Bunyan, beseech us to flee from the
wrath to come. It is his creed.”
So, too, such writers estimate the be-
liefs of Bible students in the near advent
of Christ and the catastrophes connected
therewith. They say, “These Christians
are adventists, and we must keep that in
mind when estimating the veracity of their
forecasts. Considering their belief they
must be pessimists, and of course think it
their duty to warn poeple of the destruc-
tion of the world. It is their creed, and we
can’t expect anything else from them.”
Such reasoning is based on the idea that
the Christian, like the scientist, is the
creator of his own doctrine, that he origi-
nates a theory out of his own fancy —
though perhaps founded in facts more or
less — and then colors everything in life
to suit that theory. It is thought that he
makes a creed, and then swings all his views
into line with it. The critic who leaves God
out of his reckoning is sure to come to just
such conclusions about the Christian.
But Christian belief does not go for its
source to figments of human fancy. It is
based on God’s revelation of truth, whether
past, present, or future. When God says
very definitely that war is coming, and
points out the signs of its approach, is it
pessimistic to. agree with Him? The opti-
mist in such a case simply ignores facts.
The weather forecast reports that a vio-
lent storm is due about a certain hour. As
that hour approaches, we see dark clouds
gather on the horizon, and the wind be-
gins to rise. Say of us if you will that we
have adopted a creed that that storm is
coming, and that we may be expected to
take a gloomy view and warn others to pre-
pare for it; but just the same we expect to
warn others and get ready ourselves. The
fact that the storm 4s coming determines our
creed. The creed does not give us the
gloomy view, but the storm does. The
prophecy gives us the creed, not the creed
the prophecy; and the prophecy is of God.
Men are prone to look at God’s dealings
wrong end to. “My thoughts are not your
thoughts,” He says. “The natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of
God: for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them, because they
are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians
2:14. Men who are wise in their own con-
ceits are quite sure that their step is the
right one, and that those who are not in
step with them are very much out of step.
But it is the music that marks the step,
not the crowd. And he who is in tune with
God is wise, though all others are otherwise.
We believe that war is coming because
it 1s coming. However, our view is opti-
mistic, for “to be forewarned is to be fore-
armed.” The world cannot escape it, but
all who will may; and that is a bright out-
look, made more glorious yet by the fact
that Armageddon will mark the end of all
wars forever. The beyond banishes the
gloom from the view.
Entered as second-class matter, January 19, 1909, at the post office at Nashville, Tenn., under act of March 3, 1879, by the Southern Publishing Association,
(Seventh-day Adventist), 2119 24th Ave. N. Published monthly (except October, when semi-monthly). Price 25 cents a copy, $7.00 a year.
PAGE TWO
THE WATCHMAN MAGAZINE