Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 81:323 (Jul 1924)
Article: Instrument Or Idol
Author: Harris Learner Latham

BSac 81:322 (April 1924) p. 319

Instrument Or Idol

Harris Learner Latham

The terminal points in religious experience are the soul and God. Between these two points there is a long line of items to which attention must be given. We do not deny that unconscious association, or as you may call it, fellowship, with the deity, is a fact. Could we reach our objective by this method alone many of our perplexities and blunders would be avoided. But the unconscious life gains its content from conscious experiences, so we may as well face the issue on the level of the conscious life.

The fact is we can have no fellowship with God except by the intervention of human associations, imagery, ideas, words, doctrines, rites, institutions and organizations. That is, if we take experience as a whole, these are links forming the chain by which we are united with God. The affirmation may indeed be a truism but some weak souls ignore these links so we must reassert the fact.

How, then, do the most of us treat the facts that intervene between us and God? Briefly, we abuse them every one. Not all of us commit the same errors in detail, but all make mistakes in our outreach toward the Father. Inspiration, spiritual illumination, divine guidance—all these enduements promised and indeed received from God are in themselves proofs that we sadly mistreat the original equipment bestowed on us.

Human associations may be looked into first. Our first associate is our own self. Narcissus, the beautiful son of the river-god Cephissus, spurned the love of all the nymphs as he was the embodiment of self-conceit. One maiden prayed that at some time he might fall in love and suffer the pangs of unrequited affection. Vengeance came upon him; as he stooped to drink from a river brink he saw his own figure and conceived a violent passion for it; he pined away in death while seeking to embrace his own image. Even in hades his shade was seen to bend over the boat to catch a glimpse of itself in the waters.

BSac 81:322 (April 1924) p. 320

Sons of men should be reminded of their Creator when reviewing his handiwork in their own nature; but for many the vision has become distorted; they are looking inward, passionately seeking self-realization beyond the bounds of law. They have not God in their thoughts. They are, in fact, perverts. They have made an idol of themselves.

Love works wonders and also diabolic marvels. Shall man or maiden, son or daughter, bring a sweet echo of the love of God and kindle a grateful and pure love to God? So let us hope, for he who finds the beginning and end of existence in the voice, the footstep, the touch and the passion of a woman has made her his idol and God is left out. No mother may say she cannot live withou...