How Will They Do It? by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 11, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 35.

How Will They Do It?

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

WE are not entirely alone in the belief that Spiritualism is of the devil, as the following from the Pacific Methodist will show:—

“We regard Spiritualism as among the most infernal of Satan's inventions and its absurdness before the bar of enlightened reason is not proof sufficient of its harmlessness, when we reflect that nothing is too preposterous for belief, when the appeal is made through the senses, and is one which accords with the reigning corruption of the soul. . . . We doubt if Christianity has ever before confronted such a monster as this modern necromancy. And this repulsive hybrid from the cesspools of nameless infamy reigns over many, and is spreading its borders. Let the press speak, and the pulpit cry aloud.”

“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?” This is what the “press and the pulpit” might well ask. We are glad when we see any one aroused over the terrible delusion of Spiritualism. But what can they say or do against it? Will they cry out against the corruption that is often associated with it? That would be simply an attempt to lop off some of the outer branches, leaving the root untouched. Besides, if that is all that our friend the Methodist would assail, he would find his efforts seconded by many Spiritualists themselves. There are thousands of them who outwardly lead moral lives, so far as their fellow-men are concerned. Therefore a person might assail vice and corruption with all his power, and still leave Spiritualism unscathed.

If the Methodist really wants to strike at the root of Spiritualism, we will tell it how. Let it teach the Bible doctrine concerning the state of the dead. Let it teach that “the dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence” (Ps. 115:17); that “the dead know not anything” (Eccl. 9:5);

that man’s “breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish” (Ps. 146:4); that they “sleep in the dust of the earth” (Dan. 12:2); and that “till the heavens be no more they shall not awake, nor be raised out of sleep.” Job 14:12.

He who with all his heart believes these plain declarations of Scripture, can never be a Spiritualist. A belief in the conscious state of the dead is the foundation and superstructure of Spiritualism. He who holds to that doctrine has no warrant that he will not be a Spiritualist; indeed, there is hardly a possibility that he will not, when evidence is presented that appeals overpoweringly to his senses. Nothing but a firm belief in the word of God, as it reads, will save men from Satan's masterpiece of deception.

We know that many try to make a distinction, and say that while they believe that departed ones are conscious and active, they do not believe that they can communicate with their friends in the flesh. Well, why do they not? Have they any reason for thinking that the dead cannot communicate with the living? “Why, certainly,” says one, “the Bible says that they cannot.” Exactly; we quoted several such passages at the beginning of this article. The Bible says that the dead cannot communicate with the living, because they are unconscious, “they know not anything.” And no man can prove that the dead cannot make themselves known to us, without using those texts which declare that they have no conscious existence.

Perhaps there are Christians who see nothing shocking in such teaching. They say, “It is a matter of no practical importance how I believe concerning the dead. We could be just as good, even if we believed that the dead could return to us.” Do not thus deceive yourselves. For what purpose did Christ come? He says he came “that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. And again, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. Now if we believe that we shall never die, but that, when that which men call death takes place, we shall go right on just as we do now, only under somewhat improved conditions, where does faith in Christ come in? What inducement can we have to believe in him? Cannot all see that those who hold such a theory leave Christ out of their religion entirely?

And this is just what Spiritualism actually does. It rejects Christ. There is no Spiritualist who believes in Christ as a Saviour; they regard him as a good man, and that is all. They have no room for a Saviour in their system. They repudiate Christ.

With this brief explanation all can see why we are so earnest in our teaching of conditional immortality. It is not as a mere theory which we can adopt or reject at pleasure, but a truth of vital importance. To accept the doctrines of Spiritualism is to reject Christ; and without him we can do nothing. John 15:4, 5. He is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Cor. 1:30. We can be “complete” only in him.

The Methodist truly says that Spiritualism is one of “Satan’s inventions;” it was invented by him when there were but two human beings on earth, and formulated in these words: “Thou shalt not surely die.” We shall not cease to cry out against this “modern necromancy.” We should be rejoiced if we might stand side by side with the Methodist in this fight. The Bible, and that alone, will furnish the weapons.