AND THE BAPTISTS, TOO?
By G.
The theological seminaries, the drill-grounds of the future teachers of any sect, give an unerring index of its trend and destiny. From this point of view it is evident that the Baptists are in danger of being drawn into the popular current of skepticism concerning the Word of God, and the supposed superior value of human research. This might be deemed unwarranted comment, but for the fact that staunch Baptists are themselves the ones to note and deplore the manifest tendency, and to sound the alarm. Those who view with anxiety the departure of the great churches from the old landmarks of the sacred Word, feel a special sadness to see the old champion of “Thus saith the Lord” falling in behind the procession under the banner of learned investigation by skeptical scholars. Under the caption, “The Down Grade Movement,” in Watchword and Truth, a Baptist writer comments as follows:— It is said the Baptist theological seminaries have over 1,000 students preparing to enter the ministry. They, with other young men, shall assist largely in making or marring the twentieth century for the Baptist churches of this country. The question uppermost in every thoughtful mind is in relation to the present pabulum doled out to these fine and vigorous minds by the religious teachers under whose instruction they are placed. Naturalists declare that insects generally take on the color of the leaves upon which they feed, and this is largely the case with our theological students. One teacher with perverted conceptions of the fundamentals of Christianity can work unspeakable harm in moulding the thoughts of his pupils. Not long since a prominent Baptist speaker declared, “Our beliefs represent our conception of ‘things where we stopped thinking.’” The thought is both misleading and skeptical, for it implies that nothing can be fixed or real in the mind beyond our ability to think, and that our highest beliefs are subject to change as the ability to think expands. How very unwise is such a statement, in the face of facts which are so patent that they need not be declared. Such declarations sweep away the fundamentals of our holy Christianity, and relegate all beliefs to the narrow limits of human investigation, independent of divine revelation. There are limits beyond which no teacher should be permitted to go, in his teaching of theological students. Prof. Gilbert, of the Chicago Theological Seminary, teaches in lectures and through the printed page, that Jesus had no pre-existent life; declaring that such doctrine is not a reality, but only a poetic conception. With such distorted views of Christ’s utterances concerning Himself, the future preacher, as taught in our theological seminaries, will have but a sorry Christ to present to men. When we throw overboard a complete Biblical Christ, then a complete theology will cease to exist. But other seminaries are catching this monstrous disease of infidelity, impregnating the atmosphere of religious thought. Prof. Payne, of the Bangor Theological Seminary, in his recently-issued work, rejects entirely the miraculous birth of Jesus, making Him the child of Joseph and Mary. He silences the voices declaring the supernatural birth found in Matthew and Luke, by eliminating such chapters from the New Testament as spurious, and only fabrications of legend-makers. Thus he strips Jesus Christ of His essential divinity. Such teaching demands attention from every thoughtful mind; and the time has come for those in authority to investigate very carefully the utterances of the so-called religious teachers, both in the class-room and the public print. Is it any wonder the world is shaking off the former faiths of our fathers? Behold the array of infidel teaching! Pfleiderer of Berlin declares that Jesus’ words are not to be taken as an “unconditional and binding authority.” McGiffert asserts that “Luke has not hesitated to misrepresent, ‘perhaps through ignorance.’” Gould says, “Mark ‘misunderstood Christ’s words.’” Payne adds that “Matthew falsified the text.” Pray tell me how much New Testament we have left us, or who is to see Jesus through such thick fog and blasphemy? Is it not time for the professed church of God to call a halt, until her theological seminaries are swept clean of such rubbish? Why have so many professed religious teachers such an antipathy toward the Son of God? J. D. H. When the Baptists have fallen in with the new popular idea that the Scriptures of truth must needs be subsidiary to the wisdom of man, who of the great9“Protestant,” “evangelical” forces are left to stand in the gap? When the Baptists have become infested by this leaven of human wisdom, is not the “whole lump” well-nigh leavened? Is it not time to seek the old paths, and to walk therein? G.