The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, indicates the characteristics of " the last days." To the list which he enumerates as developing in the world in those perilous times, such as " lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers," etc., there is added a significant and sinister qualification in the words:- "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY." (2 Tim. 3:55Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:5)).
"A form of godliness. is not godliness. It is terrible to think that Satan, who energized the attack years ago against the truth by open infidels such as Tom Payne, Charles Bradlaugh, and Col. Ingersoll, should now be able to undermine the citadel from within. We find Principals and Professors of Theological Colleges, Bishops, Deans, Clergymen, Ministers, now preaching Tom Payne's views from the theological chairs and pulpits on every hand. There is no honesty in receiving emolument for professing to uphold and preach the gospel, when all the time they are destroying the faith of God's elect, and instead of building up, they are pulling down.
What an awful condemnation will be theirs! God have mercy on such and open their eyes before it is too late. Alas! such will never be able to undo the evil wrought in the minds of those who have come under their influence, but they may obtain mercy for themselves by repentance, and prove their repentance by strenuously seeking to undo their evil work as far as they can.
There is no doubt that a great conflict is impending. There are signs of it on every hand. For instance, the Soldiers' Christian Association has severed its connection with the Y.M.C.A., because of the flagrant unsoundness and worldliness of the latter. There has been a secession from the Y.W.C.A. for similar reasons, forming itself into "The Christian Alliance of Women and Girls." There has also been a secession from the Church Missionary Society on the part of missionaries and Christian subscribers, who have formed a Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society. Again, a similar secession has occurred from the Baptist Missionary Society, the secessionists forming themselves into "The Baptist Auxiliary of the Bible Missionary Trust."
Recently an old word has sprung up into vigor and prominence, and is used to describe the Christians, who believe in an inspired Bible and an infallible Christ, who believe in the deity of the Son of God and His true humanity, His virgin birth, His atoning death, His glorious resurrection, and His coming again. Such are called Fundamentalists.
The cleavage between Modernists and Fundamentalists is becoming more marked, and there are movements on foot which will eventuate, we believe, in the Modernists forming one camp and the Fundamentalists another. The Fundamentalists have no choice but to separate from the Modernists, if they are to be loyal to their Lord and bow to Scripture. How can a true Christian sit under the blasphemy of Modernist teaching?
Again we read:- "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor. IF A MAN THEREFORE PURGE HIMSELF FROM THESE, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use and prepared unto every good work." (2 Tim. 2:20, 2120But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20‑21)). "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship bath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part bath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement bath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God... WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you." (2 Cor. 6:14-1714Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:14‑17)). "If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth, let them return unto thee; BUT RETURN NOT THOU UNTO THEM." (Jer. 15:1919Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. (Jeremiah 15:19)).
Surely Scripture is explicit enough. Let every Christian act upon it. By so doing, they will deliver themselves and help others. How many stay in more than questionable ecclesiastical connections with the false plea that they can do more good by staying in the corrupt thing than by coming away. Let Scripture, and not our own thoughts, govern us. Scripture is wiser than we are.
It seems to us that things are developing according to Rev. 3:7-227And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:7‑22). There you can see the Philadelphian church, with little strength and keeping Christ's Word and not denying His name, with the promise of being caught up at the second coming of Christ; whilst the threat to the Laodicean church, boasting of riches and absence of need, is that, being neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, it will be spued out of Christ's mouth.
Surely when Christ comes all the true Fundamentalists, that is, all true Christians resting on the fundamentals of the Christian faith will be caught up, because they belong to Christ and rest their souls upon His finished work and precious word.
But as surely the Modernists, who go so far as to refuse the deity of Jesus, His atoning work, who teach that He was ignorant and fallible, and throw doubt on His precious word, will not be caught up, but by the very fact of being left behind, will be spued out of Christ's mouth. Solemn and awful thought!
It is our hope and belief that many entangled in Modernism will yet have their eyes opened, when they realize the terrible lengths to which it will go, even to open and unabashed apostasy, and may yet find themselves among the ranks of the Fundamentalists.
It is astonishing how most Modernists assume that scholarship is all on their side. This is quietly assumed again and again, till at length, the scholar who disagrees with them, does so at the peril of losing his reputation for scholarship. But scholarship is by no means all on one side. We could give many names of Fundamentalists who are as scholarly as the men who deride their views. Let no one be affected by this assumption, that scholarship is all on one side, or by the scorn the Modernist pours on the word Fundamentalists, as applying to those who refuse the teaching of Modernists.
We are prepared that Modernists should accuse us of strong and unchristian language because we denounce their blasphemous teachings. It is often the way with propagators of error, that, instead of attempting to combat what has been said or written against them, they take refuge in finding fault with the language of their opponents. Such conduct is evasion pure and simple.
This, however, does not move us. When the foundations of the Christian faith are at stake, it is not the time to be putting on velvet gloves. The matter cannot be more serious. It is not a matter of opinion, but of life and death. When soldiers go into battle they do not put on white gloves and wear button-holes. Their work is stern and serious.
We are exhorted in Scripture earnestly to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)), and we seek to follow out this injunction. No language can be too severe in condemning this deadly thing. There can be no quarter. We expect none and will give none.
May God keep and preserve His beloved people from this awful delusion, and give them grace and power to stand for the truth and defend it at all costs.
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