Becoming Obsolete

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 11, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 23.

Becoming Obsolete.

WHAT? The Bible. Infidels used to attack the Bible, but they did so by pointing out something that had the appearance of weakness or error. It is easy for any man to find what appears to him to be folly or error in a book of which he is entirely ignorant. The following we find in a recent paper:—

“In a place of public resort, a skeptic was haranguing a crowd of young men, and was denouncing the Scriptures. A plain-looking old man who was standing by, seizing an opportunity to reply, said:—

“See here, boys, here is a man reviling the book which contains the ten commandments, the Lord’s prayer, and the parable of the prodigal son.”

“The infidel was staggered by the simple statement, and the crowd dispersed.”

This fairly represents the past; even infidels were ashamed to revile the Bible when reminded that it contained the ten commandments, the Lord’s prayer,

and the story of the prodigal son. But now it is different. The Bible is attacked by professed Christians, and, as might be expected of traitors to the cause they profess to serve, they attack its strongholds, even the points before which infidels stop their railing, ashamed of their irreverence. Suppose the scene above described were now passing before us, and the “staggered” infidel was leaving the field.

Then up steps Mr. Woodward, of the M. E. Church, and with a bland smile says:—

“Gentlemen, let me read to you a page from my justly celebrated work entitled ‘A check on Adventism.’ In this you will find the most convincing proof that the ten commandments were given only to the Jews, and that our blessed Saviour set us free from that antiquated code. To be sure he ‘reinstated’ some parts of it, but as a code, as a whole, it has no place in this dispensation.”

And Dr. Stratton, the urbane president of the “University of the Pacific,” comes forward and assures the company that Mr. Woodward’s arguments are “timely” and “cogent;” that they are well calculated to correct the “whimsey” of those who teach that the decalogue, just as Jehovah spoke it on Mount Sinai, is binding on us.

And the editor of the California Christian Advocate sedately assures the company that they will find that Mr. Woodward’s pamphlet is “good reading;” he cheerfully recommends it to them for their consideration.

And now comes Dr. Nisbet, of the Baptist Church, and expresses his astonishment that any one should recommend a book on the ground of its containing the ten commandments. “I have sufficiently shown,” says he, “in a little book that I have published, that as a document the ten commandments were ‘Jewish and temporary. When the Jewish covenant passed away, there passed away this ten word summary of it.’”

Dr. Frost says he has read Dr. Nisbet’s work “with profit and delight.” He appeals to the company in its behalf as “lovers of clear views and sound doctrine.”

And Professor Le Conte, of the University of California, assures the company that he has found Dr. Nisbet’s book “very interesting and profitable. It is clear, strong, conclusive.”

Now all this is a great relief to our infidel friend, who was so “staggered” with the accusation that he was opposing the book that contained the ten commandments. Yet there was the Lord’s prayer! While he is pondering over this, a learned minister approaches, and says:—

“Gentlemen, permit me to recommend to you this volume written by Alexander Campbell, one of the most learned men of the present century. His views are indorsed by thousands and thousands of Christians. In truth he has been the instrument of restoring ‘primitive Christianity,’ which had so long been lost to view. He abundantly proves that the kingdom of Christ was set up on the day of Pentecost, after his resurrection, as, indeed, most denominations acknowledge, and that there is no propriety in our using the Lord’s prayer. It was quite suitable to be used before the kingdom of Christ had come, but not since that time.”

He triumphantly looked round upon the company, with the remark that he would debate the question with any one who denied his proposition. No one dissented.

It is now the infidel’s opportunity. “Gentlemen,” says he, “your remarks are indeed ‘timely’ for me. They appear to be ‘cogent,’ clear, ‘forcible,’ and I accept them with great pleasure. I was, indeed, staggered before the accusation of having opposed the ten commandments and the Lord’s prayer. I know that all classes have recognized these as both fundamental and faultless. And in truth I was never able to discover anything assailable in them. But now that you have so satisfactorily disposed of them, I think I can manage the prodigal son and the rest of the old book. True, there are many other confessedly good things in the Bible; but none coming so directly from the highest authority and taking hold so strongly of the life of all, and the worship of Christians. If these are so easily set aside, why not the rest? Permit me to thank you for your timely assistance; for the relief that you bring to me in my emergency. And now,” continued he, turning to his reprover, “what have you to say to this? How will you answer these gentlemen?”

Alas, he is the “staggered” one now. Groaning in spirit he murmured: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Ps. 11:3.