p. 8 | WANING PROTESTANTISM by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 10, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 50.

WANING PROTESTANTISM.

By Editor

THERE was a time when Protestants felt that they had a mission to the world, including those in the darkness of Romanism. Then Protestantism was a power for progress, for righteousness, for holy life. It had definiteness. Even tho creeds still lingered, it stood for the Word of God. Now the Bible as the Word of God is in many places discounted, and in many more disregarded; its searching messages of warning to a backslidden church are heard unheeded, and the solemn duties enjoined are slighted. Much that had been gathered from the Word was crystallized into creed, along with much retained from apostate and darkened medievalism, till by association the evil came to seem as holy as the good. When the Word of God was pressed home concerning these things, the majority of Protestants, preferring to follow the route of least resistance, have fallen back upon the old cry of error—precedent and tradition. In doing this Protestantism yielded her only tenable ground, “the Bible, and the Bible only.”

Romanism has seen it, and has not been slow to take advantage of it. The Protestant finding himself where he must choose either the Bible or tradition, has generally chosen tradition, and thus placed himself on the same ground as the Roman Catholic, tho much less consistent. Not a few have consistently gone clear back to Rome.

Standing on the same platform with Rome, they, of course, have lost power to protest against Rome’s errors. Nay, more, many are counting Rome as a very Christian ally in the great religio-political reforms which are taking place.

Thank God, all do not see matters quite that way. Tho not seeing all the truth clearly, tho not wholly casting loose from the old snag, tradition, they are earnestly endeavoring to move the water-logged craft, Protestant largely in name, up the stream. Among these is Wm. Burt, D.D., of New York. Recently home from Catholic countries, he writes a stirring article to the Christian Advocate (Methodist Episcopal), of Nov. 13, 1902, entitled, “Why Do We Send Missionaries to Roman Catholic Countries?” He tells us that in a few days since he came home he had been asked the question a score of times. He says:—

Romanism has evidently gained a great victory in the United States, in having put Protestantism to silence. The one who dares to tell the truth about Romanism is regarded, even by some of his own church, as narrow and bigoted, while the one who will tolerate and excuse its evils is regarded as progressive and broad-minded.

About the year 1517 one might have seen prostrate on the floor of his cell in the convent of Erfurt a monk in great agony of soul, because oppressed by an ecclesiasticism which discarded the New Testament doctrine of justification by faith. That monk’s name was Martin Luther.

Our friends who do not approve of missions to Roman Catholic countries would have passed by that cell without making known to that poor, oppressed soul the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus, alleging that he already belonged to a Christian church. By their neglect they would have prevented the Reformation.

If our tolerant friends had seen John Tetzel selling indulgences in the public square of Wittenberg, they probably would have said, “After all, he mentions Christ, and pardon, and grace. He has a certain Biblical diction, and, therefore, must be a Christian man.” They would not have protested in the name of Christ against his infamous doings. Luther and Tetzel are types of persons to be found in the Roman Catholic Church to-day:—

Sincere souls who are seeking light, but at present are groaning under the oppressive influences of a religion devoid of divine grace. There are many such.
Educated rogues who find in papal pretensions and Romish ceremonies their opportunity for the vilest practices. These constitute the working force of the great organization.

We will give more of Dr. Burt’s article later. We call our readers’ attention to this to let them know that thoughtful, earnest men see the fearful drift and deplore it. He gives what seems to him the causes of this attitude on the part of Protestantism. We wish our readers to study the causes. How much has higher criticism to do with it? How much the influence of human creeds? How much has adherence to tradition rather than to plain duty backed up by a “Thus saith the Lord”? How much has departure from the Word and loss of the Spirit of God to do with this attitude? How much has the overwhelming tide of worldliness, “prosperity,” and commercialism to do with it? How much have many other things to do with it? Ask yourself these questions, reader. Are they worth considering? Is Protestantism worth preserving? If it is, Protestants should awake.