Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-09-29
LOCAL MINISTER
/, REPLIES TO HUGHES
Continued from page l

Continued from page 1
processes of growth involved? DC
you understand how the metal cama
to exist in the earth, how it was
made into the machinery that cut
the lumber and made the pews? l
do not think that you would reject
these facts, simply because you can't
understand the processes involved
Vol know they are here and that is
sufficient. Men dc not reject ma
terial things because there is mys-
terry connected with them. Sucn
reasoning and conclusion might
come from an unbalanced mind but
not from a sane one.
"Let us turn to the Bible. We
must understand how it came to US
and the purpose of it's coming. We
are told in 2 Peter / ri that "no
prophecy ever came by the will OF
man, but men spake from God rs
they were moved by the Holy
Ghost" There are many other ref
erences in the Bibles that leads to
the conclusion that it is an inspired
book.
"By inspiration we do not mean
that God dictated every word of the
book, as man would dictate to his
stenographer. The thought came
from God and men expressed those
thoughts in the language that was
used by them in that day. Since
that time the Bible has been trans
lated into many other languages,
but this fact does not annual its
teachings. Naturally you would ex-
pect to find in the Bible concep
tons of the race at that time. The
human element does not destroy its
value to us but makes it all the
more adaptable to our needs.
"The Bible contains sixty-six
books, by many authors, scattered
over a period of more than thou
sand years, written, many of them,
Independent Of one another. in
places hundreds of miles apart; vet
one thought running through them
all, THE GRADUAL UNFOLDING
OF GODS PLAN OF REDEMP-
TION FOR THE HUMAN RACE
There must be an explanation fol
this unity and believe that it is to
be found in the one spirit which
dwelt in and somehow influenced
the men who made contributions to
the book.
"Another evidence of inspiration
which might be mentioned in the re-
Spouse of the human heart to it's mes
sage. Sinful and sorrowing men
have come to the Bible and have
found the way of forgiveness and
peace. They have been transform
ed from old evil lives of wickedness
and vice to new and beautiful lives
of Righteousness. All that we have
in the way of civilization which de-
serves the name is but a visible ex,
preston of the Transforming in
fluences of the Gospel.
"Again the Bible is the only book
in all the world that has stood the
test of criticism, of archaeology, of
comparative religion and of science
Is there an explanation that the
Bible is unique in this respect? /
believe that it is due to two rea-
sons: inspiration and its message
for humanity.
"But what is the purpose of the
Bible? Its purpose is to point to
Christ, to bring man into harmony
with God, to make him morally and |
spiritually perfect and to furnish |
him unto every good work" Not
one passage in the whole Bible war
rants the belief that the Bible writ
ers ever intended to teach physical
science, or history, or philosophy, |
or PSYCHOLOGY. Therefore we may
expect that where the Biblical writ |
ers touch upon questions of science
or history they develop them only
to the extent that they serve the
higher religious or ethical purpose
For this, absolute scientific or his
torical accuracy in every detail in
by no means necessary. The Bible
then, is book of life and deals with
life. Mr.. Hughes does rot seem to
know this fact, or he never would
have written his article
In his sermon next Sunday the
local minister will take up the ar
ticle in detail and reply more spc-
officially to it than his sermon yes
terday, he said to a Times-Record-
err reporter after the sermon.
The question has raised much in
terest, not only here, but elsewhere
as is borne out by letters received IN
the past two days by Rev. Harren.
Once fish were brought home on
strings, but it is jugs now.