Deeds and Doctrine

On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass was called on to speak about the meaning of the 4th of July to the Ladies Anti-Slavery Union of Rochester, New York. He began innocuously, noting the ingenious and goodness of the Founders’ vision for the country. But when he began to note how that vision had not made it into reality, he became scathing of the nation. Her deeds did not match her doctrine. Abraham will be tested in this very manner – will his deeds match his doctrine? Will his works match his faith? Does ours? 1. What precisely is this test? 2. What was Abraham thinking? 3. Why does God test Abraham this way? 4. Isn’t this just child sacrifice? 5. Our work proves what we really believe 6. God’s work pictures what we ought to believe