Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-21
Conden1ning True Crceds and
Condoning Bad Deeds
By Bishop w. A. Gambler

Life is a unit and character is indivisf-
BILE. For convenience OF discussion, we
consider the mind as divided into the in
tellect. the sensibilities, and the Will;
but the division is artificial. and it will
mislead us If it causes us to conceive
our inner nature as composed of uncom-
municating compartments which have
no connection nor interdependence.
en- we think, all the mind is engaged
in thinking, and when we feel, the whole
mind feels, and when we will, the entire
heart wills. An emotion is flaming
thought, and a volition is an active emo>
tion.
1t must follow from these premises
that belief and behaviour, creed and deed
have the most intimate relations to one
another The notion that one may think
what he pleases without his thinking
influencing his life is a false theory
fashioned to prevent loose thinking from
beng exposed to the suspicion Of lax liv-
ing; 1t Is screen behind which false
hood in doctrine may work the ends or
license without being overtaken in the
bad process. 1t is not justified by any
of the facts of personal experience, and
II is contradicted by every pageein the
history of philosophy and religion. st
Paul was dealing with question OF
false doctrine when he wrote to the Co
rinthians, BE not deceived; evil commu-
nications corrupt good manners; and
the word rendered manners would be
more accurately translated by the word
morals" He was condemning certain
heresies touching the doctrine of the
resurrection which are today
proclaimed by some as advanced
thought and "broad-minded theology
-. 49,
corning the future life lead inevitably
to the licentious cry. 'Let US eat and
drink; for tomorrow we die"
In the light OF apostolic teaching and
universal experience, we should not be
surprised when we find public teach
err who teachers eliberalistic doctrines in
culcating at the same time lax ethics.
Such is always the case. The present
era, which has been characterized as an
"age Of dougt," reveals this not less
clearly and conspicuously than have all
former times. Wherever there has been
in our day disintegration Of doctrine
there has followed disqualification of
life And in all the questions Of public
morality which arise we must expect
the teachers OF liberalism to line up with
the advocates OF indulgence And this
fact makes such teachers especially in
furious to society.
Many Of them speak in glowing terms
of THE religion of the Sermon on the
Mount" meaning by their eulogies of
that great utterance to imply that it is
opposed to the dogmatic faith once for
all delivered to the saints; but is there
one among them who accepts its clear
and unequivocal teaching concerning
christian perfection? The Master in the
Sermon on the Mount not only proclaim-
ed the Golden Rule, bat He said also,
BE We perfect as your Father in heav-
en- is perfect" But liberalism can no
more allow such a great demand on the
will than it can accept the demand made
on the intellect by the doctrinal implica-
tions of the Sermon.
Purity Of christian life is constantly
menaced by a prevalent and aggressive
worldliness, but liberalism offers no OPP
position to that worldliness in It's most
subtle and seductive forms Oftener than
otherwise it is the apologist and defend
er of the stage with its polluting ex-
hfbitions, and the theatre was never more
polluted and polluting than now. 1t OPP
poses none of the goddess indulgences
of an age given to loving pleasure more
than God, and has more words Of criti-
cism for those who resist these excesses
than 1t has for the evils resisted 1t
stands for the subversion of the Sabbath.
II mas IHOfe 1cAf I'LL AAeAl II cans lanai
icism'' than it has fear Of
faithfulness Most of its sermons
are consist Of denunciations Of
orthotioxy apologies on worldliness,
and glorihcations Of something which it
calls liberty" 1t seeks In all it's utter
ances. to put upon human nature the mini
mum requirement both as to belief and
conduct. It's idea seems to be that II
faith Is put on the smallest possible RAJ
tion, moral life will flourish in its most
vigorous form and may be allowed to
grow without special cultivation or di-
rection. II would produce by powerful
character by pellets of truth. 1t makes
much of what ''the times demand" and
little OF what God declares.
Now, II there is any thing clear, it is
that the present times need whatever
'the times may demand'') the most pow
erfuI and constructing gospel. The powers
Of man have been nightly augmented in
modern times by vast Accommodations of
wealth and by an amazing amount of po-
tential inventions through which wealth
may work fits ends, The power IN man
kind has thereby been raised to the
highest pitch, and IL the power ABOVE
him be not at the same time revealed
in the most lawless fashion. The present
form, he VIII use his increased strength
in the mast Iawless fashion. The present,
therefore, is not the time for lowering
doctrinal standards or relaxing moral
requirements. 1t is rather time for
calling men back to fundamental verities
and the unchanging requirements OF the
moral law. To be perpetually telling
them that all their fathers believed has
been exploded. and that the ethical