A Fallen Star by W. R. Uchtmann

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 31, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 12.

A Fallen Star

By W. R. Uchtmann

His Light Had Gone Out—Witness from Four Different Angles

By W. R. Uchtmann

WHILE walking through Castle Square one Sunday afternoon, I was attracted by a sign inviting the people to a lecture. Thinking it was probably after the order of some religious branch, I walked in and heard the best—or worst—lecture I ever heard on the contradictions of the four Gospels, by an ex-minister.

It seemed that every one of quite a large audience was fully convinced that there was but little if any truth in the part of Scripture discussed. After the lecture, lasting about forty minutes, an invitation like a challenge was given to any one to answer what had been said.

A woman, evidently from some city mission, was on her feet in a moment, and began to rant, shouting, "Halleluiah! I'm saved," etc., which made religion appear as something without very much understanding.

After she got through, I was permitted to take ten minutes, if I would promise to say something besides "I'm saved." I promised, and proceeded by asking the speaker:

"Did I understand that you at one time had been a gospel minister?"

He said, "Yes, but I'm glad I got beyond that."

"Then," said I, "my text for my little sermonette is, 'If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!'"

"The contradictions of the Bible," I proceeded, "are only seen through Satan's glasses."

I compared the Gospels to four men writing a history of George Washington. One of the writers only knew him on the battlefield, and described him as a thorough fighter and strict disciplinarian. The next one only knew about his home life, and wrote that Mr. Washington never fought with any one there, but was a thorough gentleman in every way. In like manner the other two wrote, one about Washington when he was at school, and the last showed Washington as a statesman.

"Now," I asked, "who is there that thinks it requires much gray matter to produce quite a number of apparent contradictions in these four accounts of the same man? But every sane man knows that each of the four gives one side of a great man's character."

"Thus Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each give us certain grand characteristics of our Saviour. For instance, Matthew, in his genealogy, goes back only to Abraham, showing us Christ as the perfect Jew; but Luke the physician traces His ancestry back as far as Adam, thus showing us Jesus as the true and perfect 'Son of man.' Mark shows us Jesus as a servant; but John begins at the creation, and shows us the Son of God and co-Creator (John 1), but made flesh to dwell among us."

"To look for and find contradictions in any part of the word of God, shows plainly the condition of the one thus engaged."

One of the infidels took me by the hand, and said, "That was all right"; and I walked out to save further argument. My work there was finished.