Baseless Assumptions

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 8, 1905

Baseless Assumptions.

The attempt to make this a "Christian nation" by legislation, will virtually brand every citizen with the inscription, "This is a Christian," tho he may be one of the greatest enemies of Christianity in profession and character. This assumption of national Christianity, or religion by law, has its counterpart in some other "Christian" ideas. At first, Spiritualism was antagonistic to Christianity; but now we have "Christian Spiritualists." It used to be that professed scientists who opposed the Bible account of creation were reckoned as infidels; but it has come to pass that great theologians oppose Genesis in the name of Christianity; and we have "Christian Scientists," who only nominally use any part of the Bible. Socialism was at first deemed altogether infidel in its tendency, but the latest feature is "Christian Socialism."

Christianity has come to be deemed by many of its votaries only a name,—just agree to call anything Christian, and it is so. This mania is simply a return to the Roman theory, as illustrated in the so-called conversion of Constantine, and with him the whole empire. This was followed by the baptism of pagan idols, and naming them after the apostles of Christianity. What shall come of such pretension and assumption in the judgment is indicated by the Saviour's words in the Sermon on the Mount: "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity."