Discrediting Religion by Editor

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Jun 12, 1855

Discrediting Religion.

By Editor

"He is a godly man, but very sharp at a bargain." This remark referred to a professor of religion and was designed as a disparagement both of him and his religion. Men of the world, whose only gospel is founded on the maxims and customs of business, aim at sharpness in making a bargain; and, while they condemn positive and vulgar cheating, they consider it no discredit to approach as near as possible to the line which separates it from an acute exercise of their business tact, in obtaining an advantage over their less wakeful neighbors.

When, however, one comes among them professing another gospel, enjoying higher principles of action, they watch him closely, and if they detect him adopting their policy, using their artifices, betraying the same restless anxiety to make quick and doubtful profits, in a word, when they see him leaving his gospel at home, and going to his place of business like a man of the world, to chaffer, to screw, to make money at all hazards, they note the inconsistency, and jeer both him and his religion.

With this we find no fault. We commend men of the world for the watchfulness they exercise over Christian professors, and for the rebukes which they express at their manifest inconsistencies. We say to them, "Preach to such men in your pointed way until they reform or lay aside the profession they dishonor."

We do most seriously protest, however, against laying their inconsistencies to the account of religion. Religion is a holy and sacred thing; it has no precept enjoining love of the world, self-seeking, or injury to our neighbor, and he that follows such precepts manufactures them out of his own evil heart, and in utter despite of the gospel.

If a professed disciple of Christ shows himself to be a mean, grasping, over-reaching trader, say of him that he dishonors religion, while you respect the religion, which, if it was truly experienced by him would make him another and a better man.

How cautious should Christians be in their contact with the world! They are entrusted, in a sense, with the very honor of Christ; and they may do immense mischief to his cause, and to the souls of their poor fellow men, when they betray an intense worldly spirit, and especially when they descend to any of the tricks of trade. In every transaction they should be examples to all around them.