MATERIALISM by B. F. Robbins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 19, 1860

MATERIALISM.

By B. F. Robbins

THERE is scarcely a subject in the range of Bible investigation more unpopular, and which excites more opposition in the professed Christian world, than the subject at the head of this article. It is called infidelity and atheism, while its believers are looked upon with suspicion and contempt. A minister of my acquaintance who a few months ago was favorable and publicly committed himself to the Scripture view of death and consequent unconsciousness, retracted upon the ground that such doctrines avowed most of course lead to materialism. This we of course admit, and the other conclusion which he also avowed we admit, that materialism is opposed and subversive of the faith of the professed Christian world, because that faith is based upon immateriality or nothing.

But what is the popular faith on this subject? I would answer in the language of Dr. Chalmers. "The common idea of paradise is that of a lofty aerial region, where the inmates float in ether, or are mysteriously suspended upon nothing, where all the warm and sensible accompaniments which give such an expression of strength and life and coloring to our present world are attenuated into a sort of spiritual element that is meager and imperceptible and utterly uninviting to the eye of mortals here, where every vestige of materialism is done away, and nothing left but certain unearthly scenes that have no power of allurement, and certain unearthly ecstasies with which it is impossible to sympathise.

"The holders of this imagination forget all the while that really there is no essential connection between materialism and sin; that the world which we now inhabit had all the amplitude and solidity of its present materialism before sin entered into it; that God so far on that account from looking slightly upon it after it had received the last touch of his creating hand, reviewed the earth and all the green herbage, with the living creatures and the man whom he had raised in dominion over them, and he saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was all very good.

"They forget all the while that on the birth of materialism, when it stood out in the freshness of those glories which the great Architect of nature had impressed upon it, that then the 'morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.'

"They forget the appeals that are made everywhere in the Bible to this material workmanship, and how from the face of these visible heavens, and the garniture of this earth upon which we tread, the greatness and goodness of God are reflected on the view of his worshipers.

"No, the object of the administration we are under, is to extirpate sin, but not to sweep away materialism; the fires of the last day may melt its solid elements until they are utterly dissolved, but out of the ruins of this second chaos another earth will arise a new materialism in beauty and magnificence a 'new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.'

But a Bible view of this subject makes it plain and clear; for a Bible faith is founded upon glorious realities, and not upon material shadows.

Heb. xi, 1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Here true faith is fixed upon things, upon things substantial; and hope looks for a substance, and not immateriality. This is evident when we consider the object of faith and hope as mentioned by Paul in this chapter; for by faith Enoch and Noah and Abraham with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise, 'looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God,' the same city which Isaiah prophesied of in the lxvth chapter, and that John saw and described in its literal, material glories, as coming down from God out of heaven. Paul says also in Heb. xi, 14-16, "For they that say such things (that they are pilgrims and strangers) declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out they might have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." Here the faith of the ancient worthies, the model faith for all believers, fixed itself upon realities; and hope looked for a country and a city, implying materialism.

But another evidence that materialism enters into the faith and hope of the true believer, is the promise of 'new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.' The promise is in Isaiah lxv, 19, &c., "For behold I create new heavens and a new earth," &c. The new earth in this promise is the country looked for by Paul's worthies, and is material; because in verse 21 it says, "And they shall build houses and inhabit them, they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them," &c.

I know that the popular faith objects to this prophecy as descriptive of the world to come; but the application of the promise by the apostle settles the question to my mind, and I leave the controversy between them and the apostle. He says, after affirming the dissolution of the heavens and the earth which are now, "Nevertheless we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter iii, 13. John says, "I saw a new heavens and a new earth," &c. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them," &c. Rev. xxi, 1-5. "And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it." Rev. xxii, 3. Here materialism is honored and glorified to become the dwelling place of the glorious God, and the seat of his regal authority and power.

Again; materialism is an essential element in the faith and hope of the true believer in regard to the resurrection from the dead. Says Chalmers, "The resurrection will purify our materialism from the taint of corruption inherited from the first Adam, and which is now spread abroad over the whole human family. The old fabric must be taken down and reared anew, and that not of other materials, but of its own materials only delivered of all impurity. It is thus that what is 'sown in weakness is raised in power.' 'It is sown in corruption (or of corruptible material), it is raised in incorruption (or incorruptible material).' Mark, it is the same; 'It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.' 'For this corruptible (what! this materiality?) must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Then will be brought to pass the saying which is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.'" Here then the evidence is conclusive. This corruptible materiality is to be incorruptible or immortal, and the children born in the resurrection are to possess form, tangibility and identity.

But there is a crowning glory to materialism overlooked by our opponents, and denied by many of them; Jesus Christ is in possession of materiality; for "he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham." He was in the world in the palpable form and structure of a man, and took with him that same form to the place which he now occupies at the right hand of the Father. That very human form marked by the nails upon the cross, and wherewith he ate and drank with his disciples, now wields the whole power both in heaven and earth, and before the glorified humanity or materiality of Jesus every knee must bow, and every tongue confess to the glory of God the Father.

Yes, and that humanity, that embodied and substantial humanity, will be the center of universal praise and adoration from all creatures, for ever and ever. Amen.

Now we ask, Does this look like the abolition of materialism after the present system of it is destroyed? Does it not rather prove that in the world to come it will be preferred to celestial honors, and prolonged in immortality to all eternity?

Now to me, the charges against us by our opponents so tenaciously urged and repeated, of infidelity and atheism, come from them with an ill grace, to say the least; for certainly the light from the word of God repels these imputations from us, while they recoil upon them. Honestly do I believe that the doctrine of immateriality as taught by them, and which has become so popular in the professed Christian world, to be subversive of the whole Christian faith as taught in the word of God; because their views are not even professedly based upon a literal interpretation of that word, but upon a mystical or spiritual interpretation, and thus their views become a mere conjecture, things of mere fancy and imagination without any foundation for faith, or sure ground for hope.

Cheerfully then will we patiently submit to the imputations and scorn of our opponents. They now have the power, and their influence may affix the brand of infidelity in the estimation of the unthinking multitude upon us; but our faith is the same as that of the ancient worthies which was approved and honored by the Spirit of inspiration, and will finally be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Amen.

B. F. ROBBINS.

Friendship, N. Y.