INFIDELITY AND ORTHODOXY.
By H. James Kittle
Commandment keepers have become familiar with the above words, by having the former applied to them by their opponents, while at the same time their opponents claim the latter as being appropriate to themselves. What is infidelity when applied to things pertaining to religion? Webster says it is "disbelief of the inspiration of the Scriptures, or the divine original of Christianity; unbelief." Now is there a people in the world that have a more unwavering belief in the Scriptures as the word of God, and that they are to be obeyed, than commandment keepers, or Seventh-day Adventists, who for the sake of the Bible and its purity have come out from the nominal church and the world, and thus drawn upon themselves the anathemas of both. But how is it with those who claim to be orthodox, which Webster defines to be, sound in the Christian faith; believing the genuine doctrines taught in the Scriptures? Press them upon the subject of the Sabbath. Oh, that is done away or changed to the first day. Ask them where and when it was changed,—oh, it was done by Christ and his apostles, they will tell you. Ask them where you will find a record of it, and you will be pointed to the fathers as authority. Quote some passage from the Bible that proves man to be mortal, and they will tell you. We have nothing to do with that. The writer was once talking with a man that makes quite a figure in one of the professed orthodox churches, and told him that his position on the immortality of man would prove universal salvation, and quoted Rev. v, 13 as proof. "Oh we have nothing to do with that," was the reply. And when reminded that it was the Infidel's business to deny the Bible, but the Christian's to own the whole, and if any part was denied, it was equivalent to a denial of the whole, he made some apology. Another of the same church, in reference to the same passage, said there were a great many that doubted that the book of Revelation was any part of the Bible. Now I believe in calling things by their right names, and those who deny the Bible, or any part of it are Infidels, and those who are sound in the faith of the Bible are orthodox. Greensburg Cross Roads, Ohio.