The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-02-19
MINISTER'S
DIFFER WITH MITCHELL

err inclines to the opinion that belier
In the divinity of Christ Is not necessary
to salvation. although he firmly an
nounces that It is a doctrine OF Method
ism. He says that bad hearts ana not
weak heads are responsible for the loss
of souls.
What ho says follows:
Professor Mitchell belongs 10 the
northern section of Methodism. Still the
same doctrines are taught by all bodies
OF Methodism. He, therefore. speaks Tor
all Methodist churches IL for any. But
he speaks for nobody except himset ana
a very small following OF learned cranks
when he admits a belief that some OF
the stories I'm the first chapters OF Genesis
are more or less neutrality-suspicious.
which ones when he adds: i do not be-
lieve that the world was actually created
in the length OF time given
"Methodists, with few exceptions oe1eNs
that all the stories in the first chapter
of Genesis, instead of being legehuarS
In the least, are altogether historic. Inc
church does not claim that the matter
out of which the world was made was
created in six days, but IT does DcneNe
and teach that the world, inclusive OF
the six distinct acts or creation. WIS
created IN six distinct days. But II does
not insist, and never requires as an arll-
Gle OF faith that these were SIX consecu-
tive days The first day may nave been
millions or years from IuS lAlh NdN u
tho creation, and IT may have been only
One-siXtieth of one year. But these were
days, not indefinite periods of time.
LAS 10 his denial that the church holds
to a belief In the divinity of Christ as
necessary TO salvation, some explanation
Of the professors real position - appa-
rently due him. / do not understand
that he either denies or questions the d.
vinity Of Christ If that is his attitude,
however, he is not a Methodist. Meth
Od.sm holds that Jesus Christ IL COD;
that the world was made by Him anu
is upheld by the word OF Ills power; that
He gave the law to Moses. and Himself
appeared 10 Joshua and Elijah: that lie
emptled Himself Of His eternal glory and
sovereignty in order TO take upon him
self the form Of a servant. It nfleNlDly
holds to His absolute and eternal God
head and teaches there can be no saliva
ton without His mediation and redemp-
tive work for any human soul.
But II is quite another thing 70 say
that nobody can be saved by HIM excep-
on a belief In His divinity. How then.
are chilCren saved? And yet not one OK
the countless dead has ever been lost.
Are no heather saved. merely because
Christ IS not known to them? what
shall we say also OF the Dnltartans ana
the Jews? Are all these persons. whose
faith does not grasp the divinity OF
Christ, reprobate because OF that fact
No. indeed! Nothing but sin. loved and
chung to. necessitdtes souls condemna-
ton. All men who are trying to do right,
In the fear and honor OF the Almighty
Will be saved. But not a soul OF tnem
except by the personal help OF the son
of Man. the Son of God! He alone saves.
It's not our faith in His divinity. but
In Him, that puts such as have tho gospel
In the plain paths of salvation.
This understand TO he the church s
faith touching salvation I'm Christ While
| cannot doubt the eternal Godhead Of
Jesus Christ any more than ] can ques-
ton my own being. l cannot think that
noble and true people who don't believe
In HIS divinity az l do Will therefore be
rejected by Him at the Judgment. 1t is
not a weak head but a bad heart that
brings His disapprOVal upon anybody
This lets some of the Christian Scientists
and Spiritualists into the kingdom a last
and is tho open door for many another
Irrational and wild teacher 70 come finally
unto a knowledge Of tho truth"