Away from the Bible by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 8, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 10.

Away from the Bible

By Editor

We are glad to note the orthodox stand which some of the Baptist journals are taking regarding the present drift in theological matters. Some weeks ago the Baptist "Examiner" of New York, according to "Current Literature," said:

"There is unmistakable evidence of a trend toward a denial of the divinity of our Lord; toward the doctrine of universal salvation, and repudiation of the atonement of the cross, and a conception of the kingdom of God as a society not of men and women redeemed by the blood of Christ, but of all respectable, well-behaved people, whether they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ or not. Such ideas as these are being proclaimed from our pulpits and professorial chairs with constantly increasing boldness, and they are having their effect. Our own is not the only denomination infected by them. They are in the air, and are regarded by many as necessary expression of the spirit of the age. Multitudes of Baptists are mourning to-day over the assaults of their own leaders upon the integrity of the Bible, to which they are compelled to listen, and over the attempts to subvert the ordinances of Christ in the name of the pseudo liberality. Will they always be content to mourn? The orthodox Congregationalists

were once compelled to withdraw from associating with aggressive Unitarianism of the time. It may, alas, it may be that orthodox Baptists will find themselves reluctantly forced to take a similar step."

This editorial of the "Examiner" has aroused a perfect storm of protest. Among others Dr. Aked, Mr. Rockefeller's pastor, whose liberal views are quite well known, demanded proof of the "Examiner's" charges. Speaking of the "Examiner's" remark on the atonement, he calls it "your theory of the atonement." He further says: "There may be such a trend. For all I know, I may be in it myself, for I have not fully learned what your theory of the atonement is." To this, the "Examiner" replies:

"As to a theory of the atonement, we have none. We simply and in full faith accept the clear, easily understood declarations of the New Testament, and humbly make them our creed. All the shuffling argumentation in the world can not change their plain meaning. The trouble has been and is that men construct theories instead of believing that which is written. Now it would overtax the ingenuity of a Philadelphia lawyer to reconcile some theories we have heard from the pulpit and read in books, with the plain statement of the New Testament. It is not a question between my 'doxy' and your 'doxy,' but between any 'doxy' and the inspired declarations."

And the "Examiner" speaks truly. Men are setting up their own standards, own theories, own devices, own dreams, against the Word of the living God. Very a propos are the words of the prophet: "The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? saith Jehovah."