The World's Unrest-No. 1 by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 24, 1912

The World's Unrest—No. 1

By F. M. W.

THIS is an age of unrest and disquietude. A spirit of revolution possesses the minds and hearts of men. There is a departure from the old-time and long-recognized standards of truth and practise, and a reaching out after new ideals. A new pace is being set for the world's march.

At the very foundation of this revolutionary process are the marked changes to be seen taking place in religious belief. Doctrines long regarded as constituting the framework of Christian faith are being set aside as antiquated and illy adapted to the present times and civilization. The miracles of Christ are laughed out of court; his virgin birth and resurrection are derided; and the entire Book of God is discredited in some important particular. This attitude is by no means assumed alone by the open skeptic, but by the professed friends of Christianity, and by the accredited representatives of the gospel. Naturally the rank and file of the people are unsettled. Seeking light, they are led by blind guides into darkness; craving rest and assurance, their minds are distracted by those who should be messengers of peace. They thus become the prey of every fantasy, the disciples of deluded and designing teachers.

The Bible makes evident reference to these last days in which we are living, when it says:—

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim. 4: 3, 4.

Quoting this scripture, the Christian Witness of Oct. 3, 1912, says:—

That time has certainly come. Whenever it has been true in the past, or wherever, or shall ever be in the future, it is certain that such a time is now with us.

The Witness then quotes with approval the words of a leading Christian teacher:—

Unless all the signs of the times fail, the true church of Christ is about to enter upon the most serious struggle of her history. She is no longer called merely to fight an open foe without, but as Dr. Green, of Princeton, has well expressed it, “the battle rages around the citadel,” and she is forced to fight the traitors within. The real enemy is to be found in the theological seminaries, in many of the most influential pulpits, and in the religious literature of the day.

Thomas Paine, Charles Bradlaugh, and Robert G. Ingersoll, perhaps the three most prominent infidels of the last one hundred fifty years, have passed away. They have had no successors as such who have carried forward their onslaughts against divine revelation, but the evil seed sown by these men and their prototypes has brought forth a baneful harvest, and there may be found many men to-day who, though not posing as infidels or skeptics, are nevertheless doing identically the same work that was done by these out-and-out opposers. The changed viewpoint in so-called Christian theology enables these disseminators still to pose as Christian ministers while they carry forward their pernicious teaching.

“Rev.” George Jackson, in a lecture recently delivered in Toronto, said:—

Neither Charles Bradlaugh in England nor Colonel Ingersoll in America has had any successor. Again it is safe to predict they never will. And why?—Because our changed methods of interpretation have robbed them of their miserable wares which formed their whole stock in trade.

This same thought is echoed by the Free Thinkers' Magazine, which says this of the work now being carried forward by the erstwhile opposers of Tom Paine:— Tom Paine's work is now carried on by the descendants of his persecutors; all he said about the Bible is being said in substance by orthodox divines from chairs of theology.

These changed methods of interpretation furnish food for serious thought and concern to many Christian men. William Phillips Hall, president of the Bible League of North America, feels that if the condemnation of Robert G. Ingersoll will be great, the fate awaiting the ministers of this new interpretation will be far greater. In an article in the Bible Student and Teacher he says:—

Robert G. Ingersoll told the truth, if he has been correctly quoted, when he said, in substance, that his infidel lectures were no longer necessary to his purpose of faith-destruction, because his propaganda of unbelief had been adopted and was being vigorously pushed by ministers and theological professors! We venture to suggest that awful as poor Ingersoll's fate at the great white throne may be, it will not even approximate in horror to that unspeakably awful fate that awaits those present-day Judas Iscariots who have crucified their Lord afresh, and put him to open shame by changing the truth of God into a lie, and teaching their fellow men to go and do likewise.

Nor does this work of demoralization stop alone with the church. Indeed, it would not be found in the church if it had not taken hold of the individual life. It has invaded the sanctuary of the soul. The institution of the home, in common with the church, is threatened. The marriage relationship is being discounted by thousands as a compact no longer sacred. Thousands to-day are adrift in blank, hopeless, wandering unrest, the prey of their own carnal natures, the victims of unreasoning passion and fanciful caprice.

Man can not look to his fellows for assurance or spiritual leadership. God alone in these days of spiritual declension is the hope of his people. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. . . . Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” F. M. W.