Month: February 2021

My fellow readers and especially those who love the Lord and are seekers of truth; in light of the unexpected events of 2020 and the disturbing events of January 6, 2021 at the Capital, I wanted to share excerpts from an address given by A. T. Jones at the Metropolitan Temple, San Francisco, California on June 14, 1896 with the title given to this blog post. This address was given over 100 years after the independence of this Republic and when there was cause to look intently at what it really meant to be “patriotic”. Many who congregated that day and took part in the storming of the Capital building consider themselves “Christians and Patriots”. It seems that in a now divided, United States of America, there is cause to look again.  The intent in sharing, is that we be reminded of what was precious and noble about this country.

Here is the excerpt from that address:

“FELLOW CITIZENS, LOVERS OF RIGHT AND TRUTH: as announced, I am to speak to you this afternoon on the question, What Is Patriotism in the United States?The first point in this inquiry is, what is patriotism in any country? What is patriotism in itself? {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.1}
Patriotism is usually defined, in brief; as love of country; but love of country is more than the love of the mountains and hills, the plains, valleys, rivers, and rills, of which the country is composed.

More fully defined, patriotism is the spirit which prompts obedience to the laws of one’s country, and to the support and defense of its existence, rights, and institutions. Thus, love of country is really love of the institutions and the principles which make a country what it is in all respects. {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.2}

If love of country were simply love of the mountains and hills, valleys and plains, rivers and rills,—the landscape,—of which the country is composed, there could never be any such thing as civil war; for plainly there could never be any dispute over that, among people inhabiting the same territory. It is evident, therefore, that patriotism in truth lies in love of the principles and institutions which make a country what it is in all respects it is loyalty to those specific principles and institutions. Hence, the patriot is correctly defined as “any defender of liberty, civil or religious.” {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.3}

What, then, is patriotism in the United States? In order that this question shall be rightly answered, it is essential that we study the fundamental principles which characterize this nation, which are the basis of its government, and which have made it all that it has ever been among the nations of the earth. Having learned this, and knowing that patriotism is the spirit which prompts obedience to the laws of one’s country, and the support and defense of its principles and institutions, it will be easy for all to discern what is, and what is not, patriotism here. Firm allegiance, strict adherence, to these fundamental principles is in the nature of the case patriotism. Any forgetting, any ignoring, or any disregarding of these principles, however much those who do so may proclaim their patriotism, is in truth, the very opposite.”
{1898 ATJ, WIP 2.1}     
There can be no question but that the Declaration of Independence was the beginning of this nation. And the first principle embodied in that immortal declaration is that “all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” {1898 ATJ, WIP 2.2}

The first and greatest of all the rights of men is religious right. And “religion” is “the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it.” The first of all duties is to the Creator, because to him we owe our existence. Therefore the first of all commandments, and the first that there can possibly be, is this: “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12: 29, 30 KJV). {1898 ATJ, WIP 2.3} A. T. Jones, June 14, 1896

Since the first of all rights is religious, then the second is civil.  “And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31 KJV) 
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Gal 5:14 KJV)

It is those truths that have guided the forefathers in making the Declaration of Independence and with firm conviction were prepared to sacrifice all, including life, for that conviction.

Patriots are men and women who will conscientiously search out  matters, weighing every detail until they arrive at truth and then take their stand. Having arrived at truth, conviction takes hold and they stand in defense of those truths though the heavens fall. 

Anything short of this, regardless of who utters it, it is not patriotism.

“…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2 Thessalonians 2: 10-12

I will end here with a quote from God’s word and a caution from Thomas Jefferson which is almost prophetic in its tone:

“The spirit of the times may alter, will alter.  Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless.  A single zealot may commence persecution, and better men be his victims.  It can never be too often repeated, that the time for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is while our rulers are honest, and ourselves united.  From the conclusion of this war, we shall be going downhill.  It will not be necessary then to resort every moment to the people for support.  They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded.  They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights.  The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.” Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, Query XV11.  In American  State Papers, page 101.  

“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD; but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12: 22

Standing before Pilate, Jesus made reference to the truth. John 18:37 Pilate then asked, “What is truth?” (verse 38).
This is one of the most important questions of our time. What is truth?
Jesus foresaw what the world would become before His second coming and consistently warned us. “…Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matthew 24:4,5,11,24-27.

(Matt 24:12 [KJV])
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Christ saw that “ the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.(Genesis 6:5) These warnings are repeated in Matthew and Luke.
(Luke 17:27-30 [KJV])
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

In this age of social media, where misinformation, conspiracy theories and outright lies prevail, we are told that deception will nigh become universal. Satan’s purpose will be established.
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”. (Revelation 12:9 [KJV])
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:14 [KJV])

The prophet Isaiah speaks to this generation.
“In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment”. (Isaiah 59:13-15 [KJV]) and (Isaiah 59:3-4 [KJV]) For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
None calleth for justice, nor [any] pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

The people of God who should be truth seekers and upholders of truth have joined the rank of the enemy. What is even sadder is that many are not aware that by their words and actions, they are denying the author of Truth. The Churches, whose voices should be the guardians of morality, truth, and justice have lost their voices and have joined the political fray by taking sides on the left or right. Having done so they can no longer call out evil for they have joined the evil.
“And Israel (the people of God) joined himself unto Baalpeor (the world): and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel” (Numbers 25:3 [KJV])

“Notwithstanding the Bible is full of warnings against false teachers, many are ready thus to commit the keeping of their souls to the clergy. There are today thousands of professors of religion who can give no other reason for points of faith which they hold than that they were so instructed by their religious leaders. They pass by the Saviour’s teachings almost unnoticed, and place implicit confidence in the words of the ministers. But are ministers infallible? How can we trust our souls to their guidance unless we know from God’s Word that they are lightbearers? A lack of moral courage to step aside from the beaten track of the world, leads many to follow in the steps of learned men; and by their reluctance to investigate for themselves, they are becoming hopelessly fastened in the chains of error.
The truth and the glory of God are inseparable; it is impossible for us, with the Bible within our reach, to honor God by erroneous opinions. Many claim that it matters not what one believes, if his life is only right. But the life is molded by the faith. If light and truth are within our reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it, we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather than light.” {Great Controversy (GC) 1888 597.2}

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” [Proverbs 16:25.] Ignorance is no excuse for error or sin, when there is every opportunity to know the will of God. A man is travelling, and comes to a place where there are several roads, and a guide-board indicating where each one leads. If he disregards the guide-board, and takes whichever road seems to him to be right, he may be ever so sincere, but will in all probability find himself on the wrong road.”
{GC 1888 597.3}
“It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures, what is truth, and then to walk in the light, and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought, and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help, we are to form our opinions for ourselves, as we are to answer for ourselves before God.” {GC 88 598.2}

“…To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few – this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.”
Testimonies Volume 5, page 136.2

The voice of the Lord through Isaiah speaks clearly to us, “Cry aloud and spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1