p. 194 | Modern Religion

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 2, 1873

Modern Religion.

The religion of the day is entirely unlike the religion of the Bible. We are not now speaking from a theological stand-point, but refer to its spirit. In Bible times, religion separated people from the world, and made them “a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Now we behold an assimilation to the world on the part of those who profess religion, and they are pre-eminently lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, provided we allow their actions to speak, which so often speak louder than words. How unlike the apostle’s advice: “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

As the heart cannot be fired with the love of God and the love of the world at the same time, the fact that the love of the world mainly predominates in the nominal church, is proof conclusive of a sickly religion within. Where is the victory over the world, over self, over sin, over Satan, which was once enjoyed? Where is the “pure and undefiled religion,” which formerly kept its possessor “unspotted from the world”? Has God’s plan changed? Or have men swerved from that plan, and hewn out to themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water? We need earnestly to inquire for the old paths of experimental religion, and to walk therein. This modern substitute for religion is a worthless coin. We want radical Christianity.