"Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put sweet for bitter and bitter for sweet." (Isa. 5:20). From Cain till now have men come under this woe. The false label is one of the devil's most cunning devices and many have been most willing users of it, fatal to their own and other's interests. To call evil good or good evil does not make it so to be sure "and the day shalt declare it of what sort it is" but "My people doth not consider" and therefore fall easy prey to Satan's devices and become his agencies using them to the damnation of souls and the perversion of the truth.

      False teachers come in sheep's clothing. The hypocrite poses as a saint, the Pharisee as God's indispensable adviser. The more condemnable a thing the greater the need of a good label and the more need of emphasizing the label.

      Religious leaders recognize the power of a good label. Russell does not discourage the application of "the man in white" to himself. Joe Smith must be called a true prophet. Dowie was "Elijah."' A corrupt priest is "holy Father" and an arrogant pope is "Vicar of the Son of God."

      Verily it is woe to him who calls black white but is it not also woe to him who calls white black? Satan uses his device both ways and God pronounces His woe upon each. Let us not overlook this fact. We are not supposed to be ignorant of the devil's devices.

      The Pharisees observed Jesus' power in casting out demons and said it was the power of BEELZEBUB. They put Satan's label an Jesus' good works. Unable to "withstand the wisdom with which He spoke," unable to deny the reality of the power He displayed and unable to ascribe it to mere human agency they had to find some way to turn men's minds or all would believe on Him. Satan suggested the capital idea of putting on the wrong label. Many would see the label who might not hear Jesus' exposition of its falsehood and even many who might bear would nevertheless have their faith shaken. Doubts would at least be suggested.

      The Pharisees knew that so many people never get beneath the label of things and so all that is necessary to turn people away from any word or work even though it be set forth in the very words of Scripture is just to give it some prejudicial name and hold up holy hands in horror. With many it is unanswerable argument. The word of God weighs nothing in comparison! And it is so much easier than studying the Scriptures so as to handle them aright and not deceitfully.

      He who would label as poison a famine-sufferer's only food is a criminal. Woe unto him who would put skull and cross bones on any portion of the sincere milk of the word. Beware of the false label device and resort not thither. [8]

["The False Label Device." Word and Work 9 (January 1916): 8.]

      The electronic version of Stanford Chambers's "The False Label Device" has been produced from microfilm of Word and Work for 1916.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 8:      (Isa. 4:20). [ (Isa. 5:20).
            Phariseess observed [ Pharisees observed
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 26 January 2002.
Updated 22 June 2003.