SPIRITUALISM by Walter E. Gillis

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 2, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 43.

SPIRITUALISM

By Walter E. Gillis

The Present Revival of Its Workings—Its Invasion of the Church and Other Intellectual High Places

By WALTER E. GILLIS

ONE of the most commonly accepted doctrines of the modern church is that known as the “immortality of the soul.” That it should be so, seems strange; for one of the most clearly stated facts of history has to do with this doctrine, and places its origin in a state from which the Scriptures distinctly and specifically say that God has called His people; namely, Egypt. Matt. 2: 15; Hosea 11: 1.

FIRST TEACHINGS OF IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL

From Herodotus, the father of history, we learn that “the Egyptians were also the first who asserted the doctrine that the soul of man is immortal.” But we find one other who at an even earlier period taught it: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: . . . your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods.” Gen. 3: 4, 5. And of him we learn on the authority of the Saviour, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” John 8: 44.

The whole theory of man’s nature and destiny is dependent upon the Scriptures for analysis. The Bible is the one book that speaks with authority on the subject, and throughout tells one connected story. You may search the annals of the nations with untiring zeal, to find at last that every age had its ideas and contradictions, and that the whole subject of man’s destiny is littered deep with the superstitions of all peoples, and is as little understood to-day as in any age of human existence.

THE ONLY SOURCE OF IMMORTALITY

But to the student of Scripture, the topic is one of intense interest and illuminating simplicity. Every statement is a nail in a sure place. In 1 Tim. 1: 17, we learn that God is immortal; and in the sixth chapter and the sixteenth verse, we are told that God is the only one that is immortal. 2 Tim. 1: 10 states that immortality is brought to light in the gospel—not in the esoteric teachings of the heathen; and Rom. 2: 7, that it will eventually be bestowed as a reward upon those “who by patient continuance in well-doing” seek for it. The time of its bestowal is definitely fixed at the resurrection, as will appear by studying 1 Cor. 15: 52-54, and comparing it with 1 Thess. 4: 15-17.

SHALL A MAN LIVE AGAIN?

Job, one of the most ancient patriarchs to be especially approved of God, understood the subject thoroughly; for he says: “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” “But man dieth, and wasteth away.” “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.” “If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” “If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.” “Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.” Job 14: 1, 10, 12, 14; 17: 13; 14: 15.

After having thus stated the problem, this ancient worthy exclaimed: “Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; my reins within me are consumed with earnest desire for that day.” Job 19: 23-27, margin.

And Solomon, the wisest man, says, “The dead know not anything.” Eccl. 9: 5.

SPIRITUALISM DENIES IT

Notwithstanding these statements, spiritualism comes to us with the declaration that the communicating spirits are the dead of earth, who continue to take a hand and an interest in the affairs of earth. As further evidence of their identity, they declare that “the Bible is a transcript of heathen fables” (Dr. Weise); that “it is just as sensible to pray to the ocean, or to the sun, as to the Christians’ God.” (A. J. Davis.)

MIGHTY DECEPTIONS

The discredited Bible, however, foretold their advent and work in these last days. The Saviour, while discoursing upon the scenes connected with His second coming, said, “For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24: 24.

Paul, the greatest of the apostles, cautions the church by declaring, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4: 1.

These seducing spirits will control men who will counterfeit the work of the church, as is clearly stated in 2 Tim. 3: 8: “Now as Jannes and Jambres [the magicians who stood before Pharaoh] withstood Moses [by counterfeiting his work], so do these also resist the truth.” And in his last letter to the Thessalonian church (2 Thess. 2: 8-12), Paul points out that the time of Christ’s return will be one of marvelous developments, Satan, the chief of those angels who “kept not their first estate,” working “with all power and signs and lying wonders.”

DENIES THE WORD, EXALTS SELF

Spiritualism epitomized is found in the question of the serpent in Eden, “Yea, hath God said?” We will find, in final analysis, that in its outworkings the fusing point is the law of God. From the genesis of man, and on to the last act in human history, it pits self against God. The holy record reads, “In the beginning God”; but the annals of spiritism, mirrored in the writings of its most modern apostles, present the exaltation and gratification of self as its keynote.

