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. 3:5).
"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?
Scripture, we have already quoted, is very plain. " FROM SUCH TURN AWAY " (2 Tim. 3:5).
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, 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. 6:14-17). "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. 15:19).
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. 3:7-22. 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 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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