Testimony of Healing September 11, 1926 Issue

In early childhood I was placed in a Sunday school class...

Martha Sutton Thompson

In early childhood I was placed in a Sunday school class the teacher of which constantly dwelt upon our errors as enormous sins and declared that God's wrath would surely consign us to everlasting punishment unless we reformed,—even unto perfection,—declaring that one wrong thought or act would wipe out all the good thoughts and acts of the day, and the next day we must begin reformation anew. I was filled with fear, and at times tried very hard to make a start to record one perfect day, but always failed.

I dearly loved the character of Jesus as depicted in the New Testament narratives, and felt I could love God if He was like Jesus; but, alas, oftentimes I would turn away from my apparently useless warfare determined to get all the joy I could out of earthly life while it lasted and strive no more. But something would always drive me back to the endeavor. So the years of sunshine and shadow went on, somewhat modifying my views. Finally, at the age of nineteen, I was converted to the Methodist faith and joined the church. I believed my sins were forgiven, and fear of the hereafter disappeared.

I recall with gratitude the sense of peace and comfort which possessed me during my early membership, and testify gratefully to the exemplary Christian character of my pastor. I strove to get all the good out of my religious belief that it held for me; but I became greatly dissatisfied to find that, although I had been led to believe my conversion would mean to be born anew, I had the same old disposition to battle, and in sickness medicine seemed the only resort. Moreover, I could see neither logic nor justice in the doctrines of the fall of man and the plan of his rescue. Such were the burning questions with which I drove my dear pastor to the wall. He could only assure me that this was too deep for human knowledge!

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