August 1927
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
498
the Christian church. It is a disease of Christian knowledge. The Galatian churches were troubled with those who “perverted the Gospel” (Gal. 1:7, 8 ). Many of the Gala tian Christians were “bewitched” by the false interpreta tions of Christian doctrines (Gal. 3 :1 ). There are many false religions outside the scope of Christianity. These are not heresies, however serious. Heretics seize upon the name Christian, claim the Bible for their basis, wrest the Scriptures to suit their notion, and thus deceive a multitude who want to be known as Christians. Some of the views held as part and parcel of the Chris tian religion are of monstrous character. Eddyism, Rus- sellism, Spiritualism, Theosophy, Unity, Mormonism, and many other “isms” which claim the title of Christianity, are heresies. M odernism Is H eresy Modernism is heresy, for it perverts Christian truth to fit present theories. It involves dishonesty. If the business world should adopt the Modernists’ method, the foundations of all honor would be shaken. A martyr at the. stake could have saved his life by handling the Bible as the Modernist does. “Dost thou be lieve in the atonement?” he is asked. “Yes,” he replies, “do not all men atone for their sins by suffering?” 1 Our Lord could have escaped the cross. “Art thou the Son of God?” “Yes,” he replies, “and are not all men divine?” The rabble would have voted him free, for they, too, would have accepted His divinity in that sense. Paul could have been freed from prison. “Dost thou believe in the resurrection of this Jesus?” “Yes,’’ he could have replied, “and do you not believe in spiritual survival over death?” The Greeks would have consented to this. The marvel is that men who hold such mental reserva tions should call themselves Christians. Yet many such are leaders of flocks and the people are contented to have it so. What a religious Upheaval there would be today if Christians began to study the Bible, and then put into effect the admonition at the head of this article, ridding Christendom of those who have stolen the livery of heaven to serve blindly the enemy of souls!
The Defenders’ Column
N otes by
Managing Editor
“ Above all, takink the shield o f faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench a ll the fiery darts o f the wicked. And take the helmet o f sal vation, and the sword o f the Spirit, which is the word o f God.”
Who Are the Heretics ? “A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admoni tion, reject" (Tit. 3 :10). T ERTU LL IAN points out that the word “heretic” is of Greek origin, the root idea of which is “choice.” “It is choosing for one’s self, independently of other con siderations.” Heresy consists, therefore, of “chosen opin ions” rather than the interpretations of Scripture itself. Heresy involves not only unsound opinions, but un sound living. The two usually go together. Heresy is of the flesh (Gal. 5 :2 0 ). Easy interpretations of Christian doctrine have their roots in moral standards rather than intellect. When a person attempts to suit Scripture teach ings to his manner of life, rather than to square his life by the Bible, he is about to become a heretic. We need to keep in mind the meaning of “heresy” as used in the New Testament. It is not used in the same sense in our day. The heretic, in Scriptural meaning, is one who in some sense accepts Christianity, while holding erroneous interpretations of its vital doctrines. D istortion of O riginal T ruth Heresy is distortion of the original truth. Error that has not come in contact with Christian revelation is not heresy. Heresy is something that claims a home within
W i f e She must lead in all the women’s work, And from no task will she ever shirk; To the church’s task she must be always, true; Although to her no salary is ever due; Oh, the wedding fees are hers, perhaps, If her husband’s memory does not lapse; But if her husband gives her all, Her salary, alas ! will be quite small. If God in heaven has prepared a place Above the average for the race, A mansion built in heaven’s center, Into which no one else can ever enter, It is for the devoted preacher’s wife, When she is done with this world of strife; A place of quiet, helpful rest, In a mansion that is the very best by test.
T h e P r e a c h e r ’ s J . T. Connett
A preacher’s wife, to be ideal, Must be a woman who is real; Not too large and not too small, Not too short and not too tall; Her face and form must be just fair, She must not be at all too rare; In dress she must be considered sane, And yet not altogether plain. Her house must be in perfect grace, With everything in ita proper place; Her family must not be large or small, ’Tis wrong to have no child at all, But six or eight will never do, ’Tis just as bad to have too few; Her children, the precious darling things, Must each one have at least two wings.
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