CHANGE OF HEART by R. F. C.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 7, 1858

CHANGE OF HEART.

By R. F. C.

The question is sometimes asked me, Do you believe in a change of heart? as though we, who are constantly teaching that every real christian should "turn away" from those who have the "form of godliness, but deny the power thereof," could reject experimental or heart religion.

Certainly we believe in a change of heart, and such a change as will produce a corresponding change in the daily life and outward acts of the individual—a change of heart that will turn men from sin to righteousness, from breaking the commandments of God to keeping them.

The phrase "change of heart," I understand to be a figurative expression, signifying a change of the affections; and though not found in the teachings of Christ and his apostles, yet the idea doubtless is scriptural.

But the heart, or the affections, may be changed, and not for the better. Therefore when a person claims to have "met with a change of heart," it is proper to inquire whether the change has produced that love of God which keeps his commandments; for if the change is wrought by the Spirit of God, it will lead the person to submit to all the known requirements of his word. The people of Israel met with a change of heart when they turned away from the commandment of the living God and worshiped Baal. But it was a much better change when the Lord, through the instrumentality of Elijah, "turned their heart back again." When a person is converted to Spiritualism, his heart is changed, and he reverences those spirits which before perhaps he ridiculed. Such doubtless have "got religion," but it is not of the right kind; neither is any other religion of the right kind, that does not lead its votaries to obedience to the revealed will of God, as contained in his word.

Men may feel that they are right when they are actually wrong. Saul of Tarsus verily thought that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. But though he felt that he was right, he was under the influence of a false religious zeal, fighting against God. He had a "zeal of God, but not according to knowledge;" and had he not changed his course on being enlightened, he would have been condemned, with all the religion he had. Just so it is now. Men may talk of a change of heart, and of the power of godliness in the soul; yet if it does not lead them to seek to know and do the will of God, it is all in vain. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of God; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. vii 21. Hence the apostles asked no man to "tell his experience;" but if he was ready to obey the Lord, they received him.

Those who obey the Lord "receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," and "are led by the Spirit of God." They do not deny the power of godliness. But those who profess to "have the power," and yet will not yield to the plain requirements of the word of the Lord, are led by some other spirit than that of the divine Author of that word. There are many spirits gone out into the world, and a mighty struggle between the true and the false is just before us. Every spirit that does not confess the word of God and its fulfillment down to the present time, is not of God. <div style="text-align: right;">R. F. C.</div>