546
T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
September 1924
Tlie Stockholm Declaration (2) A resolution approving and adopting the Stockholm Declaration. This is the message sent out by the Baptist World Alliance which met at Stockholm last summer. Two years ago at Indianapolis the Convention, by a deci sive vote* declared the New Testament to be sufficient and that no statement to interpret its teaching, was necessary. This resolution seems to be a practical reversal of this action. All the modern cults and errorists of many names claim the authority of the New Testament. Surely some explanation of its teaching is needed. What shall it be? Modernists will not tolerate the historic confessions of orth odoxy. Fundamentalists will not accept anything else. Both groups however, accepted the Stockholm Declaration with enthusiasm. What is acceptable to such antipodal parties can have little value as a permanent bond of cohe sion or basis of co-operation. As a matter of fact the Stockholm Declaration is not a confession of faith at all. It is a statement of Baptistic principle and policy. Its language is ambiguous and philo sophical. The man in the street could hardly grasp its meaning by a single reading. The Fundamentalist voted for it, not because it was what he wanted, but because it seemed to him better than nothing at all. The Modernist voted for it in self-defense because it seemed to him the less of two evils, as he saw there was no escape from a statement of belief of some sort. Modernism on the Foreign Field ( 3 ) ' A resolution appointing a Committee of seven to investigate the action and policy of the Foreign Missionary Board in respect to the charges of the prevalence of Mod ernism on mission fields. For several years disquieting rumors have been current concerning the advance of Mod ernism on the foreign field. At first these charges were met by emphatic official denial. When suspicion became cer tainty, on unimpeachable evidence, there was reluctant offi cial admission, and at the same time the announcement of a so-called “ inclusive policy” which would give different groups in the denomination recognition and representation. ODERNISM was dealt a death blow at Minneapolis. The reason why God called the World’s Christian Fundamental Association on the stage of action six years ago was revealed clearly. God was there and He “moves in a mysterious way His wonders to per form.” It was a deliberate, spirit-filled body that took action in a far-reaching manifesto. The convention was held in the splendid new auditorium of the First Baptist Church, of which Dr. W . B. Riley is the pastor (in addition to being President of the North western Bible Institute and the Founder, former President and now the Executive Secretary of the Christian Funda mental Association.) No man can get a true estimate of W . B. Riley outside his home city of Minneapolis. He travels about the country a great deal and has for years, and as I have heard him in various cities I have wondered what he was doing at. home. One trip to his great church is enough to answer all questions. He is the least advertised great preacher in America.
This resolution was hotly resented and bitterly opposed by the Modernists. After a vigorous discussion it passed by a vote of 766 to 616. Had it failed of adoption it is prob able that steps would have been taken by those in favor of it to organize a new Missionary Board. Pending the report of this Commission next year, every loyal Baptist will maintain the attitute of prayerful and watchful wait ing. The Outlook for the Future What may be said in summary? What is the outlook for the future? The status quo is the same. The alignment is unchanged. Modernists have a compact and effective organization. They have a definite objective and spare no effort to reach it. Their campaign is planned in advance. They foresee, every contingency and grasp every tactical advantage. In a viva voce vote, vociferation is their favorite and invariable resort. They control most of the administra tive machinery as well as the educational equipment. Nevertheless, it is “ not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” The Church at the Cross Roads Any organization that embraces groups so divergent as Fundamentalist and Modernist is a house divided against itself. There can be no happy and fruitful service apart from fellowship. What point of contact can there be between those who accept the supernatural and those who reject it? Or between the Creationist and Evolutionist? Is the Bible the Word of God or the word of man? Is Christ the Son of God or the son of Joseph? Is sin a reality or a delusion? Is the cross expiatory or exemplary? How can men who answer such questions in opposite ways, permanently and successfully co-operate in Christian work? Any such union is artificial, unstable and unscrip- tural. Like Israel of old, the Church of today is standing at the cross-roads of history and destiny. If the Lord be God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, and the God that answereth by fire, let Him be God. The convention opened Sunday morning, June 8, with an address by William Jennings Bryan, who swayed an audi ence of four thousand people for two hours. Dr. Riley introduced Bryan at both services. In the afternoon the daily papers said that more than 6,000 people heard Mr. Bryan at the National Guard Armory where for two hours and fifteen minutes he spoke on “ It is Written.” Never in the career of the Great Commoner, not even in ’ 96, did the eloquence of Bryan and his cause stand before the people with such power. Gladstone and his “ Impreg nable Rock of Holy Scripture” would furnish the only parallel to such an occasion. Bryan was simply invincible on that occasion; no living man could have stood against him. The Associated Press broadcast Mr. Bryan’s address throughput the country to be read by millions and here are some extracts from The Minneapolis Tribune: “Mr. Bryan called upon Christians to get their inspira tion from the Bible, which he declared has ‘proven its indestructibility and outlived its critics.’
Sixth Worlds Fundamental Contention Makes History in Minneapolis The ed it^ of the King’s Business had expected to attend this notable gathering and give a first hand report of its proceedings, but was unable to do so. We are glad, however, that we can give our readers some of the “high lights” as reported m The Searchlight ’ by L. M. Aldridge, Chairman of the Publicity Committee for the Association.
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