By Dennis L. Shaver
“It is unreasonable to suppose that any one person, or race, encompasses all truth, and alone can reveal the way of life to others.” The preceding quote comes from Mr. Ernest Holmes in his tract entitled What Religious Science Teaches (page 9). After this statement Mr. Holmes proceeds to do what he says it is unreasonable to assume can be done. He says, “Religious Science reads everyman’s Bible and gleans the truths contained therein” (page 9). Continuing on page 10 he adds, “What is truth? Where may it be found? And how used? These are questions that an intelligent person asks. He finds his answer in the STUDY OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE.” I find it interesting to notice that Mr. Holmes feels he can do that which he assumes is unreasonable for anyone else to do. Of course, upon reading his book of unreasonableness, I understand his predicament.
Mr. Holmes states that religious science gathers truths” (plural) from every man’s Bible and then informs the reader of the truthfulness of it. In the first place, by his own admission, this cannot be done. And perhaps even more important, he comes up with the word “truths.” The Bible speaks of truth (singular) as one, not truths (plural) as many. Jesus, in speaking of truth says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life . . .” (Jn. 14:6). In Jn. 8:32 He said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth, shall make you free.” Again we read from the Word of God, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Notice in this last passage the singular nature of truth and its revealer. Jesus speaks of the spirit of truth, and He, shall guide you into all truth.
Mr. Holmes says it is unreasonable to assume that one man can reveal the way of life to others. Jesus did. The apostles did. Christians in the First Century did (Phillip, Stephen, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquilla, Apollos, etc.). Me Apostle Paul told Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine” (not doctrines); “continue in them: for in so doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee,” (1 Tim. 4:16). Christianity is perpetuated through individuals teaching individuals (2 Tim. 2:2). Christianity is one man’s leading another to the way of life eternal, despite Mr. Holmes unreasonable assumption. It is not unreasonable to assume that one man, with the truth of God’s Word, could convert the world.
What Mr. Holmes, and other denominational champions, fail to understand is simply this-there is one truth that leads to life eternal. That truth is contained in the Word of God, the Bible. Outside the Bible there is no spiritual truth! Jesus said, “Sanctify them through truth, thy word is truth.” There are not many truths, and there are not many faiths, or churches. Men need to return to a study and acceptance of God’s book that we might not see such false doctrines as Mr. Holmes propagated. The unreasonableness does not lie within the Word of God, but within men such as Mr. Holmes who have no conviction and want others to be as they are. Rather than this, I would plead with men and women everywhere, “. . . receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Truth Magazine XX: 30, pp. 476-477
July 29, 1976