Living Religion by E. Goodrich

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 16, 1864

Living Religion.

By E. Goodrich

Many who have never made a profession, suppose if they were to embrace religion they would live religion; they would make no half-way work about it, stumbling here and backsliding there. They do not seem to think that human nature is the same, and that they are possessed of the same vile bodies as other men. They little realize their own weakness. They talk just as though they thought that when a man is converted, of course he is converted in that manner and to that extent as to be beyond the reach of temptation and the danger of sinning. But such is not the case. Human nature is quite the same in all ages and in all people; and it is not a great deal easier for one man to live religion than another. And God does not propose so to convert a man and change his relations, as to place him above the danger of falling into sin.

The man who makes a profession of religion, puts on Christ by baptism, and is pardoned and receives the spirit of adoption, has simply entered the school of Christ, not to be perfected in a single hour or day, but to learn and do the will of God. It is not expected of the beginner that he will know as much and be as strong as the man of ripe experience. The boy that enlists as a soldier does not expect to be placed beyond all danger. He enlists for the purpose of braving and overcoming all danger. From the time he is received and equipped until he is discharged, there is constant danger; there is a constant warfare. Many desert, many are wounded and maimed for life, while others are slain outright or taken captive. It is only a part that return and are crowned as victors.

The Scriptures teach the doctrine of a change of heart, so that a man will love the things he once hated and hate the things he once loved; yet they teach also that the righteous man may turn away from his righteousness so that his righteousness will not be remembered. They teach that many that hear and receive the word with joy will become so entangled with the affairs of this world as to choke the word that it bear no fruit. A man may have a good experience, he may be soundly converted to God, yet, living as he must, in the same sinful world, and exposed to the same unholy and corrupt influences that he was before he was converted, there is constant danger of again falling into sin. Like the hog that is washed, he may return to his wallowing in the mire. We are not, therefore, to rely simply on a good experience. We are to have a living experience. We are to die daily unto sin. We are to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the truth. The warfare of the Christian is an everyday warfare. Each day has its conflicts and victories. It only begins at conversion and ends with his final discharge. And it is only by getting on the whole armor, and by being faithful to the grace of God continually manifested, that we overcome and are crowned.

E. GOODRICH.

Edinboro, Pa.