The Higher Critics and Evolutionists in China
By John J. Westrup
It Does Not Satisfy—Hearts Reaching for Something Better — Kept, by God's Power, from Roving Bands of Robbers Peh Long is now marching toward the capital of Kansu, leaving death and ruin behind him. His great success in Honan, Hupeh, Anhuei, Shensi, and Kansu — he having not even once met any serious repulse — gives a great encouragement to the discontented all over China. Yuan Shi Kai, being short of money, seems unable to cope with them. I have just read that Szechuan is in a state of rebellion. There are many bands of robbers all around us. Having been, for the last eighteen days, visiting outstations, I came across them twice; but the Lord always keeps that which is committed to Him. It is inspiring to see the progress of the truth, and the courage and zeal of our workers — their high hopes and large plans for the future. The spirit of this message is a wonderful, invigorating power, nowhere seen more clearly than here. “Be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.” Evolution and “Higher Criticism”
While in the United States there seems to be a reaction among the Protestant churches against evolution and “higher criticism,” here many missionaries boldly assert that the only way to oppose the Seventh-day Adventist doctrines effectually is to preach and teach evolution. “Blind leaders of the blind,” seeing that they are undermining their own faith in the Bible! I heard one say: “If I could believe the first chapter of Genesis, I should be compelled to keep the seventh day as the Sabbath, as that chapter is the foundation of the seventh-day Sabbath. But I do not believe it. I believe the Lord took thousands of years to create this world.” In Chang-Sha, Hunan, the missionaries have a union school, and some ten different denominations send their young Chinese men there to be trained as preachers and evangelists. I met the foreign professor of the school, and he was full of “higher criticism” and evolution. He did not believe in the inspiration of the books of Moses, or in any miracle of the sacred Word. Pity those students who thus lose all faith in the Bible. “I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, . . . but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11. This prophecy is being fulfilled. Cared Little for the Bible in Theological School
Many of those who came to us from a certain school in the north of Honan, testified that while in that school, they cared very little for their Bible, and that they were surprised to find so many prophecies fulfilled, and the events of the future portrayed so clearly in the word of God. The Bible is the fountain of knowledge. But alas, too many who profess faith in it, love ease, luxury, and a class of pleasures that the pure word of God reproves. Hence they choose to soothe their consciences with sophistry rather than to build on the Rock of Ages, “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” 2 Thess. 2:10, 11.