Progressing Backwards by F.

Signs Publishing Co. · Melbourne, Victoria · Jun 14, 1920

FromAustraliasian Signs of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 24.

Progressing Backwards

By F.

THE April issue of the Hibbert Journal contains a review of a book recently published bearing the following lengthy title:—

“The Old Testament: Its Meaning and Value for the Church of Today.” By R. H. Malden, M. A., F. R. Hist. Soc., Vicar of St. Michael’s, Headingly, Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Norwich.

Says the reviewer:—

The publication of this little book may certainly be accounted a sign of the times, and a healthy and encouraging one. We have indeed made progress when a Bishop’s Examining Chaplain can write a book in which the results of the Higher Criticism of the Old Testament are not merely grudgingly admitted, but are made the basis of teaching and the groundwork of the argument.

Such progress in the direction of Higher Criticism is “backward progress,” progress away from Christianity towards the Serbonian bogs of infidelity. Furthermore, when one who professes to be a teacher of theology endeavours nominally to retain his “Christian” standing while he actually preaches against the doctrines and teachings of the Bible, he invariably entraps himself. To illustrate this particular case: The writer of the book definitely states that he believes man to be the product of evolution; and yet he also strives to uphold the story of the Fall of man. But if the human species is everywhere advancing from savagery through barbarism to civilisation, where is there room to be found for what is Biblically termed a “Fall”? We cannot hold both teachings; either the evolution idea or the “Fall of man” must be abandoned. The Bible teaches the “Fall” and denies evolution. Hence the true Christian will pin his faith to God’s Word.