Very much is said in these days about development. As there has been a steady growth in all the arts and sciences, so, it is asserted, there must be the same in religion. Man’s mind, it is said, has made such advances in examining everything, that it is impossible to restrain deep thinkers from dealing also with everything connected with religion in the same spirit. All that will not bear the strictest investigation must give place to something that will. It is admitted that this may lead to giving up some of the things we have hitherto held sacred; but if so, it is said, it will be giving up only that which is not worth holding, because it will not bear investigation.
Well, this to many minds may seem to be sound reasoning; but should it not be noticed that God’s religion stands upon a footing entirely different from everything else? It is no theory of man, but is wholly of God. If we think of any science as being a knowledge of what God has done, or is doing, and that man, in trying to explain this, has put it into words; we can understand that, as we might have expected, he has made many mistakes, and has had to alter his theories over and over again; and of course even now cannot say that they are perfect. So that in such things there may be room for development and growth.
Christianity is quite different: God has not only planned the whole thing, but He has described it in His own words. What in this has man got to investigate? Will he dare to think that God might have planned it better, or that He might have described it better? No, the bare truth must be told: man must receive it as it has been revealed, or, to his peril, he cannot be benefited by it at all.
But objectors say that it is reasonable to expect development after what we find in scripture; because the same is seen in the scripture itself. For instance, the law, they say, was not at first given in a complete form, suitable to meet any case that might occur; but was added to piecemeal, as the idea of a perfect law was developed. The case of a man found gathering sticks on the sabbath is named. There was no law touching his case, and he had to be kept in custody until it was revealed by God what his punishment was to be. (Num. 15:32-3632And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 33And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Numbers 15:32‑36).) So also the case of the man who blasphemed the Lord, and cursed; he also was put in ward until God had made a law to meet his case.
Now, it is granted that there may seem to be additions and even repetitions in the laws given in the book of Leviticus; but all is given designedly, and by God as it pleased Him: it is for us to seek wisdom from the Author Himself, to understand, not simply what is said, but the beautiful way in which it is all given. Incidents being interspersed among the precepts of the law give the whole a living reality not to be found in a mere detail of laws.
It is further urged that developments are also seen throughout scripture. Man in innocence; man under law; the monarchy; the prophets; the mission of our Lord; the epistles detailing the doctrines of the church; and finally the Revelation. If there is this uniform development in scripture, is it not reasonable, it is asked, to suppose there may have been developments since the completion of scripture? Man wants something in advance; his mind cannot rest with what he has received; he must and will seek development.
Well, let us examine the above a little. In the list of events recorded in the Old Testament, why omit such a thing as the fall of man? Was that a development? Why omit the captivity of the Jews? Was that a development? Why omit the crucifixion of our Lord by wicked men? Was that a development? Yes, yes, they were developments, but of evil. God did put man to the test in various ways, and it always made manifest his evil nature, until he crowned it all by putting the Lord to death. And we have not far to look to see further developments of the same evil nature in those who refuse the gospel of salvation now so fully proclaimed.
But objectors will say, This is not what we mean: we want, as our minds expand, to satisfy ourselves by developing that which God has given.
Then let it be remarked that this will never be attained. God has completed His word (Col. 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25)), and has given the solemn warning to “every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18, 1918For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18‑19).)
Thus we are confined to The Book: this is complete, and must not be added to nor taken from. Of course we should seek to understand it better; but if men will have something beyond, it must be something weaved out of their own minds, as a spider weaves his web out of his own body. You may give it the finest name you can find, but what will be its value? Will it save a soul, or tell the way of salvation? Will it bring peace to a troubled conscience, and give a happy triumph in the presence of death? Will it teach what is pleasing to God, and be to His glory?
No, no: it will only puff up man with pride, and will be well-pleasing to the great enemy of souls, the prophet well describes such: “Behold all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk, in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow” (Isa. 1:1111To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. (Isaiah 1:11).)
There may have been some in the later days of the apostles who wanted some further development; for they tried to intertwine philosophy and Christianity. But John, who wrote last of all, impressed upon them that they must turn to “that which was from the beginning.” It was doubtless the beginning of Christianity; for the apostle refers to what they had seen with their eyes, looked upon, and handled of the Word of life. He writes: “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” (1 John 2:2424Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (1 John 2:24).) What can go beyond abiding in the Son and in the Father? Surely nothing: and this was to be brought about by the truths abiding in them.
Again the same apostle writes: “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.” The safety is in that which was given from the beginning.
Now why does the apostle impress again and again the importance of what had been revealed? Doubtless because then, as now, man s mind was at work, and was stretching out towards something new, something novel. It may have been then, as now, that they looked for some more refined way of salvation than for a man to own himself a lost sinner, and be saved alone by grace. It may have been then, as now, that men did not like to be judged by Christ’s words neither then nor hereafter; so they criticize and judge God’s word, and unblushingly say which part they would recognize as God’s word and which not.
Is this the development that men are looking for in these days? If it is, let them know that it has nothing whatever to do with Christianity, no matter how high the profession may be. There is no development of Christianity beyond what is found between the covers of God’s book. All outside that, no matter what name it bears, is but what the prophet has described as a man compassing himself with sparks. Hear again his words: “Ye shall lie down in sorrow.”
All that has been foretold in the scriptures which has not yet been fulfilled, will surely come to pass in due time. Christ will come to fetch His Church, to be with Him and like Him forever. It is also foretold that the professors will wax worse and worse. How is it that those who are talking about development cannot see that sign of the times in which we live? Are not such crying peace, prosperity, progress, when sudden destruction may be at the doors?
There will also be the unrolling of that great roll, with its seals, trumpets, and vials, described so vividly in the Revelation. The book is full of judgments; but this is not what people want. They would rather shut their eyes to such developments; for these things will not contribute to the exaltation of man, nor feed his pride.
God’s revelation also speaks of the great white throne to be set up hereafter, when the dead, small and great, will stand before God, to be judged according to their works. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15).) By this we see that it is life men need, and this is only to be had by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the old-fashioned gospel proclaimed more than eighteen hundred years since. A curse is pronounced against the man or angel that shall preach any other gospel than that which is found in God’s word, and which was fully revealed to the Apostle Paul. There is no development from that. Man must as guilty sinners accept this salvation, or perish forever. May God open the eyes of all who are looking for any new or different way of being saved. It is Satan who is blinding their minds.