The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-09-03
Gltn1tphta by the 31ru1a.

Written expressly for the GLOBE REpUBL1cAS
THE QUESTION is often asked. ''Why is
a people reader to accept false religion,
or try to have none at all. than to accep,
the true religion of Christi
# I
l. The religion of Christ requires
purity Of heart, motive. purpose. life and
character. and it avails nothing to say
that few attain the full requirements
that is only sad commentary on our
perverse human nature. and the empha-
sis of our utter and infinite need. Man.
inherent tendencies are toward the wrong.
toward sinfulness and selfishnesS.
=. The false religions palliate and ex-
cuse the wrong and sin. Christianity
condemns sin and selfishness. The mind
of man, through false pride, dislikes to
be reprOved. condemned. even though
in the wrong, and so pursues the evil
course and becomes satisfied with it.
). The true religion requires OPPOSE
ton to evil tendencies; to evil thoughts.
words and actions; and holds us re-
spOnsible for what we do in view of our
beliefs. But the false religion and false
theories excuse us on the ground that sit
makes no difference what one believes so
he is honest in it, An honest belief in
that which is false does not make the
false true. There are those who believe
blue black is plain black.-cOlOr blind, if
you please; but this belief does not alter
the fact; their honesty does no change
blue black to black-b black. So there are
persons who are color blind in relation
to their moral and spiritual vision; but
their honesty of belief does not change
the fact that they are blind to their
own welfare.
4. The false religion says it is easier
to be like the people about us. than it is
to oppose their course; it is easier to drift
down stream than to row up stream. 1t
is easier for a young man to swear in the
crowd that swears, than it is for him to
resist profanity in the face of the crowd.
1t is easier to be good and do good when
every body else is doing the same thing.
So when we look about us and see four
out of every five who are irreligiouS-and
sometimes the proportion is greater
then it takes courage to oppose the cur
rent of irreligious thought and life.
I+T
CHRISTIANITY Is. tn erefOre. not only
a matter of belief. but is life as well.
There are very many who tacitly accept
the truths of Christianity. but who do not
in any way try to exemplify those tenets
and truths by their lives. Any one who
examines the evidences of Christianity
carefully must be convinced of its truth
fulness. no matter whether he can eX-
plain and understand all those truths or
not. The day has passed for any one to
say candidly. 81 shall not believe any
thing until fully understand. can ex-
plain and comprehend the whole
+ I
The OLD TESTAMENT was completed
about four hundred years B. c. There
was translation of it made into Greek.
from the original Hebrew in which it
was written, about go b. G. This trans
latiOn is known as the Septuagint. The
book of Job was written about 800 to
1000 years B. c., and is one of the Oldest
books in the world.
The NEW TESTAMENT was completed
about the year 10 to 120 \. d. The
book of Revelation was the last written.
1t is universally agreed to have been
written by the Apostle John. John died
not late than 12O A. D., and by most of
the investigators it is agreed that he died
about ITO a. D. Among those who have
insisted upon the later dates for the
completion of the New Testament are |
Strauss. Bauer and Renan. noted oppos-
ers of Christianity; but they have been
more than answered, the evidence is over |
whelming that their claims were unjust |
and untenable. The first two named have
acknowledged defeat. the last has ADAM
dOned the contest. Thus was the entire
Bible completed, and was being circula-
ted and read in the churches not later
than 100 to $50 A. D.
IT I
THIS PART OF BIBLICAL criticism
has been stubbOrnly contested. The at
tack was ferOcious, bitter. Strauss
thought, fifty or sixty years ago, that he
had demolished the Bible; but Renan
demolished Strauss and his mythical
theory. and the vulgarly brilliant French
man has yielded to the cumulative force of
later investigations. leaving the Bible,
and not the church, as the supreme
guide and rule of faith and practice. No
church is infallible. The very claim is