A PERVERTED JUDGMENT by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 8, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 15

A PERVERTED JUDGMENT.

By Joseph Clarke

BY JOSEPH CLARKE.

You can hardly compliment a person more acceptably than by speaking of him as a man of sound judgment; and you can give great offense by saying that his judgment is weak or perverted. But in matters of religion, mankind show a very singular kind of discrimination. In the study of mathematics and the sciences generally, we agree, not only upon general rules and elementary principles, but upon the best modes of reaching correct results. On religious matters we differ to a degree that is truly astonishing, not only on general principles, elementary rules, and the best modes of study, but also as to results and final conclusions.

The Jew has a creed that he loves and believes most complacently and solemnly; the Roman Catholic, from the pope to the lowest and humblest of his flock, is wonderfully confident of the infallibility of the church; the follower of Mohammed is equally certain that the Koran is the true, inspired word of God; and the pagan is no less firm in his adherence to the senseless rites and ceremonies of his religious belief.

Among Protestants, also, there is a great variety of sects, differing widely in their views of the Bible. And although it is only about three hundred years since the first Protestant church seceded from the Romish church, yet since that time many hundreds of independent sects have appeared, each claiming to have the truth; and each one of these sects has claimed the especial care of Heaven. Now what does all this strange disorder mean? Why is it that men do not all agree upon religious principles, as they do upon those of a scientific nature? The answer is at hand; let no one take offense.

In religious matters the race has, from the fall of our first parents, allowed outward appearances and preferences of a selfish and local nature to have a governing influence. Having lost its hold upon God, the human mind has, like a ship without chart, compass, or anchor, drifted far out upon unknown seas, until mankind have lost their reckoning, and each one sails as his fancy or his whim suggests; and leading minds, desiring to profit by the general confusion, gather around them whatever adherents they can. Upon subjects relating to the common affairs of life, where the consequences of error would be of a practical nature, men avoid mistakes; but upon matters of religion they cannot agree, because they naturally hate their Creator, whom they have offended, and from whom they are estranged. They walk in pride and rebellion, as a son who has long ago left the home where parental restraint was a burden.

Is it not evident, then, that the majority of our race have perverted the judgment, until they are no longer capable of arriving at correct conclusions on religious matters? Is it not evident that we are all so perverted as to our powers of correct reasoning, that without the special aid of the Holy Spirit, we are continually liable to err? Here pride steps in, and asserts that such a conclusion is a little ultra; and that some, at least, have sufficient wisdom to act and teach independent of especial divine aid. And here is just where men have erred before; pride has led many of our predecessors to act without the aid of the Holy Spirit, and endless confusion is the result.

If our blessed Lord and Master placed such especial emphasis upon this point, if he needed such aid as John the Baptist tells us that he received (John 3: 34), do we not all need especial aid in religious affairs? If the apostles needed a great degree of the influence of the Spirit, as they started out on their important mission (see Acts 1: 4, 5), do not all who are seeking for eternal life need the same influence? Why was Mohammed so far out of the way as to the truth? Because he trusted to his own devices, and allowed pride to have a ruling place in his heart. Why have the popes and their priests and cardinals gone so far out of the way? Because they walked in pride, and sought not unto the Lord for wisdom. Why have the pagan nations departed so far from the law of God? For the same reason; they scorned to seek Divine aid, and rebelled against the government of God. Unbelief and pride of heart have caused men to walk out from faith in God, to faith in themselves; and the result is before us. Who will claim a judgment unperverted and infallible? No one but the pope does this. It is presumption or pride that asserts itself, and forgets its dependence upon the Spirit of God for guidance. The apostles and holy men of God of all ages felt deeply their own weakness, and walked humbly and prayerfully, lest they should err from the true path; and this was their safety, that they had the word of God as a lamp to their path.