Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-01-10
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a SERMON Z&ESA
3Y THE REV. NSk
IMWHENDEeScNV
Theme: The Bible.


Brooklyn, N. Y.-Preaching at tn
Irving Square Presbyterian Church
Hamburg avenue and VERIFIED street
on the above theme. the Rev. Ir,
Wemmell Henderson, pastor, took q
his text Is.40:S: @The Word of ou
God shall stand forever" He said:
This has been an age of criticism
OF the Scriptures. There has never
been a time In the history of Chris
tianity when the Bible was NOR,
searchingly examined and the truth
fulness OF its facts as presented more
questioned than In the days through
which we have passed and are pass
ing. The written truth of the divine
revelation has been put to severe
tests. Its foundations have been an.
alyzed. Its superstructure has been
sounded. Its conclusions have been
negatived and its very fabric has
seemingly been destroyed. Some OF
us have feared that its permanence
has been threatened, its influence cur
tailed, its contents in some measure
expunged. Criticism has been siren
uous in its handling of the Bible.
Far more strenuous than some of us
have thought advisable. Far more
strenuous than many of US have
thought Justifiable, necessary or wise.
Under the combined influence of q
new science, larger view of history,
a more comprehensive geography, the
tests of the validity and value of the
Scriptures have been changed and the
content OF the Word of God has been
differently considered than custom
arily. 1t has shocked many a soul,
this process. 1t has brought many a
layman and many minister to the
tide OF the ocean of doubt and dis
trust and of spiritual uncertainty.
But It has been done. Whether we
have liked 1t or no the light has bce:l
turned on. It has incidentally been
turned on much that was the foolish
ness Of immature scholarship mas
querading under the guise of wisdom.
The criticism of the Scriptures has
created widespread distrust of the
whole Book of God. It has upset
theology. 1t has removed many of
the old foundations for our belief
In the inspiration of the Word and
OF the divinity of Jesus Christ. Sadly
In many quarters 1t has undermined
faith. But that has been rather be-
cause men have lacked the power to
differentiate and because they have
mistaken facts for human statement
and Interpretation of the same, than
because the Scriptures have been
scientifically studied and the light of
the spirit honestly and helpfully
turned on.
Actually there has been little cause
for alarm. Because we test the water
is no guarantee that 1t Is contain
mated. Because we put acid to our
silver is no surety that 1t Is only
plated. Because we take the invi-
tation of the Almighty and try Him
and His Word is no reason why we
should fear that either or both are
frauds. Because we study the Word
carefully invites no presumption that
1t will not be able fully. to meet all
our questions and successfully to
elucidate all our perplexities and to
justify itself. The Bible Is not :,
book for dummies. It Is the mechan-
ically preserved Word of a living God
who through the long ages has spoken
to living men and who yet speaks. It
is for men of intelligence who are
alive. And 1t invites the inquiry of
live and intelligent men.
There Is and has been no cause
Tor alarm. For theology and religion
are not the same thing. A very re-
ligious man may have very atrocious
theology. And while 1t is always
best to express our religious knowl-
edge and experiences in the best theo-
logical formulate that we may be able
to devise. 1t is always possible, hui
manity being what 1t is, that we may
not be able to express in words the |
exact consciousness of our minds and |
souls. A mans theology will change, |
II he be live and intelligent man,
with the maturing and magnifying |
Of his religious experiences. And II |
our theology is ineffective to relate
our spiritual and moral experiences,
II our creeds do not correctly reveal |
our thoughts, there Is no reason in |
the world why we should not do as |
our fathers before us have done and |
change our creeds, our formulated |
Creeds are necessary as |
an expressionof areligious conscious
ness. It were folly to scoN them.
But they should be plastic. They |
should grow with our growth AID ex- |
pand with our expansion.
AA0 ~ ~ AuSc8ll8atlOU w inc
Scripture has relaid the grourd for
our belief In the inspiration IT the |
Word Of God we should not b. fear
full. For 1t has made the foureation |
but more Ineligible and truthful to |
the minds of men Of to-day. It has |
not destroyed the fact of inspiration. |
1t has simply changed our major
ground Of belief therein. The e.yord |
Is as inspired as 1t ever was. Ma taco
logical statement, however learned or |
worded, can alter tho tact. |
II the examination of the Scripture |
has restated the grounds for cls be-
lief In the divinity of Christ, Il has
been simply to intensity our intvllec-
tual acceptance OF the fact Of His |
For He who was the full |
ness of grace and truth depends not |
on any theological formula for GEM
or Justification. Fer He
was divine ere men began to 2,cvc |
Him 50.
We ought to be thankful that the
test has come. For out of the drs |
has emerged a stronger faith ia tile
inspired Word of God, a clearer con-
prehension of the reasons for our /,
faith. And 1t were worth while to
90 through fire and through flood "
secure that.
Criticism has eliminated many 4
It has clarified much Of |
the obscurity of the Scripture rec .
ords. 1t has brought the testimony /
Of the four ends of the earth to the |
standardization of the accuracy In
every essential mart of God'a moaf |