The Everlasting Covenant

The Church’s Interest in the World

But although the true people of God are to dwell alone, not reckoned among the nations, and consequently having no part in the direction or management of civil governments, they are by no means indifferent to the welfare of mankind. Like their Divine Head, their mission is to do good. As Adam was the son of God (Luke 3:38), the whole human facility, although fallen, are His children,—prodigal sons,—and therefore God’s true children will regard all men as their brethren, for whose welfare and salvation they are to labour. Their work is to reveal God to the world as a kind and loving Father, and this they can do only by allowing His love to shine forth in their lives. EVCO 406.2

Christ’s kingdom on earth has as its sole work to show by practical likeness to Christ, its allegiance to Him as rightful Lord of all, and by thus showing forth His excellencies, to induce as many as possible to accept Him as King, so that they may be prepared to receive Him when He comes on the throne of His glory. ¹ Christ, the King, came into the world for no other purpose than to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37), and so His loyal subjects have no other object in life; and the power by which they witness is that of the Holy Ghost abiding in them, and dwelling in them (Acts 1:8), and not by their mingling in political or social strife. EVCO 406.3

For a little while after Christ’s ascension to heaven, the church was content with this power, and wonderful progress was made in the work of preaching the Gospel of the kingdom; but soon the church began to adopt worldly methods, and its members to interest themselves in the affairs of State, instead of Christ’s kingdom, and the power was lost. But let it be remembered that in those days of the church’s loyalty, the very same power was present that was given to Israel for the same purpose hundreds of years before; and remember further that the people through whom the power of God was thus manifested were in both instances the very same, “for salvation is of the Jews.” ² EVCO 407.1