Religion by F. M. Bragg

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 14, 1863

Religion

By F. M. Bragg

Is very common. There are many kinds. Every one has some kind of a religion. The question with us is, have we the right kind? a religion that will stand the test? one that sustains in afflictions now, and will sustain in a dying hour, or shield us from the seven last plagues, if permitted to live in that trying time?

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock, and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand, and the rains descended, and floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. Matt. vii, 27.”

These are the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He kept his Father's commandments, and has taught us to follow in his steps. Obedience places us on a firm foundation which cannot be shaken, but those who build otherwise will be swept away.

We often hear members of the churches say, “I love God with all my heart, I love Jesus with all my heart.” But they do not often speak of love to their neighbor. They think that they can love God and Jesus with all the heart, while they have no conception of their duties to their neighbor. The acts of some show that they do not love God or their neighbor. Of some who keep the holy Sabbath and believe the gifts of the church, the same remark may be made. The apostle says, “Love worketh no ill to its neighbor. If ye love not your brother whom ye have seen, how can ye love God whom ye have not seen?”

Those who profess the third angel's message, are, in point of light and knowledge, far in advance of the nominal churches. And this increased light brings increased responsibility.

Some speak as if they were much better than those who are ignorant of present truth, because of their greater light and knowledge. But if we differ from the nominal professor only in theory, of what advantage is this superior light to us? We might as well believe error as truth, unless truth yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness (right-doing) in all the duties and acts of life, in the family, the home relation, in all business transactions, in love, and in the duties and relations in the church. Some have forgotten, or they do not comprehend the wide sphere of Christian duty. They seem to believe that the religion of Christ is something like a nice garment, to be put on occasionally, when it will be advantageous. They act as if Christ's religion consisted in head theory or happy feelings. Such do not perceive the right kind of religion.

Says Jesus, “Therefore whosoever doeth these sayings of mine, I will liken him unto a wise man,” &c. The doers only are justified. Those who love God with all the heart and their neighbors as themselves, will show their love by keeping all the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, and will finally enter through the gates into the holy city.

If we love our neighbor as ourselves, we have a desire to do him good. This spirit is not founded in a likeness of mind and disposition to his. It exists toward those who are unlike us, and far from the right path. This spirit is Christ-like. Wherever we find it we find the image of Christ. This love of principle and spirit takes the place of all feeling of superiority because of superior knowledge. It gives an anxious solicitude for others to receive the light we so much prize. Gratitude inspires to sacrifice, (as others have done to give us the truth) not only in our means, but in convenience and ease, to place the truth before those who will hear. Some that we least expect, may receive the truth in the love of it. “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.”

Those who feel a superiority over their ignorant neighbors, because of greater knowledge, have but a

vague idea of the love, confidence, and relations of brethren. Jesus clearly taught the doctrine of Christian brotherhood, which stands in marked contrast with the prevalent doctrines, spirit and practices of the nominal churches. On those taught by Jesus, we united in organization. How far have we advanced in this light, spirit and practice? Are our sympathies and spirit one with Christ and the brotherhood? or do they run in the same low channel of those whose doctrines we reject?

Is our confidence in those with whom we profess to unite, dependent upon the speech of those who have no love for the precious truth? If under such a dark influence, we are in very great danger of giving a wrong coloring to the acts of our brethren, and thus bear false witness against them. This want of confidence in those with whom we profess to be united, cherishes a spirit to divide and distract, and the injunction of the apostle, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ,” is forgotten. And the design of Christ is frustrated in the want of love and confidence of his professed people.

The love of Jesus' followers, one for another, in all ages, was to be evidence to a wicked world that Jesus was sent from Heaven. But if those who profess the sacred truths of the third angel's message, which are to purify a peculiar people and prepare them for the coming of Christ, do not show greater love and union than the churches, wherein have we advanced? Shall we differ from them in theory only? If we have not a more holy principle and spirit of action, emanating from these heavenly truths, wherein are we benefitted by the truth? If we do not show by our lives that we love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves, our religion is no better than that of those who do not profess the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. And with them we are like the foolish man building on the sand, and the floods and winds will sweep us away.

May we take heed, dig deep, and build on the rock, the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, that when the winds blow and the floods come our house may stand. F. M. BRAGG. Cambridge, Wis.