Article March 31, 1906 Issue

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with contributions from William N. Clarke, J. Worsley Austin, Charles H. Leonard

Over-anxiety for the faith, whether investigation, doubt, or even denial of it is concerned, is a sign of weakness. It inevitably leads to extremes of fear and suspicion. The bishops of the Lambeth Conference of 1897 admirably described such a state of mind: "That faith is already in serious danger which refuses to face questions that may be raised, either on the authority or the genuineness of any part of the Scriptures that have come down to us. Such refusal creates painful suspicion in the minds of many whom we have to teach, and will weaken the strength of our own conviction of the truth that God has revealed to us. A faith which is always or often attended by a secret fear that we dare not inquire lest inquiry should lead us to results inconsistent with what we believe, is already infected with a disease which may soon destroy it."—The Churchman.

Much of the present unrest is due to the seeking after reality, with its abandonment of the unreal; and the eyes of hope are turned to the day when religion shall be understood to consist in a genuine life in the realities that are eternal.

The Christianity of the twentieth century must be a working Christianity, devoting its intelligence and religious power to the vast and complex present problem of humanity. This is the coming test of the faith in its large forms and operations—whatever lays hold of the problem of humanity, or any part of it, in the spirit of Christ is Christian, and whatever does not is not. And the spirit of Christ in men will prove itself large and strong enough to take hold of the problem of humanity, and the coming time will be a period of Christian power.
Prof. William N. Clarke, D.D.
The Congregationalist.

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