p. 471 | Free Thought by W. N. Glenn

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Oct 25, 1883

"Free Thought."

By W. N. Glenn

Opposers of the word of God have much to say about free thought, and are fond of arrogating to themselves the appellation of "free-thinkers." They would fain convey the idea that the scope of Christianity is entirely too narrow for the development of the human mind, and that Christians are consequently circumscribed in their opinions and privileges of investigation. Notwithstanding the boldness with which this idea is thrust upon the world, we are firmly convinced that the opposite is the truth.

We challenge any "free-thinker" to point to one item of knowledge, one clearly demonstrated fact, that is contrary to the knowledge we receive from God's treasure-book, or that Christians are not permitted to believe. We hold that the believer in God and his word has a much wider field for the exercise of thought, and has access to a more fruitful source of reliable information—such as will lead to practical results for good here and hereafter—than any other class of people.

Note the contrast between the Author of the Christian's wisdom and privileges, and the authors of infidel theories. One is the Creator of all things, with whom is all wisdom, while his would-be rivals are but creatures of a day, confessedly liable to error, and almost daily showing the weak places in each other's theories. The contrast between the intellect of a Solomon and that of the lowest order of animal life is but a span compared with the superiority of the living God over the teachers of skepticism, who have so far been unable to tell their pupils whether they have sprung into existence by chance or have developed from the monkey. The right to choose between such theories as these, and the right to deny the God of the Bible, is about the sum of their freedom of thought. Verily, "the wisdom of man is foolishness before God."

That class of mind which allows itself to be limited to a few negative theories, entirely void of present satisfaction or assurance for the future, offering nothing in lieu of that which they would destroy, has little ground for the boast of free thought. We should rather call it the absence of thought, for it requires no mental energy to deny anything. All that anyone has to do to be recognized as a "free-thinker" is to deny the Bible; and his rank in the class is reckoned by the volubility of his railings against the wisdom and power of God and his plan of salvation.

Who is the real free-thinker? He whose thought conforms to the "law of liberty," beginning at the A B C of wisdom, "the fear of the Lord." Ps. 111 : 10. His Tutor has an unfailing fountain of knowledge, which is promised to his disciples without stint. "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God." Jas. 1 : 5. The believer's range of privileged and profitable contemplation reaches back to the creation, and forward to eternity. In all this realm he may move with all diligence, without the shackles of skepticism, or the contracted walks of the unproved and unprofitable theories of those who would deprive us of the inspired text-book. "The truth shall make you free." We believe in free thought, and we also believe that true Christians are the only free-thinkers in the world.

W. N. GLENN.