Casting Out the Redeemer by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 5, 1914

Casting Out the Redeemer

By C. M. S.

IT seems paradoxical that at a time when the Word of God is being published as never before and going into countries which it has never before entered, the world itself should be preparing for just such a departure from God as that which characterized the world when ancient heathenism was at its height. But such, unfortunately, is the case.

There is a force at work in lands and among peoples where the Word of God has had freest and longest circulation that is undermining the faith of the people, dulling the edge of Christian doctrine, and parrying the direct force of the immutable law of God.

In the midst of this fierce struggle between light and darkness, God has multiplied his witnesses in the form of his printed Word. With no other force than this, the converting force of the Holy Spirit, and the living light of his faithful children, that battle will go on until the world has made its choice, "and then shall the end come."

For years this attack upon the person and work of Christ has been filtering into almost all kinds of religious literature, and was never so prominent as it is today. In gilded phrases, in lofty panegyrics, man is declared to be able to do for himself what God himself could do for him only through the death of his own Son.

Making man his own savior did not originate with Unitarianism. The germ of it was in Cain's self-invented sacrifice of the fruits of his own labor. It grew to perfection in the tower of Babel; it has been kept alive in penances and self-inflicted flagellations, which are being practiced even today in heathen and Catholic lands; and today in a new garb it parades through eloquent literature, and speaks from costly pulpits to luxurious pews into ears that flash diamonds and hear more of the jingle of gold than of the stately steppings of the true God.

There is going on in the religious press at the present time a considerable discussion over the question of whether Christians should add to their prayers such expressions as "in Jesus' name" and "for Christ's sake." The printed agitation of the matter has come up as a result of its oral discussion; and that oral discussion reveals in the general body a malignant growth of doubt along the line of Christ's intercession in our behalf before the throne of the Father. Christ's own instructions upon this point should settle the question for those who believe in Christ and his work: "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13. Again: "Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." John 15:16.

Those who look upon Christ simply as a great and good teacher must in their own hearts impeach his testimony in this matter, and accuse him of assuming a position which God the Father did not recognize. Such ones, of course, make no petitions "in his name" or "for his sake."

At the same time there is going on in heaven, in our behalf, an intercessory work, "with groanings which cannot be uttered, . . . because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Rom. 8:26, 27. And there rings out from the direct testimony of Jesus, "Without me ye can do nothing." But Jesus Christ is not even "a great teacher" if he did not teach truly concerning man's inability to save himself and man's need of an intercessor at the throne of God. The teaching to which we have referred is one of the devices of Satan to make Christ appear to be an impostor.

A work having a similar effect in discrediting Christ is that which exalts the Virgin Mary to the position of intercessor in man's behalf. This was particularly noticeable in the work of Pope Leo XIII, whose exaltation and glorification of Mary were very pronounced. Other Catholic writers have put her in a position which would almost entirely shut out Christ from the human race. Mariolatry is gaining at a rapid pace.

With Mohammedanism and the heathen world generally repudiating Christ; with the unconverted of "Christian" lands too busy to listen to the messengers of the Lord; with the great Catholic world shutting Christ away from man by putting another in his place as mediator; with the popular churches of the land repudiating the idea of the fall of man and Christ's redemptive work for the race; with many who had been loyal questioning whether they should longer pray "in his name" and "for his sake;" and with the higher critics (nominally Christians) sowing broadcast the seeds of doubt concerning the very Bible itself,—this present world seems to have about reached the place which the ancient heathen world had reached when the record states of that age, "As they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind;" when, "knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened." He who is denying Christ's work for us and his death in our behalf, is certainly not giving thanks for that work and that sacrifice.

It is a terrible accusation that such philosophers are bringing against our Lord, this denial of him and his work. To such apply with fearful distinctness these words of our Saviour: "Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven." Matt. 10:33. We can leave him out of our reckoning here; we can call his life and death a "sweet, sad story," but without worth in our salvation; nevertheless, when our name and our record come before the Judge of all the earth, the fact of our denial of Christ will be the first witness against us, and none other will be necessary. "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" He will, in a little, persecuted band; for, says the Spirit that indited the Revelation, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." But the world will have denied him, and that "evangelism

of denial" is making most rapid headway today.

In view of the conditions which exist today, and in view of what those conditions mean, the duty of every true child of God is exceedingly plain,—to talk faith, to work in faith, to work definitely for individual souls. "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing."

C. M. S.