Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 30, 1904

Editorial

By Editor

Religion and Science

SOME writers are now claiming that the conflict between religion and science is practically settled in favor of religion, and that the leading scientists have at last arrived at the same conclusions from their investigations as are taught in the Bible. Thus we are told that “the latest word of science agrees with the inspired Word of God that there is but one Source of energy; that all the forces of nature flow from one Fountainhead of power.” There is, however, a vast difference between the “Infinite Power,” or the one Source of energy, which scientists have been compelled to recognize, and the personal God of revelation. The true God will never be found, and the true conception of God will never be reached, by scientific research. If there appears to be but little conflict now between religion and the science of to-day, it is because religion has surrendered to science, and has become the religion of human reason with only human power back of it, instead of maintaining its place above reason as the religion of revelation with divine power back of it. The claim that Herbert Spencer and other scientists of the same class really believed in God, almost without knowing it, simply because they have been forced to acknowledge a Power controlling matter, requires a different conception of God than that which is revealed in the Scripture. It is true that “power belongeth unto God,” but power is not God. True science accepts the God of revelation, and forms its conception of God wholly from the Bible, and it then opens to our minds the whole realm of nature, and enables us to see a fuller meaning in the words of the psalmist, “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.” The god of science does not save from sin. The religion of science does not comfort us in “the valley of the shadow of death.” The God of the Bible “is our God forever and ever; he himself will lead us over death.”

“I Never Disappoint”

THIS is the motto of a man who hopes to establish permanent and profitable business relations with his customers by rendering satisfactory service to every one who places an order with him. It is a good motto. The man who never disappoints is a man with whom other men like to do business. There is a satisfaction in paying a good price for such service as this. But why should not the same principle be carried into the Christian life? Is it not true that many professed Christians do disappoint their Master? Year after year he comes looking for the good fruit of a consecrated life, but he does not find it. And then is repeated the same inquiry as of old: “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?” He will not disappoint his Master whose unswerving devotion to duty leads him to say with the apostle Paul, “Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” And the Christian who never disappoints his Master will not be disappointed in that day when faithful service will be recognized in the presence of the whole heavenly host. To him it will be said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” The servant who in his dealing with his Master will adopt the motto, “I never disappoint,” will find that his Master will deal with him upon the same basis, but he who habitually disappoints his Master may one day meet with the greatest disappointment. “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.” Do not disappoint your Master.

Practical Experience

A DESPERATE effort is being made to envelop the Christian pathway in the thick fog of philosophical discussion, so that the followers of Christ may become confused and lose their way. We should remember this, and guided by that Word which is a lamp unto the feet and a light to the path, we should press steadily forward. It is not necessary to consider all the speculative reasoning concerning prayer, and to answer all skeptical objections before we can pray. The fruits of prayer in the life of a praying Christian are the best possible answer to those who question whether prayer will accomplish anything. It is happily not necessary to wait for the conclusions of those who are seeking for a scientific basis for faith before we can believe. We can accept the provision which has been made for our salvation without attempting to solve all the problems which are involved in the plan of salvation. God’s ways are not our ways, and the attempt to analyze all his methods and to explain to human reason the mysteries of his working will end in belittling him and confusing the mind. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways are past tracing out.” The words of the Lord to Job are surely applicable to many to-day: “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” The simple faith of the child which takes God at his word without trying to reason out his methods of fulfilling his promises will bring better results in practical experience than a knowledge of the efforts of all the learned critics and scientists who are seeking to weigh and measure the things of the Spirit by human standards. Let us hold fast to the simplicity of the gospel. Let us believe for the forgiveness of our sins, and let us accept the fulness of grace provided for those who will receive it by simple faith. This will bring peace of mind and rest of soul. This will make us “workers together with him.”