Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-05-11

able anguish 10 riany Of Gods true
people: And has II not repulsed and
driven many from God and the Bible,
thousands OF the most intelligent minds
. the wordi
: As the Jewish Doctors Of Divinity
carried no siicn burdens, neither do
the Doctors OF Divinity of Christen-
dom. In private they acknowledge that
they carry no such burdens. In public
they give the inference that they do
not so much by positive terms as by
implication. tone and infection OF
voice. aud by the general fact that they
stand for aud rs representatives, OF the
creeds which so teach. II does not ex-
cusc these influential teachers for them
TO claim that In their official capacity
they lose their personal responsibility
and shift II upon those who made the
creesls and those who adopted them.
The people are no longer trusting the
crceds. They realize that the creeds
contain many Inconsistencies. and that
greater Hight is today shining from one
page OF the Bible upon another. than
shone In the days when those creeds
were formulated.
The common people trust the Bible
Jesus, the Apostles and the Prophets.
They know that all of the creeds Of
Christendom claim to be built upon the
inspired Record. They understand the
Scrihcs and Pharisecs OF today, the
,.f III ..t,.t ~ do 20.
give assurances that those creeds prop.
erly present the teachings of the Bible.
The crecdal chains would become ropes
Of sand II all the prominent Doctors Of
Divinity of Christendom came forward
and publicly renowned them. as they
nearly all do in private conversation.
II Is this matter Of misleading the
people. dcceiving them, that consti-
tuted the basis of Jesus Charge against
the Doctors of Divinity Of old. and we
believe that His Judgment is very simi-
lar today respecting the Doctors OF Di-
vinity of Chrisiendom-"Ye have taken
away Iyc have hiddcnl the Key OF
knowledge. Yc have not entered IN
yourselves. and them that were enter.
ing We hindered.'
Christian people today are so dis
g,isted with the creeds which have sep
arated them aud their forcfathers
into six hundred different denomina
lions that they are quite ready TO dis
card them all. and 10 come together us
one Church of the Living God TO study
et. mil. t,, tsa ,a.,, f;ntf
Systematic key-hiding.
The Scribes and Pharisees OF our day
are proving themselves TO be the anti
types OF those addressed by Jesus In
our text. and have substitute for
knowledge. Taking away the Key of
Knowledge. they say 10 the common
people. DO not bother your head about
doctrines: leave doctrines TO the clergy
let the clergy endorse all the creeds
however conflicting they be. We do
this in order TO lull you to sleep
There is nothing so calculated to dis
turb the Christians rest as the discus
sion OF the doctrines OF Christ. II
there bc In any congregation those who
cannot feel satisfied without some kind
of Bible study. let them have II. but get
them rattle. TO discussing the eeogra
ply Of Pal stine and the habits and
customs Of the people, etc, rather than
the prophecies of old or the interpreta
tions of them. rs given by Jesus and
the Apostles We ministers will keep
aloof from such Bible study; we will
not lot on hut that we understand
these prophecies thoroughly but we
will keep watch upon the Bible
classes. and interfere only IL we find
some brother therein who Is inclined
10 dclve after the doctrines OF Christ
and the Apostles.
One minister. voicing this opposition
Ia Bible study. especially along the
lines Of differences where II would he
Of special value. said. "Ihe Church Is
like n great Hospital. Everything like
docirinal discussion must be banishcd
and excluded just as In hospital all
noise Is forbidden. that the patients
may sleep. or just rs in a nursery
noise IS excluded that children may
sleep"
Alas. II Il too true that the nominal
church Of Christ is like Il Hospital,
many of whose patients are blind and
deaf and asleep and mentally confused.
But the trouble Is: These got into this
condition because of a lack OF health
ful exercise: and keeping them quiet
will but turn the present hospital into
n Cemetery.
What the churches of all the denom-
nations need is the Word of God-as
presented in the words OF Jesus and
the Apostles: THE words that speak
unto you. they are spirit, and they are
lIfe." The sln-sick and lame. the blind
and deaf and mentally perplexed need
TO hear the voice of Truih-"Wondcr-
full Words of Life" otherwise they
will become more sick and will perish
rs Christians. but TO become alive per.
haps rs "lovcrs of pleasure more than
lovers Of God"
An Episcopal minister in our hearing