Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-11-14


first century closed there was deposit
of divine truth left in the form of some
writings by prophets, apostles, psalm
lists, herdmen, fishermen and others,
all inspired of God. This deposit may
be considered from some three differ
ent standpOintS: First, it was some
thing that was for all the world as
such, all nations and peoples. 1t was
intended to be the foundation of the
religion that the world needed; and
upon it grew up the system of belief
which, while varying in different coun-
tries and centuries, was substantially
the same everywhere, and should be so
today.
The church fell heir to this treasure
but failed to be true as it's custodian.
Teachers Of theology were like the
Talmudists of old, and receded further
and further from the original teaching
as the centuries went by.
This deposit of truth also was given
to the individual, for God never in
tended that his Book should be under
lock and key.
But in quite recent times the as
poets which that faith presents were
greatly varied, and are quite different
from the aspects in a previous time.
| The departure from the faith may be
spoken of under three general propO-
sitiOns:
1. That faith is still the limit of at
tack on the part Of it's avowed enc
mics, although the form of attack has
radically changed.
2. There has been a departure from
the generally accepted Interpretation
of the Word of God on the part of q
very large number of teachers Of re-
ligion and various subjects in which
the church in it's external relations
particularly are outwardly interested.
What was the burden of that re-
| ligious teaching? The ultimate denial
of the supernatural. The result of this
with many theological teachers has
been in the first place the full accept
ance of those views, and secondly a
kind of teaching which leaves the pu-
pill without any positive conviction. A
further result has been that a genera
ton Of younger men educated in semi.
naries where there was such positive
denial of the supernatural, or the hest
tating and uncertain teaching, has
grown up, and is at best uncertain in
it's convictions.
A still further result is that the PEG
pie of the churches ministered to by
such men are not Informed as to the
great truths of the Bible, and become
the easy victims of all kinds of heresie!
such as Christian Science, theOsophy
etc. Or, If they have not gone off int
these heresies openly, are merely exist
: ing as bodies of Christians, with few
signs Of real life. A grand total resul
is that we find the Church of God to
day sturdily Indifferent to the vita
truths Of Christianity, and holding fas
to it's existence by introducing al
kinds Of physical buttresses. Their
are great church buildings, universe
ties, colleges, etc., mere charnel houses
for within there is nothing but decay
ing flesh and dead mems bones.
8. But there is another aspect of tn
day that is observable decay Q
individual faith. The writer has ha
many say to him: eve do not kno0
what we believe any more" Inquire
being made along certain lines, sue
as the deity of Christ, the authorit
of the Holy Scriptures, the subject {
regeneration, the same lack of fait
was still expressed. There is nothin
sadder than this in the whole realm {
religious phenomena-people withOl
faith. This aspect becomes TRACED
when we realize that the young peop
of our Christian homes even expires
themselves as having no belief. Or
place where such faith is ruined is
the Goddess colleges and universitit
of the land. The charge must not
placed OH the state universities, fl
the danger from them is not so gree
= as from the universities that al
founded by Christian people and a.
under nominal Christian control.
What is the remedy? Before tn
remedy can be presented, many w
e succumb as victims Of their ignoranC
nes but the tide may be checked, if Il
nj world can be brought back to the a
- ceptance of the great principles of tt
=. Protestant religion. The Chruch of G.
i. can do much by positively requiring
'ir' it's teachers that they teach nothil
pit. but the fundamentals of our Christi,
= religion, and teach positively.
10.