Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-09-13

AS far as the speaker can discern,
the whole world is dominated by the
spirit of fear, which seems to be the
Adversary's means for deluding man
kind and keeping them away from
God. This we see amongst the heath
en-, who are largely under the con-
troll of Satan and the evil spirits
The gods and demigods of mytholo-
gy were undoubtedly the fallen an
gels and their progeny. Genesis
ella; Leviticus 1871; Deuteronomy
32:17; Psalm 06:34-3S; / Corin-
thians 10:20422D The Scriptures
abound in references to the evil
work of the demons. Many professed
Christians are deluded by these spir-
it's, because of neglect of the teach
ings and warnings of the Bible.
This spirit of fear, the Pastor de-
clared, together with the worldly am
billions of religious leaders, brought
on the Dark Ages. Fear was used as
a lash to drive people into the chur-
ches in an effort to convert the
world Blasphemous doctrines, gross
ly incorporating our loving Crea-
tor, were foisted upon the people to
brighten them into subserviency. Sa-
tan and his demon hosts were the
real instigators of this condition,
according to Gods Word But fear
cannot bring men to God. The most
it can do is to cause its victims to
make an outward profession which
bellies their heart sentiments. His
tory proves Enthusiastically that the
|blasphemous doctrine of endless tor
ture has utterly failed to bring men
to God. The most hardened GRIM
inals are generally those who have
been taught this doctrine. The great
mass of the careless, the Indifferent,
the morally lax, have been thus in
doctrinated from childhood. 1t is
not Gods design to draw any 10 Him
self by such methods.
Heather Driven Away From God.
The Truth has drawing and sane
tifying power that nothing else can
have. If the world were not under
the binding influence of 1.-The god
of this world" Satan, all mankind
would be captivated by the Truth.
But Satan does not wish the light of
Gods goodness to shine into men S
hearts. Consequently he has endeav-
ored to cause people to think of their
Creator as the greatest Demon i'm
aginable. No man, however deprav-
ed, would commit the devilish deeds
that are attributed to God. Any be-
ing that would torture billions
Throughout eternity would be a De-
vii of the blacklist dye.
These blaSphemous teachings
have caused the majority to immense
themselves in pleas in
business-almost anything rather
than to think of their Creator. The
eternal torment theory has been Sa-
tan's most successful device for him
dering people from loving our God
Even the heather naturally wish to
find their Maker. (Acts 17:22-2S.)
But when missionaries are sent to
teach them such terrible misrepre-
Isentations Of His character, the
heather are repealed. Consequently
little has been accomplished in lead
ing them to Christ.
Some years ago, when travelling in
India, the Pastor met some intelli-
gent natives who frankly told him
that they considered their own gods
superior to the Christian God, and
that they could not worship a God
who had damed all their forefathers
to eternal torment. He apologized
to them, telling them that they were
quite right, but that they had been
misinformed respecting the character
of the God of the Bible. While there,
he learned that practically the only
natives who profess Christianity are
what are known as rice Christians"
poor creatures who attend which
ever mission promises them the most
rice. 1t was not the Message which
drew them, but the material benefits
expected.
The work of the Gospel Age has
not been that of converting the world
but merely the selecting of the
Church from the world. (Acts Is: 49,
49, Present adverse conditions in
the world are most favorable to the
training of this class, who during the
incoming Age are to be used Of Je-
hovah, in association with their
Head, Christ Jesus to bless all man
kind by instructlng them in the Love
of God, shown in His provision for
their salvation and uplift through
the Atonement work of their Re-
deemer. Then the world will be de-
livered from slavish fear.
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