REMEDIES THAT CAN NOT CURE.
By Charles M. Snow
At the same time that religious bodies are exercised over the small attendance at churches, the proprietors of some religious journals are exercised over a falling off in the number of their subscribers, and many are declaring that the fate of the religious weekly is sealed. The one asks, "How can we get the masses to church?" the other, "How shall I prevent a decrease in my subscription list?" The one is answered, "Give them a larger, more liberal gospel," and the other, "Incorporate broader ideals." In deference to these replies, many a pastor is trying to teach a "more liberal gospel," and in the attempt aggravates the malady. He deserts the Christ of the record for a "larger Christ," and in so doing spreads infidelity and empty pews where he was commissioned to "preach the Word" and save souls. He attempts through human philosophies to win recruits for the cause of God. The attempt is foredoomed to failure. God can not sanction human inventions in His great complete plan of salvation. Man must keep his hands off the ark. There is no such thing as a "larger Christ." There is only the Christ who died for men, and is now seated at the right hand of God, making intercession for us. The Christ of Bethlehem, Nazareth, Gethsemane, and Calvary is the Christ whose life and death must save mankind. If a "larger Christ" than He is needed, there is no salvation for the race. There is no true conception of Christ except what we get from the Word itself. The philosophies of all the ages can not alter that one jot or tittle. The farther men wander from the tower of truth the deeper will they sink in the slough of error, and error can never save a soul. What is true of the "liberal preacher" is also true of the "broader" religious paper. They may discard their religious features and adopt "broader ideals," but they will be simply influencing individuals to do the same thing and to adopt the broad road that leads to destruction. When a man is lost on the desert, he does not pin his faith to a wider wandering. He seeks to get back to the way he has lost. Just so in this case. It is not broader ideals and wider wanderings that are needed, but a speedy return to the first principles of the Gospel. Deserters are not won back by one who goes with them. The truths of Christ's Gospel are sufficient for these times. If men seem more indifferent to religion now than formerly, it is because religion has been made so "broad" that many an honest man prefers to conform to the world outside of the church rather than inside. Such an effort has been made by religious teachers to abolish the law of God, that many a worldling believes it has been done. He can, therefore, see no necessity for a salvation from the results of transgression, "for where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4:15. Thus do the professed followers of Christ unconsciously nullify the effect of the work they seek to do. The true remedy is not conformity to the world, nor even to the spirit of the times; for the spirit of the times is not the Spirit of Christ. God does not change with the changing spirit of the times. He "is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever," and he who can not be reached and saved by the Gospel in its purity to-day, will never be reached and saved by any human "expansion" of it. Among many sad conditions that were to exist just prior to the second advent of Christ was the condition of the church, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 2 Tim. 3:5. That is what men do who clamor for a "larger Christ" and a "more liberal, broader gospel." They are denying the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to save men. At the same time they maintain a form of religion. The apostle says, "From such turn away." Heeding that admonition, and turning to the "only Name under heaven . . . whereby we must be saved," is the only safe course for him who would reign with Christ in the earth made new.