Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-11-01

S-A----- 1920 We give
condensed re-
port below.
The Pastor called attention to the
fact that we are living in the time
when the great falling away predict
ed by the Apostles is taking place.
(1 Timothy Al; Peter 2:1, ,;
etc. The delusions of the Dark
Ages are coming into the full blaze
of the New Dispensation just upon
US. Consequently there is such a
conflict between the light of the in
coming Age and the darkness of the
past that people are astonished, not
knowing what to think. The major
ity seem to be losing, not only their
faith, but the very foundation OF
faith-confidence in the Bible as
Gods Word. He urged his audience
to turn from the vagaries and CUES
ses of Higher Criticism and Evolu-
ton, as we'll as from the hideous
creed idols of the Dark Ages, and to
study the bible as never before.
There alone can one find the basis
for a full assurance of faith.
At this very time, said the speak
er, when Higher Criticism and Evo-
luton are undermining the faith of
nearly all thinking people, many of
whom openly confess that they have
| lost confidence in Gods Word, the
Bible is becoming understood as new
er before. In the midst of the tur-
MOL in the denominations, and
Iamongst the college men and the
learned of all lands, the people OF
God can truly sing, with the poet:
Chow firm q foundation, We saints
of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excel
lent World"
The strongest language one could
luse would not be strong enough TO
express the faith the confidence, the
trust, which Gods people have in
Him through seeing His real charac-
ter and His real Plan as outlined in
His Word. They have full assur-
ance of faith. There is vast differ
ence between a full assurance of
faith and a full assurance of credul-
lily, however. Credulity is a readi-
ness to swallow everything or any
thing, without investigation, with
out any real basis for believing,
without proof. What most people
call faith is mere credulity. This is
possible even with the belief of some
in the Bible. Many people, when
asked as to their real basis of fai.ll,
look bewildered, hesitate; and then
they either acknowledge that they
have no clear understanding or else
they change the subject of converse
ton. This is not faith. Heather pei
pie could do as we'll.
The Bible the Basis For True Faith.
To really believe the Bible it is
necessary to understand Gods Plan
as therein outlined. G Timothy o.
81 Gods Word contains a great Di
vine Plan for human salvation. A
watch with wheels revolving in per-
feet precision and perfect relation
ship to each other, a watch that
keeps correct time without varia-
ton, is always the work of some
skilful hand, guided by an intelli-
gent mind. Such piece of mechan-
ism never came by chance. So it is
with the Bible. When we find the
prophecies of the Old Testament, the
types of the Law, and the teachings
of our Lord and His Apostles inter-
locking, based and dependent upon
one another in the most marvellous
way, all telling the same story, al
though written in various ages and
under various conditions, we are as
sured that no human being or set of
human beings made that Plan.
In His Word the Lord declares
that by nature all men are sinners,
that Christ Jesus tasted death for
every man, that by and by He will
restore to human perfection all who
will accept the arrangement which
He will soon open up for all man.
kind. He also declares that during
this Age there is a Call for those who
desire to come out from the world
to be peculiar people unto Him,
ready to lay down their lives in the
doing of His will. Those who have
accepted this Call are Christians.
Whoever can testify that he has
forsaken sin, accepted the Lord Jes-
us as his personal Redeemer, conse-
Grated himself fully to do the Lords
will in all things as that will is
made clear to him through Gods
Word, and who realizes that his
standing with God is only through
Chrst's imputed merit, and that he
is gradually growing more meek.
more gentle, more patient, more
suffering, more kind and loving
whoever can do so may have full
assurance of faith that he is a child
of God in full standing, and has the
Fathers smile of loving approval.
DAIn AnUER TTCEAENT