CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT CHRIST.
By S.
It seems a paradox to speak of Christianity without Christ; but the trend of popular religious belief at the present time has brought that phrase into usage. Of course, such “Christianity” is not Christianity at all. It has a form of Christian faith, a husk, a shell; but in that husk is no ear; in that shell is naught of the vital principle of Christianity. Where that should be money is lavished to hide the deficiency, and from the pulpit where Christ and His salvation should be set forth flow eloquent phrases in exaltation of the achievements of man. Instead of the Gospel we hear of social culture and civilization. Repentance has been politely bowed out of the fashionable church. The reward of the wicked is hidden under smooth-flowing phrases, glossing over the great truth of God’s Word that “the soul that sinneth it shall die.” General Booth’s fear for the religious condition of this generation was of the prevalence of “religion without the Holy Ghost; Christianity without Christ; salvation without regeneration; heaven without hell.” He saw the drift of popular preaching, and has stated the case pretty nearly as it is. Christ asked, “When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” He indicated by the very question that faith would be anything but prevalent. One of the characteristics of these times was to be a form of religion lacking the principles and power of the Gospel. See 2 Tim. 3:1-7. That is what we are seeing now. Never were there so many churches, never so many preachers, never so many missionaries in foreign lands; and as for luxurious church furnishings, there has never been anything to compare with the present time. The form of religion and of religious things is with us, but with the vast majority only the form—a tenantless shell, soon to be cast aside when the Judge of all the earth shall place upon every soul the stamp of its true value. The apostle Paul could say, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1:16. Even the popular preacher of the present day will admit the lack of power to draw men. But the reason for the lack of power lies in that other lack, the lack of the possession of the “everlasting Gospel.” He who fails to see the necessity of repentance and salvation will also fail to see the necessity of the Gospel message, for they are a part of it; and failing in that there is no possibility of power from God. He has not promised any power to any message except the Gospel message. If we are not giving that, we have no claim whatever on any of God’s promises concerning power—there is no power for us. In its absence something must be substituted to draw, and we see it in high-priced pastors, operatic music, expensive pipe organs, salaried choirs, oyster suppers, military organizations, socials, whistling solos, and theatrical performances. Having lost the power to hold hearts while pointing out sin, and therefore not daring to do it, such pastors are following their world-worshiping congregations where they lead the way. Here is the exhortation of one such, delivered in the First Baptist Church of Bayonne recently:— “We of the twentieth century should not be governed by what a body of men which existed three hundred years ago did or did not do. We are better Christians than the Puritans of old. If you can go to the dance, theater, or card party with the love of God in your heart, why go, and God bless you. It is a shame for anybody to say the stage is crowded with immoral men and women.” Such words are doubtless effective advertisements for the theater. They are in reality an encouragement to patronize it and the dance and the card party—Satan’s triple alliance for ensnaring the feet and souls of young and old. In view of all this, how pertinent the Saviour’s question, “When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” That the earth will not be utterly robbed of that virtue is shown by Rev. 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” That will be but a small company as compared with the rest of the world; but it will be a company that has stood loyal to God and His truth through all the whirlwinds of beliefs and unbelief prevalent in the world when Christ returns. In addition to having the faith of Jesus, they are keepers of God’s commandments. The two are inseparable, and there is no promise to any at that time who do not stand with that company. Their Christianity is of the true pattern, and God seals them as His. S.