“It is the narrowness of mind that awakens the surprise and aversion of some persons, when they hear of doctrines and schemes in human affairs, or in religion, quiet different from what they have embraced. Perhaps they have been trained up from their infancy in one set of notions, and their thoughts have been confined to one single tract, both in the civil or religious life, without ever hearing or knowing what other opinions are current among mankind; or at least they have seen all other notions besides their own represented in a false and malignant light, whereupon they judge and condemn at once every sentiment but what their own party receives, and they think it is a piece of justice and truth to lay heavy censures upon the practice of every different sect in Christianity or politics. They have so rooted themselves in the opinions of their party, that they cannot hear an objection with patience, nor can they bear a vindication, or so much as an apology for any set of principles besides their own: all the rest is nonsense or heresy, folly or blasphemy.”

I suppose if there is any one fault of the evangelical church it is spelled out in this post, especially in the last sentence. If a new thought arises it is immediately demonized and pulpits pound outrage and condemnation, and the large part of the congregation loves it so. How will improvement every come?

Isaac Watts - photo by Tony Hnojcik