Section
10
Christian
Liberty
Chapter
105.
Individual
Accountability
1. WHAT is religion?
"The recognition of God as an object of worship, love, and
obedience."-
Webster. Other definitions equally good are: "The duty which we owe to
our Creator, and the manner of discharging it." "Man's personal
relation of faith and obedience to God."
2. In religious things, whom alone did Christ say we should recognize as
Father?
"And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father,
which is in heaven." Matt. 23:9.
3. When tempted to fall down and worship Satan, what Scripture command
did Christ cite in justification of His refusal to do this?
"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it
is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou
serve." Matt. 4:10. See Deut. 6:13; 10:20.
4. To whom alone, then, is each one accountable in religious things?
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself
to
God." Rom. 14:12.
NOTE.-With this agree the words of Washington : "Every man who
conducts himself as a good citizen, is accountable alone to God for his
religious faith, and should be protected in worshiping God according to
the dictates of his own conscience."- Reply to Virginia Baptits, in
1789.
Page 483
5. What do those do, therefore, who make men
accountable to them in religious affairs?
They put themselves in the place of God. See 2 Thess. 2;3,4.
6. Why, in religious matters, did Christ say men should
not be called masters?
"Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."
Matt. 23:10.
NOTE.-Every one, therefore, who acts as master in Christ's church, or
lords it over God's heritage (1 Peter 5:3), puts himself in the place
of Christ.
7. To whom, then, as servants, are we responsible in matters of faith
and worship?
"Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he
standeth or falleth." Rom. 14:4.
8. Whose servants are we not to be?
" Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." 1 Cor. 7:23.
NOTE.-"Satan's methods ever tend to one end,- to make men the
slaves of men," and thus separate them, from God, destroy faith in God,
and so expose men to temptation and Sin. Christ's work is to set men
free, to renew faith, and to lead to willing and loyal obedience to God.
Says Luther: "It is contrary to the will of God that man should be subject to man in that which pertains to eternal life. Subjection in
spirituals is a real worship, and should be rendered only to the
Creator."- D' Aubigne's "History of the Reformation," edited by M.
Laird Simons, book 7, chap. 11.
9. Where must all finally appear to render up their account?
"For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10.
NOTE.-Inasmuch, then, as religion is an individual matter, and each
individual must give account of himself to God, it follows that there
should be no human constraint nor compulsion in religious affairs.
DARE to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone;
Dare to have a purpose firm,
Dare to make it known.
P. P. BLISS.
Preparing For Eternity
©2003-2024
All Rights Reserved
Home
Devotional
Our Beliefs
Site Search
Links
Videos
Contact Us
