Religion, What Kind? by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 7, 1874

Religion, What Kind?

By Roswell F. Cottrell

It is reported that many are being converted at the present time. Is it not right to ask, From what and to what are men converted? In so far as they are converted from sin, they are converted to obedience of the law of God; for sin is the transgression of that law, and the opposite of transgression is obedience. And if one is wholly converted from sin to God, he is converted to obedience to the entire law, and is become a keeper of all the commandments of God.

Many seem to hold the opinion that it makes no difference what a man believes, if he is only sincere. It seems to be possible, however, that a man may really believe a lie, and be condemned as the consequence. “Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved,” is set forth as a cause why “they should believe a lie; that they should be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Conscience is not an infallible guide. Men's consciences vary according to their education. The conscience of the heathen prompts them to sacrifice their children to false gods; but to a conscience enlightened, there could be no greater abomination. Men may really think that they ought to do things that are sinful in the sight of God. Does their thinking so make it right? Saul of Tarsus verily thought that he ought to oppose Christ and persecute his followers; but it was wrong, and he deeply felt it so, when he learned the truth; and he said he was not fit to be called an apostle, because he persecuted the church.

God is now causing a message to be proclaimed according to a promise in his word, Rev. 14 : 9–12, calling upon all to obey him by keeping all his commandments, a part of which almost all professed Christians are not keeping. In calling the attention of the people to their violation of the divine law and persuading them to obedience, there are no men that stand so much in the way to prevent men from hearing the truth as the leading religionists of the time, men who are earnest and zealous in the work of the revivals of the times, ardent, self-sacrificing, and laborious, in making converts to their respective churches, and are giving their life-energies, wearing themselves out and hastening to the grave, as the consequence. Yet, as I said, they are standing right between the truth and the people, to prevent them from hearing it and by obedience get a preparation to stand in the coming day of wrath and be saved. They certainly have a religious zeal; but is it of the right kind? I am glad that God is the judge; and consequently I am not required to decide the case. One thing, however, is certain. Their zeal for God is not according to knowledge. Their influence is against the truth of God—the truth for the time—while they are so zealous in making converts, as they seem to suppose, to the Christian religion.

The difficulties of the case are such that I cannot help going back in my mind to the zeal of idolaters who, in olden time, would cut their flesh with knives and lancets till the blood would gush out. 1 Kings 18 : 28. It is certain that their religion was not of the right kind; for they broke God's commandments by worshiping other gods. But these profess the Christian religion—the best and the only true religion in the world. I wish however to admonish them and call their attention to the inquiry whether their religion is of the right sort; for I desire that zealous laborers may not run in vain, but be prepared to receive a reward. Let every laborer take heed how he builds. R. F. COTTRELL.