Article November 22, 1919 Issue

Signs of the Times

[San Jose (Calif.) Mercury Herald]

Nor will the efforts of the religion of the future be confined to preaching about God and His love; but regenerated and consecrated men and women who in every age have given religion its real strength and power, will in much larger numbers and in a more personal way be manifesting this love to His children by wisely and unselfishly ministering to their needs, temporal, moral, and spiritual, by striving to create for them a healthful, pure, and elevating environment, and, better than all, attracting them away from sin by the drawing powers of their examples and the influence of their pure, unselfish, and godly lives, full of love for God and men. This future religion will teach that unless religion produces such regenerated and consecrated men and women, it avails little or nothing in this world or the world to come.

In short, unless the whole world is to become agnostic, infidel, and materialistic—which God forbid—the religion of the future must more nearly approximate the religion of the Christ as outlined in the New Testament. That religion, although often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and distorted by the many creeds and dogmas alleged to be founded upon it, is still the hope of the world. It will outlive and rise above all these misunderstandings and distortions, and in the time to come it will again be vitalized and made a present reality to the world by those who live its truths as well as talk of them. The human race is not watching for, nor greatly needing, the promulgation of new creeds nor the formulation of new dogmas; but it is suffering, groaning, dying, for lack of love, the help, the power, and the spirit which the religion of Christ, manifesting itself in the lives of his followers, alone can supply. The religion of the future, no matter by what name or names it may be called, will be a larger and more perfect incarnation of his spirit and life in those who profess to be his followers.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Signs of the Times

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access