"It Makes No Difference !"
By N. W.
Not unfrequently we hear people try to justify themselves in keeping Sunday instead of the Lord's Sabbath with the plea that it makes no difference what men believe or practice if they are only sincere in it. If this true in regard to one article of faith or practice, it must hold equally true in regard to every other, and hence God does not care whether we believe him or the devil, if so be we are sincere in believing one or the other; for whatever is opposed to God is of the devil. And if God does not care which we believe, he does not care which we obey; for obedience proceeds from faith. If this true, why did he turn Adam and Eve out of Paradise and follow them with penalties because Satan succeeded in making them believe and obey him instead of God? Without doubt they were sincere in their change of belief, for they knew nothing about falsehood and deception then. Again, if this plea be true, why did God send his Son to die for the redemption of men, if simply being honest, in any sort of belief and conduct is sufficient to render men acceptable to him? And why did Christ pray that his disciples might be sanctified through the truth, if they could be sanctified through a lie as well? and they certainly could, if this argument be correct. He taught that whosoever committeth sin is of the devil, and Paul taught that sin is the transgression of the law. The testimony of Christ and Paul is in direct opposition to this argument, and therefore, both cannot be true. One or the other must go down. Which shall it be? —N. W., in Sabbath Recorder.