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SUPERFICIAL RELIGION

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 21, 1878

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 51, No. 12.

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SUPERFICIAL RELIGION.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

The world is full of superficial religion. The breaking-up plow of true repentance has gone out of use. The surface is stirred with exciting stories, and then the invitation is made to come forward and get salvation; and people are encouraged to believe that only faith is required, and that it is a very easy matter. Entire consecration is talked of, and the “rest of faith;” which seems to mean perfect satisfaction with one’s self, a knowledge of acceptance independent of a knowledge of the truth.
If ever the people needed instruction in the very rudiments of the religion of the Bible—the moral law—it is now. The wound is not probed, but healed slightly. That by which is the knowledge of sin—that instrument that shows how deep the wound is—does not enter thoroughly into the work of conversion. It will not do to deal thoroughly with the law of God in these days; too many would be condemned; and so it is that little is said and taught of God’s perfect law, only in a general way. It seems to be taken for granted that those who are almost wholly unacquainted with the Bible, know as well what is right and wrong as their teachers; therefore there is but very little teaching. A conscience formed by tradition and custom is supposed to be an infallible guide, and the truth of God is but little sought.
A charity, falsely so-called, is highly esteemed; a charity which ignores the truth, instead of rejoicing in it, as Paul taught. 1 Cor. 13. Union is much talked of, which is only a confederation of discordant sects. Agreement in truth as a foundation is not thought of; and he that can cover the greatest number of conflicting creeds with a broad mantle, is esteemed the most pious as well as liberal. And so protestantism has come to fellowship popery. And why not! since truth is no test. Ignorance is cherished; and all is made to depend upon the vain thought that “the heart is right.”
R. F. COTTRELL.