Circumscribing the Gospel

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 28, 1908

Circumscribing the Gospel

A CORRESPONDENT recently wrote to the editor of a religious paper stating that he wished to find a church that did not deal much in the future, that was not a life insurance company, that confines itself to the betterment of this life, to the spirit of the golden rule and the good Samaritan. The editor, in an approving reply, stated that there were many churches to-day which had “much less to say about eternal death than does the Bible.” A club or association for intellectual entertainment is about all that is desired by such individuals and such churches; and such a “church” would certainly not deal much in the future. It would not “give heed” to the teachings of Christ, to the prophetic utterances of Inspiration. It would not help to free men from sin nor teach them how to “lay hold on eternal life.” Confucius and Buddha would be to such a “church” as good as Christ; for many of their utterances pertain to “the betterment of this life,” and contain precepts similar to the golden rule. The fact that there are admittedly many clergymen in the world to-day who are teaching pleasing things rather than the “eternal verities,” and many churches that are pleased to have it so, indicates that we are in that time foretold by Paul in 2 Tim. 4: 3, 4: “The time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.” To teach the world the needlessness of the entire gospel of Christ is one of Satan’s most subtle moves against the salvation of men.