Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-13

or the Second Century the Christian
Church has been gradually led into a
total misconception of the Divine char
acter as manifested In the Divine atti-
tude toward humanity. Little by little
heathenish doctrines respecting an
eternity OF torture for all except the
sanity. favored few. were preached.
Gradually men with feryent spirit en-
larged upon the errors until today the
most horrible descriptions Of the Al
mighty God are printed In Christian
publications, creeds, commentaries, etc.
No heather people have ever pictured
their god In so devllish a light. Ugly,
fierce, devilish. though their idols be.
they cannot compare with the Satanic
descriptions which Christians In the
creeds of the Dark Ages have given Of
the God OF all Grace and Father Of
Mefcies.-f Corinthians 1;3.
The noblest and best people In Chris
tendon have abandoned the horrible
teachings OF their fathers, and are
more and more worshiping the God OF
Love. the Fountain Of blessings But
the world still Judges our God by our
printed Misrepresentation Of Him, In
heather lands, the missionaries are
more blinded, perhaps, than ministers
in the home land. The rein Of ortho-
doxy is more tightly drawn on them.
No wonder they can make little i'm
preston on the heathen, who openly
declare that they could not worship 80
unjust and vicious God as the mis-.
sionarles present-a God who has al
ready sentenced their forefathers TO
everlasting torture, because Of their ig-
norance OF Jesus, In whose name alone
is sayationl
II appears TO me- therefore, that to
whatever extent any intelligent Chris
tian today gives open or secret sup
port to these slanderous, blasphemous
statements OF the creeds he Is RESPONSE
bic, Nor does Il seem 20 be sullcient
that either Christian or congrega-
tion here and there should privately
dlsown these doctrines. Denomination.
nj names stand MS representative Of
the doctrines which led to the forma-
tion Of these denominations Would
not the only honorable way OF rectlfy-
ing matters now be either as demon.
nations, publicly, openly and In round
terms, to repudlate the ISLANDERS OF the
Deity; or, since this would DO tedious
work, should not each individual set
himself straight by as public a with
drawal from such creeds as was his
endorsement In joinlng7 The latter
surely IN the surest and quickest meth
od Of rectifylng the dltIiculty. More
over, II Is the right method; for the
Bible never authorized any one 10 or.
ganizc various sects and parties,
Tho Bible recognizes only the one
Church OF Chrlst-"rhe Church OF tho
Elrstborns, written In Heaven Nv
cry one who has accepted Christ as
HIS Savior and consecrated bis life TO
be footstep follower OF Jesus-all
such, begotten Of the Holy Spirit, are
members OF the one true Church.
Their names are written In tho Lamb's
Book OF Life, aud they have the prom.
ise that they win bo granted abundant
entrance into His Kingdom IN the
First Resnrrecilon--if they abide faith.
mi "nc thop faithful unto death, and
J will give thee d crown OF llfe,"
seduoino spiri.s-pootrinss Of Devils.
l.e, me not hc misunderstood, | ann
not charging that these basphemous
doctrines We're intentionally brought
IN to mlsrepresent God OF to deceive
the Church or the world prefer 70
fnke the Apostle r0uls explanation
He wrote pronhetlcolly, II fear, lest
by any means, as the serpent begullcd
Eve through his mbtleiy, 80 your
minds should be corrupted from the
simplicity that "a IN Christ" q Corln
thlans ii:al This il exactly whit has
happened Tho Church Of Christ has
heen hegulled BY earthly favors not
only Into wrunr attitude toward the
Kingdoms nf lhls world hut, "a 81.
renl dremre~. FROM the simplicity ot
ii'r Truth into miss ~ confusing
AVID hlasphemousFnpr
l'iW rnmr the uerlllnr of the hlah
opF inlo thinking that they we're sue.
IIIa.. 4