The Mena weekly star., 1916-06-29

VPASIllR RUSSEIL) mulated during the
 Dark Ages so mis- represent the true character of God that many noble souls are repelled from the Bible, and are vainly search ing elsewhere for Truth. He declares that those who, turning from all man. made creeds, are looking into the Bible for themselves are finding there a God whom they can reverence and adore, d God whose loving kindness is beyond human comprehension, a God who is practically unknown by many who pro fess to worship Him.
 It Is difficult for us to realize how much harm has been done by the pro- mitigation of doctrines which misrep- resent the Divine character. Although many people call themselves Christians yet only few profess to be fully con secrated to God. For the most part the majority are mere professors, knowing little enough about our God and His Christ After all these centuries of preaching, one would naturally expect to see better results than what we see. But the trouble Is that during all this time there has been very little real Gospel preached. Early in the history of the Church, the doctrines of de- mons" entered, and subverted the sim. pie Truth as taught in the early Church. when thousands of Jews and Gentiles turned to the Lord
 Noble Christians they were. not merely formal professors of religion St. Paul tells of some who endured great fight of affiictions. who suffered great loss for Christ's sake: and others became companions of those thus mis- treated. (Hebrews 10:32-34.l Under the Emperor Nero and others, many Christians suffered for loyalty to God. It requires strong character to suffer willingly even unto death for righteous ness sake. Had this spirit continued. where do you suppose Christianity would be today? the speaker queried.
 The Great Apostasy.
 Experience has taught the Pastor that many people In both so-called Christian lands and heathen lands are feeling after God and wishing to find Him, but are bewildered by the creedal misrepresentations of the God of the Bible. False doctrines have driven peo | Die away from the Lord; and Chris tian people, under the delusion of these | false doctrines, have shown anything but proper Christian spirit As fin the case of St James and St John. they have not known of what manner of spirit they were.-Luke 9:51-56.
 Like these disciples. Christendom has had wronr focus. We have not un- derstood our Heavenly Father, nor His Plan for human salvation. We had devilish idea. engendered by the doc trines of demons. During the Dark Ages millions were burned at the stake and put through various forms of tor ture, all In the name of religion. What terrible mistake! Such proceedings did great injury to those who perpe- trated the crimes as well as to the world at iarge All this resulted from lack of knowledge of Gods character.
 But now, by the grace of God. the light is shining clearly upon the Bible We have come to a time when our con captions of God are more reasonable. We are awakening from the sleep of the past We are getting our eyes of understanding open. But while some of us are looking in the right direction. many others are looking in the wrong direction-away from Gods Word. and toward Evolution, Theosophy, New Thought, Christian Science, etc. They are searching for Truth. not knowing where to go to obtain it.
 In all these theories God is regarded as a principle. not as person. To those who accept them. God is merely q great law of nature, a principle of good which operates everywhere and in everything They worship the prin- ciple. instead of the great Source of the principle. They adore the Law. not the great Author of Law. Tn such a god there is neither intelligence nor loving sympathy.
 But we who are looking in the right direction see in the Bible living, per sonal God whose heart responds to ours. whose love and sympathy go out to us. and to whom we can go in every | time of need. Gods people. whether learned or ignorant according to the l worlds ideas. are looking in the right | direction-to the East. for the sunrise 1 of Gods great Plan. when Messiah | shall inaugurate His Millennial King dom for the blessing of all the families 1 of the earth Only through the Bible can any know Of the loving kindness of our God. That loving-klndness has provided. through Christ Jesus. a fu. ture life for us, far better than the present unsatisfactory existence