THE KING’S BUSINESS
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years) the resurrection of those who have died before Christ’s coming and they are judged then. 8. “Do you believe in endless punish ment ?” I do. 9. “Do you believe in election?” I do not suppose I believe in the doctrine as you would define it. I believe in the doc trine of election as taught in the Bible. 10. “Do you believe in man a free moral agent?” Yes, I know that he is. 11. “Do you believe in the sovereignty of God?” Most assuredly I do. 12. “Do you believe in the Trinity?” I do not suppose I believe in the doctrine of the Trinity as you define it, for I find that Unitarians as a rule do not understand the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity and that their statement of the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity is simply a parody upon it. I believe in the doctrine of the Trinity as taught in the Bible, but I do not suppose that is what you understand by the doctrine of the Trinity. 13. . “Do you believe that salvation is from hell?” Not primarily. I believe that salvation is from sin, and as hell is the outcome of sin, being saved from sin will deliver one from hell. 14. “Do you believe life is a probation?” Certainly. 15. “Do you believe eternity keeps us as death finds us?” Certainly not. I do not know of anybody that does. 16. “Do you believe in a personal God?” Yes, I am a Christian. 17. “Do you believe in a personal devil?” I believe that there is a personal devil necessarily, as I believe the teaching of Christ and the Apostles. Furthermore, I have had some experience with him. But I do not believe in him. 18. “Do you believe in heaven as a place?” Most assuredly, I do. I think Jesus knew what He was talking about when He said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” 19. “Do you believe in hell as a place?” Most assuredly I do. I think Peter knew what he was talking about when he said, “God cast the angels that sinned down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment.” 20. “Do you believe in the/ devil as a fallen angel?” I believe that the devil is a being who once occupied a very exalted position, higher than that of ordinary angels: - 21. “Do you believe in the Fatherhood of God (a) by nature, (b) , by adoption?” I believe that all men are God’s offspring, but we become children of God by accept ance of Jesus Christ. “To as many as
constructed in the dark ages,’ it simply shows that he is ignorant of the theology of ‘the dark ages.’ (I suppose you mean by the ‘dark ages,’ the middle ages, which are constantly so characterized.) There is not the slightest resemblance between my theology and that of the middle ages, as you will see if you will take the trouble to study and find out what the theology of the middle ages was. My theology is older than that time. It comes from an earlier date and from sources that were not dark. It is the theology of Jesus Christ and the Apostles, a theology more rational than much of the theology that is constructed today. It was from the theology of Christ and the Apostles that the theology of the dark ages' departed. ‘The stage coach in which I am riding’ (if it be a stage coach) is a good one to ride in. The theology which I preach has been drawing thousands of people daily to hear it, and has been used of God to the salvation of scores of thousands of people around the world. Can you say anything better of the theology that you teach? Now I will answer your questions: I will have to re-write them, ass you have not left room to answer them on the paper which you send. Sincerely yours, R. A. Torrey." ; . 1. “Do you believe in an infallible Bible?” I believe that the Scriptures as originally given were inerrant. pi 2. “Do you believe in special creation?” I am not sure what you mean by special creation. I believe that matter was created, that life was created, that Adam was created. I believe that Adam’s bodv was a special creation. 3. “Do you believe in original sin?” It depends^ upon what you mean by original sin. I do not suppose I would believe in your definition of original sin. I doubt if you would define it as it has been defined by clear-minded orthodox theologians. 4. “Do you believe in total depravity?” I don’t suppose I believe in total depravity as you would define it. I do believe in total depravity as it has been defined by careful theologians. 5. “Vicarious atonement?” Most as suredly I do, and I have seen the power of the doctrine in transforming thousands of lives. 6. “Do you believe in physical resur rection?” I believe in the resurrection of the body, not this same body, but none the less a body. 7. “Do you believe in a general judg ment?” Depends upon what you mean by a general judgment. I believe in the -judg ment of the living nations at the coming of Christ and (at the end df the thousand
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