A Condition and Remedy (?)
By Editor
BISHOP CHARLES D. WILLIAMS, of the Episcopal Church of Michigan, has a striking article in the American Magazine for June, entitled, "The Conflict between Religion and the Church." He tells us frankly that the church is "losing in numbers," in attendance, "losing ground" "in membership," "losing hold on the masses and classes alike," "losing influence." Referring to Ray Stannard Baker's declarations concerning the deplorable condition of the church, in his book, "The Spiritual Unrest," Bishop Williams says: "Almost every statement made by Mr. Baker may be endorsed and underscored by the sad confessions of earnest and devoted representatives of the church and of ecclesiastical conventions and assemblies." Bishop Williams tells us further that "the seers of Protestantism are admitting its practical failure;" that "historical criticism has discredited for many the Book on which Protestantism is built;" that "the Bible can no longer be accepted by any intelligent modern man as the literal and inerrant Word of God;" and so "the churches that are based upon an Infallible Book have therefore lost their authority." All this sounds great and learned and wise; but it is strongly suggestive of the boy who thought he had sailed past the north star because he had changed his direction. But Bishop Williams says more than this. He says that "the church preaches for the most part a narrow and petty round of ethics," "while the age is seeking the larger righteousness of the kingdom of God, which is 'human society organized according to the will of God.'" There is more to the same effect emphasizing "civic righteousness" and belittling "individual righteousness." He further says: "Intelligent non-Christians are constantly asking of our missionaries such questions as these: 'How is it that, in your own lands, where your Gospel of righteousness and justice and brotherly love is so largely accepted and prevails, you have such notorious commercial dishonesty, political graft, industrial oppression?'" etc., etc. The only salvation which God's Word knows, which Christianity knows, is the salvation of mankind by faith, and faith is individual. The righteous nation is made up of righteous individuals. The kingdom of God is first in the hearts of man as requisite to citizenship in the commonwealth of Christ. The setting aside of God's Book puts in its place human tradition and opinion. The setting aside of God's plan of salvation by faith puts in its place salvation by law, the germ of the Dark Ages. The organization of human society "according to the will of God" has meant the darkest period in the history of this world, and the death of millions of souls for conscience' sake. Civic righteousness, the "larger righteousness" by law, is a device by which the devil is deluding thousands to the doom of a Church-and-State régime. Let missionaries preach the Word. Let them tell the inquirers the whole world lies under the power of the wicked one, and it is as true of every soul in America or England as in China or India, "Ye must be born again."