Dear Friend: Perhaps you will remember me when I tell you that I am the young man who asked you some questions concerning the belief of the Christian Church.

      I joined the ---------- Church when a small boy but, though I was in earnest at the time, did not live as I should have.

      When we moved here, there being no ---------- Church here, joined the . . . . . . . . . Church about seventeen months ago. I joined this church, I think, because I renewed my allegiance to "God" in one of their revivals and then my mother was a ----------.

      Though I have not lived up to my privilege in "Christ Jesus" I am trying with 'His' help to live as He would have me live; and I hope someday to live a completely "victorious life" with "His" help.

      There being so many different, churches, and good people in all of them, has puzzled me a great deal as to which church is right.

      I am writing to ask you--if it is not too much--if you will send me a list of the names of all the churches, who worship the "Lord Jesus Christ." Also the name of the book containing the doctrine or creed of each, and where I may obtain a copy of it.

      Of course any church which does not worship the "Lord Jesus Christ" is wrong, I do not care to study them now. I want to study the doctrines or creeds of all the others though, earnestly carefully and prayerfully; my Bible also and with "God's" help choose the church be would have me join.

      I believe you said the Christian church has no written creed. If there is a commentary in which I can get the general belief of that church, please send me the name of it, and where I may obtain it. If there is any other church which has no written creed, please tell me where I may get its general belief.

      I want the names of all the divisions of all the churches which worship "Christ" and the names of the creeds and where I may obtain them. And I would like to know the name of a good (the best) commentary in every one of them.

      I hope I have made myself clear. I write you because I have confidence in you and I think you will know how to answer my questions. I want to study all the churches and all the divisions of them if I have to study one hundred or more of the dryest books, commentaries, etc., in the world.

      If it is too much trouble to answer my questions, please write me. I hope, however, you can give me this information for I am in earnest.

      Of course if after careful study and prayer I think I am now in the right church, I shall remain where I am but if God shows me I should change I shall do so.

      My Dear Friend: I have already forwarded you the little pamphlet, "Why not be just a Christian"--and trust that it may serve to some extent in your present search for truth. It is already the fact that you are seeking for the truth and the right way that puts you within the range of God's blessing (Matt. 5:6; Heb. 11:6) and I should esteem it a privilege if the Lord would use me as an instrument to help you into full light.

      Let me caution you at the very outset against the road you seem inclined to choose; you will never find the truth by examining the different creeds and beliefs. That road leads nowhere but to "confusion worse confounded." In the first place it is an impossible task. Neither you nor I are capacitated to enter into the merits of each creed and system, and discern the false from the true. In fact such an undertaking would pre-suppose on your part the very thing you have not got, and for which you are searching: the knowledge of the truth. Not until you know what the truth really is would you be able to pass on the relative value of the creeds, etc.

      Nor could you trust your inclinations or your tastes to guide you aright. There has never been an error that has not been dressed up attractively in the garb of logic and plausibility; nor has there ever been a falsehood propagated, but it had its point of appeal. If then you start out in your search to find among the doctrines promulgated one that seems plausible and meets your taste and appeals to you, you will certainly fall victim to some error. To have good intentions is not enough; and to seek is of itself not enough. Men have sought after God in the field of philosophy and failed. (1 Cor. 1:21). Israel sought after righteousness and failed because they sought it in the wrong direction. (Rom. 9:30 to 10:3). We must seek as God directs. And God directs us always to Himself by the way of His Word. "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:23). "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." Ps. 119:105. "Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me." (Matt. 11:29). "Everyone therefore that heareth these words of mine and doeth them shall be likened unto a wise man who built his house upon the rock." Matt. 7:24. "And if any man hear my sayings and keep them not, I judge him not. . . . the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:47, 48). These passages throw you upon your personal responsibility toward God's word. There you must look; there alone can you find certainty. Sincerity, alone is not sufficient: you must have both sincerity and truth. (Rom. 10:1-3).

      When you take up your Bible note the distinction God draws between two parts of it: the one part, the Old Testament, spoken by the prophets in time past, was addressed to "the fathers" and not directly and immediately to us; but the part that came to us came through Jesus Christ. (Heb. 1:1, 2). That does not mean of course that the Old Testament is of no value to us. Its [19] lessons are all applicable to our day. But the message God directly addressed to us came through the Son.

      Note further that the New Testament or New Covenant dates from the death, (not from the birth) of Christ. (Heb. 9:16, 17). It was announced to the apostles at the close of the Lord's earthly sojourn (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:46, 47) and by the apostles preached to all the world. The book of Acts shows how and when the message was preached, and how men accepted it and became Christians and how they became members of God's church. That is the teaching you want and need in the present exigency. You will find (as in Acts 2:36-42; 3:19; 8:12 and 8:26-39, etc.), that the gospel was preached, men heard, believed, and were baptized (Acts 18:8) and added by the Lord to His church. The epistles that follow after the book of Acts contain instructions to Christians.

      I would suggest two important consideration to you: First, Do not trouble too much about difficulties: such as why Christendom is so divided, and good people in all the sects, and whether they shall be saved. It is sufficient for the navigator to know the exact course of the safe and clear channel--he need not know the whys or whereabouts of all the rocks and shoals. When you see the way, the evident, clear, plain way, then walk in it. Do not ask whether any other way would do; or try to presume on what God has not forbidden, but rather find what He has clearly said, and follow that. Secondly: Do not wait till you know everything, or till you feel strong enough to continue unto the end. If a locomotive should attempt to get up enough steam for all its journey before it starts, it would explode. It needs sufficient to start on; the rest will be generated on the way. So you need just enough light and strength to make the first step. Do nothing you are not sure of; but what you know and see, that do without delay. At the first opportunity confess your faith in Jesus (Rom. 10:9, 10), turn to Him with all your heart, and be buried with Him in baptism; and trust Him to add you to His church, and give you His Holy Spirit as He did to obedient believers of yore. Adopt no sectarian name, and subscribe to no man's creed. The name of Christ is sufficient for you. (1 Pet. 4:17).

["An Earnest Inquiry." Word and Work 9 (January 1916): 18-20.]

      The electronic version of R. H. Boll's "An Earnest Inquiry" has been produced from microfilm of Word and Work for 1916.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. In the printed text, footnotes are indicated by printer's devices (asterisks, daggers, etc.); in the electronic text, they are treated as sequentially numbered endnotes. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 18:     shouldhave. [ should have.
            was a ---------- [ was a ----------.
            with 'His help [ with 'His' help
            with 'His" help. [ with "His" help.
 p. 19:     (Cor. 1:21). [ (1 Cor. 1:21).
            of His Word.. [ of His Word.
            'Thy word is [ "Thy word is
            "Take my yake [ "Take my yoke
 p. 20:     (Pet. 4:17) [ (1 Pet. 4:17)
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 12 January 2002.
Updated 22 June 2003.