The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-16


Christ in Modern Theology" DR.. Fair
BARN puts with his accustomed ciearness
the duty Of the religious teacher or to-
day. We quote:
EVEN less than literature and the
Church and criticism can theology re-
main unaffected by this return, as 1t were,
into His (Chrst's) very presence. we all
feel the distance placed by hfty years
of the most radical ard penetrating criti-
cal discussions between us ana the older
theology: and as the distance wldens'
the theology that then reigned gro gs less
and less credible, because less relevant 10
the living mind Does this mean that the
DAYS of definite theological beliefs are
over. or not ratl.er that the attempt ought
to be made to restate them In more living
and relevant terms? one thing seems
clear: II Christian theology means
theology OF Christ, at once concerning
him and derived from him, then II con-
strUct one ought, because OF our greater
knowledge OF him, and his history. to be
more possible to-day than at any pre-
vious moment. And If this Is clear, then
the most provisional attempt at perform
ing the possible is more dutiful than the
selfish and idle acquiescence that would
simply leave the old theology ana the
new criticism standing side by SIDE, I'M
related and unreconcied.
We do not remember even TO have seen
the duty Of the hour more clearly put.
II is a great mistake to suppose That the
prophets of new theology are mere
wanton dsturbers OF the public peace
that they delight in the processes OF de-
struction; or that they have an Athenian
appetite to hear and 10 tell some new
thing They see that for the last century
the Bible has been studied as never be-
fore: and in the Bible pre-eminentiy the
life and character Of Christ They see
the evidence OF this study In new school
OF Biblical commentaries, exegelcai ana
scientific. not controversial and dogmatic;
I'm the new versions of the Bible, espe-
cially the New Revision prepared by an
international company Of scholars; In
the new chairs of Biblical Theology es-
tablished In the great theological semi
naries on both sides Of the ocean; in the
great number of lives of Christ proceed
ing from men Of every school or Thought
and in the widespread study or the Bibie
I'm the international course OF Sunday
school lessons They believe, too that
the Church. after eighteen centuries or
study and life, ought TO be better able
10 understand the life. character ana
teachings Of Christ than ii was before
this Christian culture began; that Christs
influence counts for something; and that
the truest and best understanding OF
Christ cannot be obtained. nor the most
purely Christian theology constructed,
by going back to the Middle Ages. wren
Christian faith had as yet scarcely begun
TO disentangle itself from paganism, and
had not at all recovered from the mar
rowing and binding effects OF controversy.
And they do not propose TO be stopped IN
their study of the life OF Christ. or IN
their teaching Of the results OF that
N 90 the
Church in order 10 carry on either the
study or the teaching.
Doubtless there are n great many per-
sons who cOnfOund with Christian faith
and life the philosophy which has PARTLY
grown out Of Christian faith. and partly
been incrusted upon it; and they really
think that any disregard Of these theo-
logical outgrowths and incursions involves
a disbelief in Christianity itself. There
are Romansts who identify Rome with
Christianity. Angelicans who identify An
eelicanism with Christianity. and Puritans
who think that Christianity is no larger
than Puritanism. But there is also a
large and growing body of men who are
neither Romanists, Angeicans, nor Puri-
tans. but who would be Christians II
Christianity were represented 10 them as
the simple and mountaineering life that
II IS. The Church has no right TO dlsre-
gard the spiritual needs or these latter
lest II should hurt the feelings OF the for
mer. And the former have no right 10
in,nose their proVincalism on Christs
Church. and read out Of It's communion
all those to whom Christ is more than
the founder Of a provincial theology.
Selfish and idle acquiescence' Is easier
than original research and independent
thought: but ease is not life. and rarely
Is ease consistent with the highest life.
Thus every Church is on trial. VIII
Presbvterianism impose a selfish and IDLE
acduiescence" on its ministry, or VIII IT
welcome the honest. sincere, even IT not
always wise, endeavor 10 reconcile theol-
ogv to the larger and better knowledge
Of Christ. which is characteristic OF our
time? VIII the Episcopal Church en-
deavor to confne the grace Of God to its
own ecclesiastical channels. or, using
whatever advantages its historic order
and liturgy confer upon 1t, will II see
and welcome every sign or divine Ire
outside that history VIII the Roman
Catholic Church isolate itself. endeaVor
to forbid the intellectual growth and life
which calls itself Democracy. and en-
deavor to maintain in the nineteenth cen
tIrv the institutions and methods OF the
sixteenth century? or will it welcome
the new life. and endeavor TO guide It in
paths Of truth and righteousness? These
are all at root the same question-thls.
namely: VIII the Church be content wlth
a "selhsh and idle acquiescence" in old
forms Of thought and Danish from its
fellowship all its more courageous spir-
its? or will r. fulfill its duty Of attempting
to reconstruct its philosophy Of religion
in such a manner as to make 1t more
Chrstly in it's origin and more Christlike
in It's character and sprit2
There are three possible alternatives
before the Church Of to-day: First, 10
abandon all attempt al clear theological
thinking. and be content with an unintel-
lectual and empirical RELIGIOUS life; sec
ond. to insist on maintaining the theology
OF the past. and so endeavor 10 coniine
the life OF the present age within the |
intellectual limitations OF an age far less
equipped Intellectually in every depart
ment Of thought third. 10 exercise in |
the realm OF religious science the same !
intellectual liberty which is exercised in |
every other scientific realm. and so bring |
the religious thought OF the age into re-
lation and harmony with all its thought |
that the religious spirit may dominate |
every part OF life. The mere statement |
OF this alternative ought 10 be sufficient |
10 determine which Of the three positions |
the Church and the ministry shall accept |
and adopt.-The Christian Union.
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