The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-03-10
Using the Bible to
Knock Out Opponents
By Rev. Charles Stelzle.

Tyrants have sought to justify their
positions by quoting Scripture. Even
the devil quoted Scripture in an at
tempt to Justify his position and to
strengthen his argument. It is not
SURPRISING therefore that the devils
disciples have sometimes followed his
example.
No one will imagine for a single
moment that this means that the
Bible stands for tyranny or deviltry-
1T means merely that. tyrants and dev-
lis have seen that the Bible is a good
book and that it would be a great
thing to have it appear that the Bible
endorses their position.
Sometimes men of this type trv to
secure Gods approval of their own
selt1shness and meanness by accepting
only as much of the Bible as seems to
harmonic with their own ideals and
purposes. That is, they will take out
of their connection certain texts" in
the Word of God, making it appear
that God stands for them. Their op-
ponents may be guilty of the same
fault with the result that the Bible is
made out to be a book full of contra
dictory statements. Neither side will
accept the other sides arguments even
though both seem to quote from the
same authority.
Here is truth which men should
keep in mind with regard to the BIZ
ble-the fact that certain statement
is found in the Bible doesn't necessar-
lily make it true. What I mean by
! hi xx-S11 In r.
all depends upon who made that par
ticular statement and it's value also
depends upon the circumstances under
which it was spoken.
The Bible is an inspired account of
what God said, of what the devil said,
of what men, good and bad, have said
and done at various times in the
worlds history. Therefore. in study
ing the Bible it is extremely import
ant to see--in what connection a GER
tain verse or certain book was used,
Or written.
For mple-there is a verse in the
Bible which says: There is no God"
Considered by itself this would seem
like rank heresy. Buy if you were to
read the words in connection with this
verse, you would find that the whole
statement reads: 1.-THE fool hath said
in his heart There is no Cod" And
so men will use certain portions Of the
Bible and make it appear that the
Bible says exactly the opposite thing
from what it does say.
There is another fact to be remem-
bered in studying or quoting the Bible.
The moral and ethical standards of
Abraham's time for instance, would
demands of the men of the twentieth
century, with their greater advantages
and opportunities. And so it isn't fair
to take u command or an ideal pre-
sented in the earlier books of the
Bible and insist that these inspired
comma ds be the standards for pres
ent day Christians.
God was le1ient with men in olden
times. He did not expect them to
live up to the ideals which we have
created today. The same thing will
be true of the future generations.
More will be expected Of them than
God expects of us.
Fortunately, God has made the way
SO plain that any man may know
what his duty towards God and to-
wards his neighbor is, but it requires
serious and reverent searching after
the truth to know the mind Of God.
This is not given to the flippant dis
putant who has only his own ends to
serve. ..s,":. -. .'.s.}r'>r ~ ~
The Bible is a book we'll worth our
most careful study. The man who
reads the daily newsnaners and tho
Bible consistently and discerningly-
that is, with good judgment. will be a
we'll educated man. .*, - Il. s#=. !. 1,