The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-13
PULPIT AND PEW
LIGHT ON A CREED.
The Attitude of the Congregational
Church Toward Predestination
%s and Eternal Punishment. =.
Questions, Raised by Recent Action
of a Church, Answered by
r" Rev. E. w. Shurtleff.

The announcement a few days ago,
that Plymouth Congregational church. ST.
Paul, was considering the adViSability
of adopting a new creed, emitting the
doctrines Of predestination and eternal
punishment has raised question as to
the attitude OF the Congregational church
in general toward these subjects. This
question and others growing out of it
have been answered by Rev. Ernest w.
Shurtleff pastor of the First Congrega-
tional church.
Questions and answers are given as fol-
lows:
Are predestination and eternal punish
ment generally received by Congregation
alists?'
Not if by the term generally received
you mean generally avoWed essential
matters of covenant and necessary for
membership in the church. The doctrine
of predestination is not regarded as es-
sentfal to belief either for membership
in the denomination or for Christian life.
There are many forms of the belief which
have figured in the theology of past CEN
turtles, such as the Pauline, the Calvinis-
tic, the Augustinian, and the VARIOUS
shades Of opinion expressed by these diff
ferent forms ares so different, as touch
ing, for example Gods arbitrary relation
ship to mans will that the question needs
to be divided before a general answer is
given. If you mean to imply by predes-
soul, either for veal or VICE. as the word
is commonly interpreted to imply, and
that man Is thus not free moral agent
in the choice Of spiritual life or death,
then, most emphatically, the doctrine is
not only absent from creeds and cove
nants Of the Congregational order, but
absent from the opinions of most Of the
individual minds of the church. I do not
say you may not find the doctrine of pre-
destination in some form in the creeds of
some Of the older churches, but such
cases would be indeed very rare in this
day. On the other hand, Congregation
alism is in the fore front of religious Dr.
ganiZa tions to announce to this age the
gift Of life in Jesus Christ as a gift free
to all who will accept it. Congregational
lists believe that Gods foreknowledge does
not destroy mans freedom,
with regard to the other part of your
questionable matter of eternal punish
ment--I would say that the church GER
tainly believes in the reality of punish
ment; but on the matter of its duration,
and upon the Interpretation to be put
upon the scrfptural references bearing on
the theme opinions differ to such an ex-
tent that it is hard to say just what a
composite view Of the denomination on
this doctrine would present. do not pre-
sumo to state it, except to say that few
churches of order make the doctrine
part of their covenant with new mem
DcrS, lnaL InGy 90 not regard a Dele1
in this doctrine one which should sug-
gest test question for church member
ship.
There is a growing tendency to SHOW
that punishment is inherent in the wrong
acts of men and is not dealt out by al
angry and avenging God. Certainly what
ever individual opinion there may be in tn
churches our creeds are becoming ever.
year less dogmatic in their statement
concerning eSchatOlOgy.
Then the Plymouth church of st. Pau
will not be regarded as in advance of tn
times in adopting its new covenant?'
mo; the act will place the church upo1
the same. or upon similar basis in thes
matters with the majority of the churche
in the denomination. Few Of our churche
wish to dogmatize with new members O.
such doctrines; freedom of mind and con
science. with individual members, provide
for liberty Of view all such questions
Plymouth church is simply granting thi
right. The essential matter remains i
the covenant"
What do you regard as the essentia
matter?"
1.-The demand that life shall holt
the right relationship to Jesus Chris
and that men should be more busy il
livable motives of love towards thei
fellow men, after the manner of Jesus
than in formulating logical opinions
which may, not. explain the acts an,
motives of The Infinite. To put maj