p. 4 | New Thought in the Orient by PERCIVAL J. LAIRD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 29, 1910

New Thought in the Orient

By PERCIVAL J. LAIRD

PERCIVAL J. LAIRD

WITH the greatly increased facilities for travel and the simplified and convenient form of photography, together with the many versatile travelers who provide an ample supply of illustrated articles, the magazines and periodicals of to-day are an important factor in enlightening the minds of many in regard to the characteristics, habits, and customs of nations other than their own.

But there is also another sphere of influence which this form of journalism is entering; namely, the discussion of moral and religious topics. Such discussion is becoming very prevalent. For example, such questions as the state of the dead, and those dealing with the religious teaching in schools and colleges, esoteric philosophy, Spiritualism, theosophy, Mormonism, Eddyism, Millennial Dawn, etc., are discussed. In fact, this branch of the press has become a veritable pulpit for good or evil.

Under the heading, “Religious Reform in Japan,” written by a Japanese, the Japan Magazine says:—

“The points in which a reform of Christianity seems to be desirable are, . . . the Bible cosmogony should be abandoned. It can not be taught consistently with the conclusions of modern science, and should be frankly abandoned. For instance, a few years ago, a question which agitated the Christian missionaries in this country [Japan] was that of the divinity of Christ,—a debate than which nothing can be imagined more foolish. . . . The Christian conception of God needs to be enlarged and raised; for Christian preachers often speak about him in a most childish manner. . . . When Christianity can recognize Christ as an ideal personality, subjectively conceived, and standing to the unconditional Absolute in the same relation as Brahma and Amida, Christianity will have advanced one step, and be in a position to take its place in the reconstructed religion of the future.”

Coming, as does the foregoing, from one avowedly a heathen, we are rebuked for our refusal to send the light to precede the onslaught of educated materialism, rationalism, skepticism, and it may be rank atheism, as taught even by professed Christians. But the heathen are not alone in holding and teaching such principles. From the pen of one of the senior American missionaries to Japan, I quote the following:—

“The evolutionary hypothesis is very powerful in every branch of science and history and religion. Higher Criticism necessitated in the minds of a majority of Biblical scholars a reconstruction of theology. I welcome this new knowledge as giving us a larger Bible, and better knowledge of the methods of God's progressive revelations.”

Long ago Paul wrote on this wise: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” According to their own year-books, it is recorded that in three of the largest denominations, in which, alas! these philosophical ideas are gaining ground rapidly, no fewer than seven thousand churches in the United States failed to note a single addition to their membership on confession of faith in 1905. Is it too much to say that what has proved so eminently disastrous and lamentable at home will produce equally sad results in the foreign mission field?

The writer looks forward to returning to China soon, and would be glad to hear from any consecrated believers who may be thinking of China as the field for their life-work until Jesus comes. True indeed is the word spoken: “Workers are needed all over the world. The truth of God is to be carried to foreign lands, that those who are in darkness may be enlightened.”

Whatever information we have gained is at the disposal of any who feel that God is calling them to evangelize China's millions. To represent this great nation, take every letter in your Bible to represent a Chinese person, and then get seventy-nine more Bibles, and with their combined letters, each still representing a person, you approach to an idea of the vastness of the task of the workers who plead for your prayers.

Loma Linda, Cal.