WHAT IS INSURANCE

Dear reader, while preparing the proofs for the press, this letter arrived which we felt inclined to place immediately, therefore a few other articles must be held over till next month’s issue.

The times in which we now live are notable for the great apostasy from God and His Word. It seems as though everything is returning more and more to paganism. In general, truth has no value anymore, and the man of sin is revealing himself.

From men of rank down to the common people; and from the authorities down to the subjects, it is evident that the Word of God is no longer regarded and His laws and institutions are trodden under foot. Besides that, what a great decline there is from the truth among those who profess it outwardly, and what little efficacy does the Word of God exert upon the consciences of the children of men!

God’s true people are covered as it were with a mourning-shroud, due to their living so distant from God and to their conformity to the world. No, the blame must not be shifted upon others, but we have sinned and done that which is evil in the eyes of the Lord. The declension is so great in our hearts and homes, among parents and children, and in the church among the office bearers and members, that we can hardly distinguish between what is sin and what is not sin due to the great darkness which prevails. O let us not palliate our guilt, but honestly and uprightly confess it. O that we were all tears to sincerely bewail and bemoan the evils of our hearts, homes and congregations.

Where is the actual life of fellowship with the Lord to be found in our day? The number of those who have not defiled their garments as is spoken of in the Scriptures of Truth concerning those of Sardis is exceeding small. Let us only consider that the fear of God only is a restraint against sin. There are in the Scriptures a sufficient number of examples which teach us that not grace but the fear of God preserves against the evil of sin.

Of course we recognize the fact that in our present day life there are so many problems for which it is difficult to find a solution. There are also great problems in our social life which are brought about by government interference and social organizations which are steadily increasing in scope and increasingly demanding more latitude. How many different forms of insurance have already come into existence which virtually have nothing else in view than to have man escape God’s providential dispensations with respect to the future.

Years ago in a certain church periodical in The Netherlands several objections were enumerated against the various kinds of insurance such as life, fire, harvest, livestock and traveling insurance, etc., etc. (ad infinitum).

The following is a quotation from this paper from which everyone may judge for himself:

“It is a fruit of the spirit of the age or the spirit which is not from God.

It is a manifestation of materialism and built upon probability calculations.

It is based upon the theories of chance and of fortune.

It belongs properly to Atheism and is closely akin to Demis.

It is fatal to the organic unity of society considered as a body.

It provides for society and mechanical unity to make up the loss of organic unity.

In this manner it nurtures the spirit of Socialism, Communism and Nihilism.

It is a caricature of the fulfilment of the law of Christ: ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens’.

It attempts to heal wounds without compassion. pity, mercy or love.

Every form of worldly insurance ridicules the doctrine of the providence of God. Each is supposedly a safeguard against God’s visiting or chastising hand. In fact these several kinds of insurance and protections induce man to become obdurate against the rod which God appoints.

It has a mortifying effect upon the lively faith of a christian.

It benumbs the sense of our entire dependence upon God.

It destroys the tenderness of conscience which is a fruit of the true fear of God.

It deprives brotherly love of the opportunity to exercise charity and liberality.

It gives rise to abuses and bad practices’ in society, not by accident or exception and not in spite of the system of insurance, but as natural consequences of the system itself. It does not lessen the danger of fire but increases it by fostering indifference, recklessness and the lust for gain. Therefore from a moral standpoint it is reprehensible.

From the standpoint of faith it is condemnable and indefensible.

For the christian it is unlawful and it is unworthy of him.”

I shall let this suffice for the time being, hoping that everyone who has come to years of discretion may read this letter seriously.

There is only one form of insurance which is worthy of recommendation, in fact necessary for everyone to have an acquaintance with on his journey to the great eternity. This is spoken of in Rom. 8:38, 39. O that we might be concerned about this above all else.

Your well-wishing minister,

REV. W. C. LAMAIN.

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