An Ancient Example of Modern Criticism
CHRISTIANITY is suffering the most today at the hands of its professed friends. While claiming to be standing in defense of the truth of the gospel, these representatives of an advanced science and of “modern criticism” are granting all that the most outspoken enemies of the gospel could ask. The so-called Biblical critics who are turning aside the Word of God from its plain meaning ought to be reminded that this sort of “modern criticism” was in vogue at a very early date. The case has been well put by a prominent clergyman who preached a sermon more than forty years ago on this kind of Biblical criticism. He said: “The first one of these critics was Satan in the garden of Eden. He was treating the statement of God’s words to Adam about the fruit of a certain tree, ‘In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’ The critic claimed that the word ‘not’ should be inserted, so that the statement would read, ‘Ye shall not surely die.’” And the clergyman’s comment was, “The amendment was accepted, and the world was lost.” He then added: “Beware of those men who philologically and exegetically know more than God knows.” The very foundations of the gospel are assailed by the betrayers of Christianity. They deny the plenary inspiration of the Bible; they make the Bible merely the garnered wisdom of the ages; they deny the miracles of the Bible; they deny the reliability of the Biblical records; in fact, they deny almost everything except themselves. Their definite purpose seems to be to deprive us of every supernatural element in the gospel, and they will in the end leave us helpless and hopeless, without a divine Saviour from sin. We should take good heed not to permit these men to be our spiritual guides. They are headed straight for the Slough of Despond. Here are some words of warning and instruction which ought to sink into our ears: “All who value their eternal interests should be on their guard against the inroads of skepticism. . . . It is impossible to keep beyond the reach of the sarcasms and sophisms, the insidious and pestilent teachings of modern infidelity. Satan adapts his temptations to all classes. He assails the illiterate with a jest or sneer, while he meets the educated with scientific objections and philosophical reasoning, alike calculated to excite distrust or contempt of the Scriptures. Even youth of little experience presume to insinuate doubts concerning the fundamental principles of Christianity. And this youthful infidelity, shallow as it is, has its influence. Many are thus led to jest at the faith of their fathers, and to do despite to the Spirit of grace. Many a life that promised to be an honor to God and a blessing to the world, has been blighted by the foul breath of infidelity. All who trust to the boastful decisions of human reason, and imagine that they can explain divine mysteries, and arrive at truth unaided by the wisdom of God, are entangled in the snares of Satan.”—“Great Controversy,” pages 600, 601. All this modern criticism really aims at the same result as was sought in the amendment offered by the first great critic. Then, it was to bring man under sin. Now, it is to keep him under sin. It is a part of Satan’s final campaign to make of none effect the last message of mercy to the world. Its aim is to defeat the messengers of God in the work of giving the threefold message of Rev. 14:6-12. Our only hope is in an unreserved consecration to God and his service, that we may be kept by him from the evil that is in the world. “Because thou didst keep the word of my steadfastness, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”