November 1924
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
691
Modernism THE OUTLOOK IN GREAT BRITAIN By Dr. Arthur H. Carter, Editor of “ The Bible Witness,” Hounslow, England
We regret that this stirring appeal from the pen of our ever welcome English contributor, Dr. Carter, was inadvertently omitted in making up the October issue, though listed on the cover. Dr. Carter has promised us another article, which will appear at an early date.
1 the “ Times” downward, exceptional attention i been given by the secular and religious press Great Britain to the recent pronouncements de by Principal Garvie, President of the National Free Church Council of Great Britain, and other leaders at the recent annual session held at Brighton. In unmistakable terms this great religious body, including within its range all the leading so-called evangelical denom inations, has now avowed itself on the strongest possible Modernist lines. Those of ljs who have watched with deepest concern for many years the published statements of Principal Garvie and Principal Selbie, have had no doubt as to what the ulti mate result must inevitably be. These men have for long steadily avowed views entirely contrary to the accepted beliefs of the Christian Church for the past 2,000 years, and of the Jewish Church, so far as the Old Testament is concerned, for 2,500 years. But the saddest aspect of the situation lies in the fact that the entire body of English Nonconformity accepts their theological position, and, save in a few isolated cases, the whole body of the Free Churches has gone holus bolus over to the ranks of Modernism. What Does This Mean? There can be but one conclusion from the numerous reports that have appeared, vizli—that the National Free Church Council of Great Britain, by its acceptance of the Presidential statements of Dr. Garvie, can no longer be regarded as an evangelical movement, according to the general acceptation of that term, but is today a body of ministers and churches having for its object the express purpose of discounting, ignoring, and denying the very fundamentals of the Christian faith. According to this pronouncementy^^S. 1. The Bible is entirely rejected as the authoritative standard of appeal: its verbal inspiration by the Holy Spirit is denied, and it becomes little more than a mass of religious literature which may, or may not, be accepted according to the predilections of the individual. 2. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is more or less a theological puzzle, with the main emphasis placed upon His humanity. Some hazy distinction prevails as to the “ his
toric Jesus,” and the so-called “ Christology” of the devout mind. 3. The great Bible truth regarding the Personal Return of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory is laughed out of court, and those who hold such a belief covered with ridicule. 4. The solemn and awful truth, distinctly taught and emphasized by our Lord regarding the eternal conscious punishment of the, lost is absolutely rejected. 5. The fact of the Fall, its cause and its consequences, is entirely ignored. What Is to be Done? That question has been asked repeatedly during the past thirty years and more. There is but one answer: Those who believe in the verities of the Christian faith, who accept the Bible in its entirety as the infallibly inspired Word, of God, who accept unquestionably the fundamental doctrine of the proper Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and rejoice in the glorious prospect of His personal premillennial return, who believe in the God-given revelation of a heaven to be gained and a hell to be saved from, must with increased energy and earnestness.“ preach the Word”-ft|the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but .the truth. There Must be No Compromise There must be no compromise of the doctrines of grace and the Word of God. The hour has struck, and painful though it be, and though friendships be broken, the step must be taken. What saith the Scripture? “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doc trine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doc trine of Christ, he hath, both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (2 John 9-11). Surely, in view of the terrible dishonor brought upon the name of the Lord by this wicked rejection of His truth by men and churches who profess to accept the Christian position, it is more than ever essential that those who know what it means to be redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and who are devoted increasingly to the truth that He has given us in its entirety in His word, should be found in all humbleness at His feet beseeching Him that in His mercy and grace He may be pleased to revive us again.
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