Liberal Christianity by Wm. Penniman

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 21, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 40.

Liberal Christianity.

By Wm. Penniman

In a sermon published in the St. Louis Globe Democrat, some time since, Mr. Beecher says:—“If anybody wants to go into the Roman Catholic Church, and I think he is good enough, let him come to me, and I will give him a letter of dismissal from this church and send him there. I have done it already in one instance, and I have no doubt the young girl is better off than she would be in this church.” Speaking of the qualities which he terms true spiritual manhood, he says: “Do you mean, then, if a Mohammedan has these qualities of soul he is acceptable to God? I do. Do you mean to say if a man is an infidel, he can be acceptable to God? I do.” Finally, in conclusion, hear this noted theologian, as follows: “If in any way a man has gone up, if any man has found in himself the kingdom of Heaven without knowing Jesus Christ, or ever having heard of him, he will be saved. It is not calling out a name that saves, it is falling in love with the qualities represented by that name. The question is not whether a man has complied with a system. There are a good many heathen Christians that will teach Christians in the other life, I guess.”

This very liberal divine would not send any of his members into the Catholic Church unless “good enough.” It is strange that he should make goodness an objection, for he knows very well that sinners can have their sins all forgiven there, and if they happen to die unpardoned, they can have them forgiven hereafter, and even have their souls prayed out of purgatory. There is not much doubt but that some of Mr. Beecher’s church members would be better off in the Catholic Church; for although in the former they are taught the infallibility of the Pope, and that the fires of purgatory are ever burning, yet, in the latter they are taught to deny the efficiency of the atonement, and the conditional plan of salvation in the gospel.

If Mohammedans and infidels can be saved according to Mr. Beecher’s plan, then why not everybody? True, they must be endowed with true spiritual manhood; but what kind of spiritual manhood has a Mohammedan, who knows nothing about the spiritual things of God? Neither can he know them, for they are “spiritually discerned.” Again, how can an infidel, who does not believe in either God or spirit, be possessed of this quality? And even if the class to which he alludes had truly this spiritual manhood (moral goodness), it does not follow that they would be saved; for “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.” Again, “if in any way a man has gone up.” How does this accord with the teaching of Christ, who says, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ But Mr. Beecher seems to think “any way” will do. This position plainly contradicts Christ’s teaching, and proves the truthfulness of his words, that they that “climb up some other way, the same are thieves and robbers.” To which class does Mr. Beecher belong?

The great trouble with Mr. Beecher seems to be that he has “gone up” too high; so high that he does not seem to see the plain teachings of God’s word.

How can a man find in himself the kingdom of Heaven without knowing Christ, or ever having heard of him? The truth of the matter is, that Christ and the kingdom of Heaven are inseparably connected. It was a part of his mission to teach the world, not only how to become subjects of the kingdom of grace, but also how to become subjects of his everlasting kingdom, to be set up at his second coming.

True, as Mr. Beecher says, there is more in the qualities of a name than in calling it out; but what will he do with this text, that “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” but in the name of Jesus. Do not the name and the qualities go together, or can we have the one without the other?

Certainly it is “guess” work when he talks of heathen Christians teaching Christians in the other life. Wm. PENNIMAN.