Gold Nugget 352 - In the Name of Religion

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      Evil never appears in its own true character.  Dishonesty wears the aspect of rectitude; falsehood speaks the language of truth; selfishness has the voice of benevolence; profanity robes itself in the garb of sanctity; the “prince of darkness” appears like an angel of light. 

      The most monstrous deeds that have been perpetrated under these heavens have been done in the name of religion.  The Alexanders and the Caesars of this world have fought their sanguinary battles, and reared their empires upon slaughtered nations in the name of religion.  The popes of the world have erected their iron throne upon the soul of Christendom in the name of religion.  The persecutors of the world have invented their Inquisitions, built their dungeons, and kindled their fires in the name of religion.   Ah me! The Son of God himself was put to death in the name of religion. …

      Many have been and are not, some have risen and have passed away, others in their course have come and will disappear.  This has been the history of moral evil in our world.  Many of the arguments that have sustained it from time to time have appeared as settled and imposing as mountains, as gorgeous and majestic as kings; but “mountains have fallen and come to nought,” and even imperial bulwarks have disappeared as visions of the night.  So it has been, so it is, and so it must be to the end.

      Moral error has no lasting foundation.  Its superstructures are not houses on the rocks, but on shifting sands.  Whether it appears in the form of thrones, governments, churches, colleges, markets, it stands nowhere but on volcanic hills.  They may be clad in loveliest verdure and enriched with the choicest fruit, but fires lie beneath them which will rive them to pieces and engulf in ruin all that have stood and flourished above. 

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Revelations p. 428-430, Revelations 17:7-13, (D. Thomas)

 

Gold Nugget 352

In the Name of Religion

 

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