From A Preacher's Notebook
Edwin Markham's Creed
(Some of Mr. Markham's terminology such as "God, named by whatever name" is objectionable, but he says many worthwhile things which we think are worth passing on to you. JWA)
"I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that every right implies a responsibility; an obligation; and every possession a duty. I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people, and not their master. I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living, but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living. I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure — whether in government, business, or personal affairs. I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order. I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man's word should be as good as his bond; that character — not wealth or power or position — is of useful service to mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifices is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free. I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individual's highest fulfillment, greatest happiness and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will. I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might." (From Nuggets, September, 1960)
Tolerance
There is abroad in the land these days the view that to criticize another's religious belief or practice is to be guilty of intolerance and to stamp oneself as a bigot or a narrow-minded ignoramus. Even in the church of the living God, there are those who bewail the tendency of truth-loving gospel preachers to speak and write in opposition to the religion of others. "Give us the gospel," they say, "and let other people alone." We like the terse, perhaps, even blunt, way that Walter R. Martin introduces his interesting book, "The Christian Science Myth." He says:
"There are some people who object to anything that is a criticism of another person's religion. They have various forms of criticism: 'Aren't all religions good?' 'Don't you believe in freedom of religion?' Why don't you preach positively and let the truth take care of itself?' 'Should you say anything that might hurt someone's feelings?' (It sounds as though he had been eavesdropping on some of our modern brethren. JWA)
"The follower of the Lord Jesus Christ can have but one answer to these questions. We are not free to choose our message nor are we free to choose our methods. We must obey the Word of God and follow Christ in His example."
"Jesus Christ was the most tolerant Man who ever lived on this earth, but He was also the most intransigent. He showed that each man could do as he pleased but He taught that anyone who did not do what He said would be sent to Hell for it. Those words may seem blunt but even a cursory reading of the four gospels will show that they are true."
"The woman at the well had her sin revealed to her and tried to change the subject by leading Christ into a religious argument. Religion has often been a fox-hole into which the aroused soul plunges in order to protect itself from the terrible conviction which the Holy Spirit brings to the guilty one. She reminded Christ that the Samaritans sacrificed to their God on Mount Gerazim while the Jews offered their sacrifices to Jehovah in Jerusalem. Who was right? Emily Post and Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy would probably agree that the proper answer should be a broad, smooth compromise that would leave each person free to decide for himself or herself. Christ was not bound by etiquette. His answer was devastating and serves as a model for all who would follow Him. 'Woman,' he told her, 'you worship you know not what; we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews.' (John 4:22) This was an appeal, of course, to the seventeenth chapter of Leviticus where God had plainly said that there should be no sacrifice except at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Here is the establishment of the divine rule for religious freedom: Every man has a right to go to Hell in his own way or to go to Heaven in God's way." (Emphasis mine. JWA)
The Gospel Of Christ
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth...." (Rom. 1:16) In the salvation of the sinner, God does not, as denominational theology declares, operate directly upon the heart of the sinner through the Holy Spirit apart from means. It is true that every conversion is begun, carried on, consummated by means of the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the human heart. It is not true that this influence is by means of a direct, immediate operation of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. Each conversion is not a miracle. God influences man, a free moral being, through moral suasion and not coercive omnipotence in the salvation of man's soul. The Holy Spirit operates upon the heart though means. The means is the gospel of Christ. Hence, it is styled, "the power of God unto salvation."
Every GOSPEL MEETING should, therefore, feature the plain, unadulterated preaching of the gospel of the Son of God. Sensationalism, entertainment etc. so often featured in modern "revivals" are completely incongruous with a GOSPEL MEETING. The pure gospel of Jesus Christ, and it alone, can convict and convert. Other influences might attract great crowds and enthusiasm and gather in large numbers of "joiners," but the gospel alone can convict and convert the dead sinner. No person ever became a Christian through any other means.
It is our firm conviction based upon divine truth that the gospel and the gospel only makes Christians and Christians only. Men who believed and obeyed the gospel in New Testament days became Christians, simple disciples of the Son of God, members of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. The same gospel preached, believed, and obeyed will produce the same fruits that it produced in apostolic days. This is as certain as the law of cause and effect is true. Every seed produces after its kind. The seed of the kingdom sown in the hearts of men never produced anything but citizens of the kingdom of heaven, members of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God's power will operate mightily in our meeting, because the gospel of Christ will be faithfully and ably proclaimed. But God's power can only work in hearts that are open and receptive. God will not force at the door of our hearts. He will knock often and persistently. He will plead earnestly and lovingly, but he will not violently impose his saving grace upon our souls. We must open the door! (JWA)