The Overspreading Curse by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 8, 1907

The Overspreading Curse

By W. A. S.

The rapid development of the pantheistic and spiritualistic philosophy, hailed as “new light” and “new theology,” is a startling sign of the times. It is the old philosophy of heathenism adapted to modern times and perverted Christianity.

Just now a leading exponent of the system is Mr. Campbell, of the London City Temple church. He sets forth the theory of inspiration in every man. He does not like the word pantheism, which some have used in characterizing his teaching; yet he acknowledges that the idea of God immanent in the grass and trees and all creatures might be called a “higher pantheism.” He minimizes doctrinal truth, and makes religion to be the service of humanity. He says:—

We have fallen into the way of thinking that to be Christians, or rather to be religious, we must believe this and that, must hold certain views about the person of Christ, the atonement, the fate of the impenitent, and so on. It is all nonsense. If Jesus were here in the flesh, he would make short work of these falsehoods, or else they would make short work of him. To be religious in the true sense of the word is to be conscious of being God’s instrument for cleansing the world from shame and wrong, and wherever you see a man who is doing this with all his might, you see the true follower of Jesus, whether he calls himself Christian or not.

These ideas are spreading like a plague, and the voice of protest among the evangelical churches is becoming less and less pronounced. They have not the power to cast out this evil influence, which, while professing earnestly to hold to evangelical truth, the same as before, is all the time undermining it. The profession of unchanging loyalty but cloaks the work of tearing down, and gives men a foothold within the churches where they can do the greater damage.

The general progress downward may be measured in the City Temple ministry. Seven years ago, shortly before his death, Dr. Joseph Parker, the lifelong occupant of that pulpit, said:—

We have had our opportunities of meeting God here, of reading the Holy Word, and besieging, as an army might besiege a fortress, the altar, known by its crimson hue; and yet some day a man may arise who will deny the Lord that bought him, who will preach a gospel without a Saviour, a salvation without a cross; then write “Ichabod” upon the portals of the place, and let it be forgotten as a thing of shame, a memorial of unpardonable treason against the throne of God.

Just that kind of teaching is now heard in that pulpit. The public of London recently had its attention called sharply to the change. Inspired by this utterance of Dr. Parker’s, some one secured the services of a sign painter, and early one morning chalked the word “Ichabod” over the portal of the City Temple, in letters a foot or more high. The papers discussed it and photographed it, the multitudes smiled, and others thought seriously; but all recognized the fact that the “new theology” is antagonistic to the old. It does not add to, but overthrows. The glory has indeed departed wherever the pantheistic philosophy gets a place.

Satan is preparing the way for his revelation as the great healer and humanitarian just before the coming of the Lord. The truths of the third angel’s message are specifically designed to meet this last-day deception. That is why, when these same ideas were urged upon Seventh-day Adventists as new light, there was an uncompromising stand made against them throughout the denomination. When the enemy sought to come in like a flood to deceive the very elect, the Spirit of God raised up a standard against the evil thing. The last message of gospel truth and the last deception of the enemy are face to face. We know well what the issue of battle will be; but if we are to triumph with the truth, we must not only put on, but keep on, “the whole armor of God.”

W. A. S.