Modern Spiritualism

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CAL., KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK · Nov 28, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 48.

Modern Spiritualism

One of the striking signs of the times is that movement known as "Modern Spiritualism," more properly called Spiritism. It is based on the belief of man's inherent immortality and the conscious state of the dead. We need not say to our general readers that both of these ideas are in direct contradiction to the Word of God. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die;" "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish;" "For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything. . . . Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is now perished," are all expressions of Holy Writ. In God's plan righteousness is life, and sin is death. Continuance of life means continuance in righteousness. "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." This righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone. "Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord," "even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." Those who go down in death having this righteousness will receive immortality at Christ's coming. Those who possess it when He comes, will be changed "in a moment" to immortality at the sound of the last trump. "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is not Christ risen. . . . Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." Spiritism bases its superstitions on the old falsehood, spoken by the serpent in Eden, "Ye shall not surely die; . . . ye shall be as God."

It would make of none effect God's righteousness through Christ, and lead men to depend upon themselves for salvation, an utterly baseless hope. It opens the way for Satan and his angels to come in the guise of the spirits of the dead, and delude many, as they are now doing. It takes from the glory of Christ and bestows it upon the subjects of sin, whose only hope is in Christ Jesus. Beware of its delusive teachings. Trust only in the Word.