Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1913 — REASONING ABOUT SCARLET SINS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REASONING ABOUT SCARLET SINS

Most Religious Teachings Ara uiireasonaoie. __ / Pastor Russell Says Turning From the Creeds to the Bible Means a Return to Reasoning—A Refusal of Human Ipse Dixits —Greater and Lesser Sins. Punishments Proportionate—Theßins Which God Styles Scarlet, Men Often Consider Merely White Lies—The Scarlet .Sins Theology Condemns Often Less Important With God.

April' B 1 b 1 e students of all denominations were deeply Interested in Pastor Russell’s visit today. A series of special Bible lectures has been in progress for some months; and Pastor Russell has been brought here, evidently, for climacteric re-

suits. We report his discourse from the text, “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”—lsaiah 1:18. x Although .thoroughly loyal and very reverential, the Pastor has evidently cut loose from the creeds. He admitted that all contain kernels of Truth, but declared that these are buried in a mass of chaff—hidden in God-dlshon-bring theologies so unreasonable that their best friends prefer never to think of them. The Pastor claimed that the repulsiveness of the creeds hinders people from looking for the truth which they contain. This is well, he said. Why should we search for Truth in various creeds when we have the Bible? He urged Christians to abandon the creeds and unite as Bible students, intent on knowing the testimony of God’s Word and of obtaining the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the understanding of it. Jesus held up to scorn the inconsistencies of His day. If here today, He would show. us many inconsistencies in our estimation of sin and righteousness, the Pastor believed. Our Lord declared that while the religious lead ers of His time were careful to tithe all their Increase, they outraged the very spirit of God’s Law of righteousness; that in mean ways they took the bread from the poor, and to divert attention from their course they hypocritically lengthened their prayers. It was not that praying was wrong, or that tithing was objectionable, but their recognition of these showed them all the more responsible in “devouring widows’ houses.” and other sharp practises, whereby they took advantage of the unfortunate. This principle still operates, said Pastor Russell. Today, as in our Master’s time, there Is a way of keeping within the law and out of the penitentiary, while at the same time the spirit of the law is outraged and trampled in the dust of avaricious money-getting. Now, as then, money-lovers pose as philanthropists. and hold honorable places in churehlanity. The Pastor spared not this class. He declared that religious hypocrites are the worst of sinners in God’s sight. Theirs were the most scarlet sins, he believed. / Greater and Lesser Sins. Wealth covers a multitude of sins. To be financially unsuccessful is a crime, on account of which many consider a wife justified in seeking a divorqg, and some churches justified in dropping the culprit from their mem bershlp list. What matters it that Jesus comforted the weary, heavyladen and unsuccessful? What matters it that the Scriptures declare that not many rich, wise, great or learned has God called to the Heavenly inheritance, but chiefly the poor of this world, rich in faith? What matters it that a very rich man has two concubines, besides a wife? What matters it that his religious instructors know of the fact? He is a supporter of their church! Were hd poor, this crime against human and Divine Law would be unforgivable. He would be assured that he would suffer torment throughout eternity! Sint Scarlet and Crimson. Our text discriminates between scarlet and crlmsoh. as Indicating shades of guilt in the same kind of sin. For instance, murder would be a scarlet sin. If committed by a worldly person; but hatred would be crimson—a sin of deeper dye—ls cherished by a Christian. As love Is the fulfilling of the Divine Lbw, bo hatred Implies Its flagrant via latlon. Mankind have inherited sin-tainted blood from Adam. Selfishness of varying hues stains every member of the race, lhany have not the proper focus upon the Divine Law. Taking the letter of that Law, they avoid the cruder forms of theft, adultery, murder—making the same mistake that Israel made. According to Jesus* Interpretation of the Law, theft could be committed In the heart by coveting, by stealing the business or reputation of another. Similarly, adultery might be committed without overt act; and hatred is murder. Increase of knowledge has brought increased responsibility. But human selfishness has kept pace. The thievish spirit alxiiinds. The civilized world should awaken its conscience to the Golden Rule—the Law of Messiah’s coming Kingdom. „