Unbelief by Samuel P. Bollman

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 7, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 39.

Unbelief.

By Samuel P. Bollman

“And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Matt. 13:58.

THE same hindrance which prevented the Saviour from performing many mighty works in Nazareth and its vicinity, has still a widespread existence, and hinders those remarkable demonstrations of Jesus's power now to save even to the uttermost the chief of sinners. “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matt. 9:29), seems to be the measure which indicates the extent of the blessings bestowed by the giver of “every good and perfect gift.” How strange that He “who went about doing good, healing all manner of diseases,” and even raising the dead; whose teaching was of that elevating and ennobling character which transformed into his own glorious image those who received it into good and honest hearts, should be so unpopular as not to have a hearing in any community! And that those mighty works, so merciful to the poor and suffering, should be restrained by the stubborn unbelief of those favored with such grand opportunities! But strange as it seems viewed in the light of truth, and of the wondrous possibilities which the gospel offers full and free for man's acceptance, it stands for a lamentation to-day, not in a narrow and circumscribed locality, but in the wide world and in every nation where the gospel is now being preached, that this same Captain of salvation cannot do many mighty works because of the general unbelief.

HOW very dark the picture when we contemplate what is actually accomplished by all the operations of so-called evangelical Christendom combined; when the increase of population even within the pale of the different denominations so nearly equals the increase of membership that the rapidly swelling millions of the non-professing world, and the heathen, make the millennial theory of modern theology simply an absurdity!

But what shall we say of the faith being disseminated; of the system of salvation offered to a perishing world? Is it a pure God-honoring and soul-saving faith which agrees with the prophecies and is truly exponential of present truth, or the Third Angel's Message? Ah, no! The teachings of the Scriptures with reference to these last days is not believed, its perfect harmony with divine revelation as a whole is repudiated, hence barrenness and leanness are characteristics of all the churches whose creeds are not in harmony with present truth.

The lines of demarcation which, in years gone by, divided the church from the world, are mostly obliterated; and church records, and not the lives of professors of religion, have to be consulted in order to ascertain who has any connection with the nominal Christian churches; while festivals, sociables, and numerous worldly practices of the lottery and grab-bag character have obliterated the lines of distinction (once so sacred) between the church and the world. Truly the churches as a whole might unite in the melancholy stanza,—

“What peaceful hours we once enjoyed; How sweet their memory still; But they have left a dreary void The world can never fill.”

Why this sad state of affairs amongst the churches? It is because of unbelief. The Lord by his prophets, holy men of old who “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” gave full instructions as to how men in all ages should live to secure the divine blessing, and enjoy the light of God's countenance; but men do not believe the words of the Lord. They disregard the faithful instructions, and trample under foot his laws. They will not “ask for the old paths,” “the good way,” nor walk therein, and the Lord does not do “mighty works” amongst them, because of their unbelief.

Unbelief makes the heavens as brass and the earth as iron to all those who have a name to live whilst they are dead in trespasses and in sins. Unbelief closes the eyes of the mighty multitudes, that they see not the truth for these times, and closes their ears, that they hear not the loud call of the Third Angel's Message as it is being sounded forth from nation to nation, and from island to island. Unbelief puts far off the coming of the Lord to give to every man as his work shall be. Unbelief laughs derisively at the little flock, who lift up their heads with joy, knowing that their redemption draweth nigh. Unbelief is even causing the chariot wheels of those who profess to “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” to drag heavily, and the triumphs of present truth to be limited in extent and power, while extensive regions are perishing for lack of vision.

May the Lord deliver all who are favored with the knowledge of present truth from the blighting influence of that unbelief, which practically says to the Saviour, “Depart from us, for we desire not a knowledge of thy ways.”

S. P. BOLLMAN.