p. 4 | Extent of the Belief by W. A. Colcord

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 25, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 39.

Extent of the Belief

By W. A. Colcord

MODERN SPIRITISM.—No. 4.

Extent of the Belief.

Christianity affords a life, a power, and a presence,—a life to be lived, a power to be possessed, and a presence to be enjoyed. That life is the life of God, that power is the power of God, and that presence is the presence of God.

Spiritism can supply two of these, a power and a presence, but it can not give life. To make up for this desideratum, it denies that there is any such thing as death, and affirms that the dead live on. But, as we have already seen, this is false. Death is a reality. It is cessation of life, a suspension of the faculties of mind and body.

Nearly all false systems of religion, as well as many false doctrines, are based upon this fundamental error, that the dead are still alive. The great majority of heathen deities are simply deified dead men. Such doctrines as those of purgatory, prayers for the dead, and invocation of saints, are dependent upon this belief.

In harmony with necromancy, ancient sorcery, and heathen mythology, Spiritism goes one step further than the mere assertion that the dead are alive, and teaches that they can return and communicate with their friends on earth; that intercommunication between the living and the dead is an established fact. Thus the purported “spirit” of Robert Dale Owen, as reported in the Spirit of Truth, of March, 1894, says, “We shall not even argue with any one that we are spirits or angels, once dwellers with you in bodily form on earth, ‘or that spirits can and do return and communicate; for we regard that ‘as much a settled question as that the world does move.’” But all this intercourse with familiar spirits, and seeking for wisdom and light from the dead, the Bible plainly condemns. To the latter part of Isa. 8:19, the text which says, “When they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and ‘that mutter,’” Dr. Adam Clarke gives this rendering, “‘Should not a nation seek unto its God? Why should you seek unto the dead concerning the living?’”—the very thing Spiritism teaches men to do.

And it is surprising to what extent this “seeking unto the dead concerning the living” is being practised by those who would doubtless deny that they are Spiritists. The Living Church, of Nov. 14, 1899, says, “Dr. George Adam Smith, in his ‘Life of Henry Drummond,’ mentions as a fact within his knowledge that certain persons habitually address prayers to Henry Drummond. Dr. Joseph Parker, of the City Temple, London, has openly declared that he ‘prayed to his departed wife every day. He said that he never came ‘to the City Temple to preach without asking her to come with him.’”

He further says, “I encourage my friend to pray to his wife, and to ‘pray God to ask her to come to his help. She will be more to him ‘than twelve legions of unknown angels.’ And what is this but Spiritism pure and simple?”

And General Booth, of the Salvation Army, has fallen into the same error. In the War Cry, of Nov. 27, 1897, under “Communion with the Departed,” he writes the following:—

Through all my history, my personal intercourse with the spirit-world has been but limited. I have not been favored with many visions, and it is but seldom that I dream dreams that impart either pleasure or profit; and yet I have a spiritual communion with the departed saints that is not without both satisfaction and service. And especially of late the memories of those with whom my heart has had the choicest communion in the past, if not the very beings themselves, have come in upon me as I have sat at my desk or lain wakeful on my bed in the night season. Amongst these, one form, true to her mission, comes more frequently than all besides, assuring me of her continued partnership in my struggle for the temporal and eternal salvation of the multitudes—and that is my blessed, my beautiful wife!

What is this short of Spiritism?

We cite these instances, not for the purpose of casting reflections upon the persons named, but to show how wide-spread the essential doctrines and practises of Spiritism are becoming; how that many, even among professed Christians, are more or less deceived by it, not understanding its true character; and how easily people may be led into the errors and delusions of Spiritism unless they understand the Bible, and faithfully adhere to all its teachings.

But some one may ask, “What would you do if a spirit or materialized form came to you, claiming to be your departed mother or ‘deceased wife?’” Answer: I would do as Christ did when tempted. I would say, “Get thee behind me, Satan, for it is written, ‘The living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything; neither ‘have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under ‘the sun.’” Then that spirit would leave, for it is written again, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

I repeat, Modern Spiritism is only ancient sorcery, witchcraft, and idolatry revived. Its doctrines and manifestations are the doctrines and manifestations of devils. Once when Israel went into whoredom and idolatry, the record says that the daughters of Moab “called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods.” Num. 25:1, 2. Their gods were the reputed deified dead. David, in referring to this incident, says they “ate the sacrifices of the dead.” Ps. 106:28. And Paul adds, “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God; and I would not that ye should have ‘fellowship with devils.’” 1 Cor. 10:20. Those who do not desire to have such fellowship, therefore, should let Spiritism alone.

Moreover, through Spiritism great wonders, miracles, and deceptions are yet to be performed; for according to 2 Thess. 2:8, 9, Christ’s second coming is not to take place until after “the working of Satan ‘with all power and signs and lying wonders.’” So great is to be the deceptive nature of these manifestations, that Christ said they would deceive “if it were possible” the very elect. A clear understanding of, and faithful adherence to, the Word of God, will be the only safeguard against these deceptions. Let all, therefore, study the Word.

W. A. COLCORD.