THE MISUSE OF A NAME

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 10, 1904

THE MISUSE OF A NAME.

THE influence of the name "Christian" is recognized by Antichrist, and therefore it is being utilized as a catch by various antichristian "isms." Spiritism started out as rank infidelity, but in that form its influence was too much circumscribed; the adversary of souls is especially anxious to deceive those who have been attracted by Christianity. So "Christian" Spiritualism was invented, and is doing its deadly work of deception.

At first, Socialism was an outgrowth of general opposition to organized government. It was a kind of refined anarchy, based somewhat upon the theory that it is possible to equalize property by popular force, and keep it in that condition. That, however, has been modified to the idea that a new political party, made up of the self-same factors that now constitute the old parties, but with new political aspirants at the head, would cure all the ills of the body politic. But as many people fail to see how men are changed at heart by political methods, having seen that political "reforms" result merely in more or less change in the persons who bask in the sunlight of official privilege, it is deemed necessary to vary the delusion. So we have "Christian Socialism" for a variation.

There was a time when science was supposed to overthrow the teachings of the Word of God, and therefore to undermine the doctrine of Christianity. But science itself, by continually stultifying its own conclusions, demonstrated that many "scientific" theories were only "science falsely so called." Yet this does not refute the fact that there is true science, and that true science and God's Word are in harmony. But there is a class of people to whom "science" appeals in a weaning manner, and who have also a leaning toward Christianity; but viewing the matter mainly from the standpoint of sentimentality, they are caught by the euphonious term, "Christian Science." However, the attempts to demonstrate the theories of this cult exposes the paucity of either Christian or scientific results. But it serves the purpose of a delusion.

Half a century ago it was a rare thing for a Protestant to recognize Roman Catholicism as Christianity. But to-day the most prominent among professed Protestant ministers recognize the Roman institution as a Christian denomination. Only recently the Young Men’s Christian Association of this city invited a local Catholic priest to deliver the address at one of their stated meetings, and made a great ado over the event. Would the Catholic Young Men’s Institute invite a Protestant minister to address one of its meetings? However patronizingly a Roman prelate may talk to a Y. M. C. A. meeting, or to any mixed audience on an every-day topic, Rome does not recognize Protestantism as Christianity. "Rome never changes" is a papal slogan yet. Then when Protestants ask to be taught by the Roman priesthood, when Protestants acknowledge Romanism as Christianity, surely there is a great change somewhere. But the change is not in Rome; confessedly it is not there; then where is it? Christian Romanism is another last-day delusion. Protestantism and Romanism fraternizing as boon companions is the veriest "Babylon," notwithstanding the assumption of the name "Christian;" and millions will go down to perdition through the great deception. See Rev. 14:6-8; ch. 17; and 18:1-5. Be not deceived by the name; it is the character that counts.