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Purpose Driven or Scripture Driven? - Way of Life Literature

Purpose Driven or Scripture Driven? - Way of Life Literature

Purpose Driven or Scripture Driven? - Way of Life Literature

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“A chasm is opening between men who believe theirBibles and the men who are prepared f<strong>or</strong> an advanceupon <strong>Scripture</strong>. The house is being robbed, its very wallsare being digged down, but the good people who are inbed are too fond <strong>of</strong> the warmth, and too much afraid <strong>of</strong>getting broken heads, to go downstairs and meet theburglars ... Inspiration and speculation cannot abide inpeace. Compromise there can be none. We cannot holdthe inspiration <strong>of</strong> the W<strong>or</strong>d, and yet reject it; we cannothold the doctrine <strong>of</strong> the fall and yet talk <strong>of</strong> the evolution<strong>of</strong> spiritual life from human nature; we cannot recognizethe punishment <strong>of</strong> the impenitent and yet indulge the‘larger hope.’ One way <strong>or</strong> the other we must go. Decisionis the virtue <strong>of</strong> the hour” (Charles Spurgeon, The Sw<strong>or</strong>dand the Trowel, September 1887, pp. 464-5).“What action is to be taken we leave to those who cansee m<strong>or</strong>e plainly than we do what Israel ought to do. Onething is clear to us: we cannot be expected to meet in anyUnion which comprehends those whose teaching is onfundamental points exactly the reverse <strong>of</strong> that which wehold dear. ... To us it appears that there are many thingsupon which to compromise is possible, but there areothers in which it would be an act <strong>of</strong> treason to pretendto fellowship. ... To pursue union at the expense <strong>of</strong> truthis treason to the L<strong>or</strong>d Jesus” (Spurgeon, The Sw<strong>or</strong>d andTrowel, October 1887, pp. 515, 558“Constantly we hear <strong>of</strong> proposals f<strong>or</strong> union, and trulythese are welcome where mere technical matters dividetrue Christians; but what is the use <strong>of</strong> pretending tocreate union where there can be none? There is anothermatter which needs to be thought <strong>of</strong> as well as union,and that is TRUTH. To part with truth to show charity isto betray our L<strong>or</strong>d with a kiss. Between those whobelieve in the eternal verities and those who constantlycast doubt on them there can be no union. One cried <strong>of</strong>old, ‘Is it peace?’ And the answer was a sharp and trueone. We render it thus--‘What hast thou to do with peacewhile departures from the truth <strong>of</strong> God are so many?’The first question is--Are we one in Christ? and are weobedient to the truth revealed in the <strong>Scripture</strong>s? If so,union will necessarily follow: but if not, it is vain to67

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