Article December 3, 1904 Issue

Who Believes the Scriptures?

Alfred Farlow

Boston Times

There are millions of persons who believe that they believe the Scriptures, yet careful consideration discloses that among these millions who count themselves as believers, a very large percentage have but a limited knowledge of what the Bible contains, their belief in it being largely sentimental and traditional,—because their fathers believed in it before them; while still another large percentage, either intentionally or unconsciously, select from the Scriptures only such portions as are useful in supporting special doctrines and creeds, ignoring other and perhaps more important teachings.

The antagonism encountered by Jesus the Christ was not because he disagreed with Moses and the prophets, but because his teaching and practice were in fulfilment of the prophets. The people of Jesus' time expected a Messiah, yet they rejected him when he came; they believed the prophecies, but rejected their fulfilment.

Likewise a few of to-day are more ready to believe in the Christ-teaching than they are in its practice; they endorse Jesus' declaration, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," but forthwith insist that it is impossible to attain perfection, instead of recognizing its inevitable necessity, however slow the process of attaining it. They believe it is proper for Christians to observe the commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," yet they make little effort to practise accordingly. They make no charge of unreasonableness concerning Jesus' assertion. "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father;" yet they seem to overlook the fact that one is a believer according to divine requirement only in the ratio of his ability to do the works which the Master did. Some even go so far as to assert that it is un-Christian to expect Christian healing or any result whatever out of harmony with material laws, thus directly antagonizing the teachings of Christ Jesus.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
A Good Rule
December 3, 1904
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit