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Socialism Versus Christianity

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 5.

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Socialism Versus Christianity

By I. H. EVANS

I. H. EVANS
SOCIALISM is a modern word, which had its origin in England in the year 1835. Many claim that the theories advanced by Socialistic teachers are as old as communities of men.
The teaching of Socialism pretends to solve many of the difficulties of the laboring class. Undoubtedly much has been laid at the doors of the teachers of Socialism which the teachers themselves would repudiate.
It appears that Socialism purports to reform society, and to change the conditions of capital, so that the same shall be more equitably distributed among all classes of people. Many teachers would place the control of real estate in the government, and have it allotted to the inhabitants as their needs require.
Socialism claims to be the poor man's benefactor. It would see the wealth of the country distributed so there would be an equality among men. Both the rich and the poor would share alike in material wealth. It would also place all classes on a social equality. It has certainly done something to stimulate the laboring classes and the poor to seek better conditions, and to make the most of their opportunities.
The theories supported by Socialism have made rapid inroads upon the masses in Europe, as well as in America. Russia is really permeated with the spirit of Socialism. In Germany the success and triumph of socialistic theories have won such a permanent place among the people, that they have become a strong political factor in the Reichstag, or law-making body.
How far Socialism may develop in the future, no one can foretell. Its present tendencies are to subvert faith in God, and to rely entirely upon society to reform itself. It pretends to offer nothing beyond this present life. Some of its leading teachers would even destroy all faith in God and in religion.
Robert Blatchford, one of the leading socialistic teachers of the present day, and editor of the Clarion (London), socialistic paper, in speaking of Christianity, is quoted by the Missionary Review as follows:—
“I do not believe that Christianity or Buddhism or Judaism, or Mohammedanism is true. I do not believe that any of these religions is necessary. I do not believe that any one of them affords a perfect rule of life.
“I deny the existence of a Heavenly Father. I deny the efficacy of prayer. I deny the providence of God. I deny the truth of the Old Testament and the New Testament. I deny the truth of the Gospels. I do not believe any miracle ever was performed. I do not believe that Christ was divine. I do not believe that Christ died for man. I do not believe that he ever rose from the dead. I am strongly inclined to believe that he never existed at all.
“I deny that Christ in any way or in any sense ever interceded for man or saved man or reconciled God to man or man to God. I deny that the love or the help or the intercession of Christ, or Buddha, or Mohammed, or the Virgin Mary is of any use to any man.
“I do not believe that there is any heaven, and I scorn the idea of hell. . . . Before Socialism can triumph, religious faith must be destroyed.”
If these are the teachings of Socialism, surely God's people want nothing to do with it. That which will destroy one's faith in God, in his written Word, in Christ and his redemptoral work, in heaven and in the future reward of the righteous and the wicked, is the worst enemy that man can have. Nor does it give us something more tangible and more real than that which it takes from us. It hopes to reform society, and cure the evils of this world by legislative enactments and by social intercourse. This can never be done. There is no cure, according to God's Word, for sin and for the results of sin, but Jesus Christ, and the action of the Word of God upon the human heart.
He who puts away God's Word, and denies faith in God and in all that the Word promises to the believer, has put away from himself all the help that God can give him to better his condition in this life, besides abandoning all hope and prospects of the inheritance in the kingdom of God.
The penalty of sin is death. The sinner must die. The millionaire and the pauper will be judged by the one great Judge of the universe. Only the sinner cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus can be saved. Only he who believes in Jesus Christ as his Saviour can hope for salvation in the world to come. No politicaltheory, no social beliefs, nothing that man can do for himself, can lead him from sin and from the results of sin. Only Jesus Christ and the Word of God can save us from the evils which sin has wrought in this world. The sinner whose sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ, and who has tasted of the word of life, would not exchange his faith and hope in eternal things for what can be realized in this present evil world. Whatever offers itself as a remedy for existing evils that does not come from God's Word, and is not based upon Jesus Christ and the Word of God, will be found powerless to effect permanent cures for the evils which men endure.
Surely, as we see the evil results of sin increasing on every hand, we may be more and more grateful to God that we have faith in his Word, and that we rely upon him to bring deliverance to all his people.
Takoma Park, D. C.