Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-20
CHcAOS nc RELIGION.
HE TENDENCY of Protestant religious thought and
practice is toward ndividuaism That means that

II HE TENDENCY of Protestant religious thought and
practice is toward individuasm That means that
every individual is to be he ndge OF what to receive
article Of faith and what to do not to do act
of religious worship or service The collection of sacred
books called the Bible viewed the only guide and stand
ard and each person is accept its teachings according to
his Interpretation Of their meaning That the very
extreme of religious liberty. and the result is religious
chaos.
striking illustration Of this tendency afforded By
the reply Of number Of Baptist minister's recently to the
question: as baptism essential to church membership?
The in the negative the theory being that he
convert should be the sole Judge to whether he should
submit to the rite of baptism or not" m
This remarkable notion and radical departure from
the rules Of that church, well from the doctrine that the
body rather than individual seeking entrance therein shall
decide to conditions of membership Suppose the idea
to be entertained concerning the naturalization of
Aliens the government prescribing regulations for admission
TO citizenship and the alien regarded "he sole judge to
whether he should submit to them not" II the church
is to be viewed the spiritual kingdom Of heaven EARTH
it rational to leave liberty to choose wheth
they will observe the rites and ceremonies which has
tabshed for entrance therein?
Even il the church is merely human institution body
of worshppr united simply by consent to carry out
their notions Of religion there should be established
form for acquiring membership therein and ought not to
be left to the whm choice Of the convert But the Church
Of Christ must necessarily be Divine organization set up by
Him. and provided with definite rules and doctrines and
thory revealed from high The idea that these be
ignored evaded rejected BY person desiring to enter
that Church seems preposterous
As to the requirement Of baptism Even people who have
other guide in religious principle than the Scriptures may
understand that Christ commanded His Apostles bapze
well teach They to into all the world and preach
the Gospel every creature" and were instructed "e that
beeyeth and is baptized shall be saved" Mark xvi, 49,
Baptism was recommended well teaching and was made
correlaye with belief Catth xvii, 9) There could be
nothing positive this point than the declaration of the
Master Verify verify say unto thee except man be born
Of and Of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom Of
God" John iii, 81
There is nothing left here to the option Of the alien seek
ing citizenship in the kingdom Of God He may stay out if
he chooses but to enter he must comply with the conditions
God commands obey fail to receive the blessing
consequent upon compliance The matter is very simple
The lack of unity socaed Chrsendo is sign of its es.
sena difference from the true Church Of Christ which is one
body with Lord, faith baptism and spirit in
which God rules directs and inspires bringing all its devoees
from darkness and doubt into the light and knowledge of the
truth N'