p. 4 | BE NOT DECEIVED by Albert Stone

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 27, 1878

BE NOT DECEIVED.

By Albert Stone

There is a large class of professed Christians who claim to be bewildered on the subject of Bible truth. There is so much contradiction in the sentiments of professedly good men, that they are ready to conclude that unity of sentiment is not essential, provided we believe in Christ and trust in him for salvation. But if we fear to receive what professedly good men deny to be true, why receive the doctrine of faith and trust? Is not the doctrine of faith a subject of dispute and denial by professedly good men? Is there a doctrine or duty revealed in the Bible that is not, in like manner, disputed and denied? However it may be with others, these persons are on dangerous and forbidden ground.

Such pleas are usually offered as an excuse for unbelief and sloth. The functions of true religion are suspended, and, with them, men's opinions have paralyzed the word of God. They are a vain effort to justify a backslidden or impenitent state. Those who offer such pleas have both truth and religion enough to satisfy their present convenience; they wish to enjoy the world a while, and then they will get more religion, and look in earnest after the right way.

They do not need more religion of the kind they have. They are depending on an old experience, whose deceptive influence has brought them where they are. The sooner it is abandoned the better. It might once have had some of the elements of the genuine, but it has been so much given up to the control of foreign influences that it is only as salt that has lost its savor.

True religion is light, but they are in doubt and darkness. True religion appreciates the law of God and the gospel of his Son; but they depreciate these, and appreciate the world. True religion leads forward, but these are going backward. True religion has faith and hope for its encouragement and support, but these have no active faith, and no cheering hope as a present inspiration to engage them heartily in the service of God.

For what purpose is the Bible given us, but that we may see the truth and walk in it? The inspired psalmist says, “Thy word is a lamp,” Christ says, “If any man will do the will of God, he shall know of the doctrine;” and the prophet says, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.”

Persons walking in the light of truth see at once that the excuse in question is an insult to God, because it denies his word. Backsliders foolishly charge the cause of their darkness upon the Lord. But the true cause is with themselves. They trust in an arm of flesh, and their heart has departed from the Lord.

Those who choose a know-nothing religion must accept of its legitimate fruit, as declared by the prophet, Jer. 17:6: “He shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” ALBERT STONE.