Who is it you find consulting the medium? Is it the self-sacrificing Christian worker, daily crucifying self in order that the poor who are cast out may hear the gospel?—Oh, no; it is the self-satisfied church member, who often sits in service for mere show. Is it the woman whose heart hungers and thirsts for a fuller consecration to the service of God, and a fuller experience of the Christian graces?—Oh, no; it is the social leader, who joins the church because it is popular.

Self, self! This is the towering affinity of spiritism. Find it where you may, when the root purpose is exposed, the spirit directing spiritism is the same spirit of whom the Lord said: “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.” Isa. 14: 13, 14.

The present renaissance of spiritualism has been marked by a veritable flood of mediums, clairvoyants, palmists, sympathetic healers, etc., together with the usual accompaniment of charlatans, tricksters, and society leeches.

ASLEEP ON THE SUBJECT

The average citizen is cognizant of the condition, marvels at it a little, but does not realize that it is the development of Satan’s masterpiece of deception. He does not realize that the world has drawn so near to absolute harmony with the principles of iniquity, that evil spirits have unparalleled opportunities for controlling and operating through the minds of men.

Idolatrous nations have always been claimed as the lawful prey of the enemy; and for the same reason, the children are his heritage. Spiritual conflict occurs only where God’s truth has been manifested, for it is the point of attack. As the Saviour pointed out in Matt. 10: 34: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” The final engagements of that conflict are at hand. They will be sharp and decisive. The present moribund condition of society and of the popular church indicates that the crisis is near.

WILL BE A WORLD CONFLICT

The preparations are numerous and mystifying in the extreme; but a close examination of the principles involved, exposes the fact that the conflict is against truth, and that all the confederations now occurring are for the purpose of finally boycotting the followers of truth, who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

What Loyola planned and almost accomplished for the Church of Rome by means of the Inquisition, Satan himself is now marshalling the forces of Christendom to accomplish in all the earth. The situation is a desperate one for mankind. The issue is finally to be for individual decision, and the conflict will be world-wide.

The systems of idol worship have been provided and fostered by Satan. The favorite shrines of all nations have been the oracles that have directed their destinies, so far as the choice of man could provide. Though we do not now pay homage to the heathen gods, yet the spirits attending them have penetrated everywhere, and Satan is just as verily worshiped to-day in the professedly Christian nations as ever in the citadels of paganism. But modern refinements spread a shroud over the hideous facts, and the professed worshiper of God yields to the witchery and enchantments of the present-day cults. Moral and natural law have been disregarded to such a startling extreme that notwithstanding the remarkable triumphs of medical science, it has not been able to keep pace with the resulting disease.

MYSTERIES OF HEATHEN WORSHIP ARE FOSTERED

The mysteries of heathen worship are replaced in secret orders by beautiful ritual. Here the professedly righteous and the wicked meet together on common ground, and finally worship at the same shrine. Why?—Because whatever turns one from the worship of the true God is an idol; and idolatry, in last analysis, is devil worship. 1 Cor. 10: 20. The processes have been refined, the declivities veiled, until only those who earnestly search the Scriptures, and submit every desire and purpose of life to that unerring guide, can possibly run the gauntlet and be saved. All who do not seek God in sincere prayer for a knowledge of His will, must surely wander from the right road, and fall under the deception of Satan.

THE HARVEST FOLLOWS THE SEED SOWING

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6: 7. When the parents of our race sowed the seed of spiritism, its taking root discomfited them. But that was not to be the end of the matter. The law of growth requires “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” Through six thousand years, spiritism has been developing for the harvest time. We have now reached that time. Can we expect to find less than the fully developed fruit? And like all weeds, its growth is rank and its fruit abundant.

As in gardening, the constant uprooting of the weeds fosters the growth of the good seed, and retards the development of the worthless, so the activities of the church have, during certain periods of human history, caused spiritism to recede from view. But we find, in our study of history, that whenever the church became dormant, and its energies flagged, then the baneful plant of spiritism shot forth, and quickly undid the work of centuries.

To-day the popular churches of Christendom, in their own official papers, acknowledge that stagnation stares them in the face on every hand, and their statisticians report declension and loss. What must we naturally expect?—Why, a rank growth of weeds. And who that has given any thought to the present-day issues, can say that weeds do not fitly represent the crop? The Scriptures say, “Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them,” Matt. 13: 30. Reader, are you in one of those bundles?