“OKe SPIRIT OF TRUTH and ? | i g OFe SPIRIT OF ERROR” E Y E -O P E N IN G T E S T IM O N IE S R E G A R D IN G CU L TS
Bussell’s Prophetical Program
the world. He tells us the meanings of the' original Hebrew and- Greek words, yet on the witness stand in court he was compelled to admit that he could not read a line of either Hebrew or Greek. He draws his profuse knowl edge of these original languages from translations that are well known for their leanings toward annihilationism, restitutionism and universalism. He practically corrects the Bible from Gen esis to Revelation, while claiming that his “ object is not, in any sense, to be wise above the sacred Scriptures— dis carding all human inventions and keep ing close to the divine fountain of truth.” Right here let us say that we may always beware of a system that claims for itself the distinction of being es sential to the understanding of the Bible. Such a system inevitably goes BEYOND the Bible and substitutes it self for the Bible. Such claims are made by Christian Science, Russellism, Seventh Day Adventism, Mormonism, and many other cults. Russell, for instance, tells us “ The key of knowledge of the Scriptures, long lost, is found and gives God’s faithful people access to the hidden mystery.” Again he says, “ Be it known that no other system of theology even claims or^ ever has attempted to har monize in itself every statement of the Bible, yet nothing short of this can we claim for these views.” As to the cus tomary interpretations, he says, “ The common people need not be surprised that the clergy as a class are blind to the truth. Light and truth cannot be expected from that quarter.” That Russellism goes beyond the
NCE more the agents of Rus- sellism are rapping at our. doors throughout the land and offering the people tracts and seeking to sell copies of the six volumes “ Studies in the Scriptures” and “ The Fin
ished Mystery.” The latter book, it will be remembered, was banned by the government during the war and the prominent leaders in Russellism were jailed for persisting in circulating the book which was deemed seditious.1Now these leaders have been released and their agents, calling attention to their persecution at the hands of the United States government, are playing upon the sympathies of thousands of unsus pecting people. What is this teaching? Surely an. organization known as “ International Bible Students Association” and pub lishing books under the title “ Studies in the Scriptures” cannot be far astray on the great fundamentals of the faith! The writer has recently compiled a topical arrangement of all the teach ings of Russellism, tabulating the ex act reference of each statement. This has required careful study of the text books. In these books “ Pastor” Rus sell begs to differ with Bible students of all times and all denominations on every single doctrine regarded by evan gelical churches as fundamental. He delights to take the most familiar pass ages of Scripture and tell us that they do not mean at all what Bible scholars have always thought them to mean. Thus he sets himself up as the only one capable of expounding the Scriptures to
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