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Is It Bigotry To Preach The
Truth?
C. H. Spurgeon
I cannot endure false doctrine, however neatly it may be put
before me. Would you have me eat poisoned meat because the dish is of the
choicest ware? It makes me indignant when I hear another gospel put before the
people with enticing words by man who would fair make merchandise of souls; and
I marvel at those who have soft words for such deceivers. "That is your
bigotry," says one. Call it so if you like; but it is the BIGOTRY OF THE LOVING
JOHN, who wrote, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed; for he that biddeth
him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds." I would to God we all had more of
such decision, for the lack of it is depriving our religious life of its
backbone and substituting for honest manliness a mass of tremulous jelly of
mutual flattery. HE WHO DOES NOT HATE THE FALSE DOES NOT LOVE THE TRUE; and he
to whom it is all the same, whether it be God's word or man's, is himself
unrenewed at heart. Oh, if some of you were like your fathers, you would not
have tolerated in this age the wagon loads of trash under which the gospel has
been of late buried by ministers of your own choosing. The apostle spake by
inspiration when he said, "If we or an angel from heaven preach to you any other
gospel than that ye have received, let him be accursed." According to modem
effeminacy he ought to have said, "Let him be kindly spoken with in private, but
pray make no stir. No doubt the good brother has his own original modes of
thought and we must not question his liberty. Doubtless he believes the same as
we do, only there is some little difference as to terms." This is treason to
Christ and treachery to truth and cruelty to souls. IF WE LOVE OUR LORD, WE
SHALL KEEP HIS WORDS AND STAND FAST IN THE FAITH, coming out from among the
false teachers. Nor is this inconsistent with charity; for the truest love to
those who err is not to fraternize with them in their error, but to be faithful
to Jesus Christ in all things.
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