The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-06
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
EXPRESSIONS FROM VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.


RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.
The Religious Thought of the Day
as Expressed in the Sec
tartan Press.
''The fact seems TO be-" saws the
| Living Church" Up. E) of Chicago,
that new doctrine of the divine Fa-
therhood has been devised and is now
being widely preached outside the
church, and to some extent within its
| boundaries. According to this teach
ing, that kind of Fatherhood which, &C
cording to the Scriptures, has been
brought about through the incarnation,
really existed from the beginning of the
creation of man on the earth. Man, in
virtue of his creation, is spoken of as
participating in the Divine Nature, and
| is thus a son of God through organic
relation with Him. This carries with
| it a new view CT the incarnation of our
Lord, which deprives it of its unique
character. Hence, also. that question
| ing of the supernatural birth, Of which
we have ali heard something. There
are other consequences of this doctrine
which also tend to subvert the funda
mental assumptions of the Christian re-
| ligion. 1t becomes difficult 20 under
stand how sin can be the dreadful thing
we have believed it to be. if men are,
| by their very birth into this world. par
takers nf Dix-ipa Nature SharArS
| in the Divine Essence. But take away
the conviction OF the exceeding sinful
ness of sin. and the necessity for the
great stoning sacrifice by which the
Lamb of God taketh away the sins Of
the world. comes 20 an end also. In
fact, it is hard to say what portion Of
the Christian faith Will not be radically
| transformed, if this new teaching be
admitted. 1t is no wonder that the re-
suit of all this is called by its own advo-
Gates the new theology 1t certainly
has little resemblance to the old faith
which has, through SO many ages, been
held as the faith once delivered to the
saints
I'm the tumultuous period Of the Re-
formation. all who protested for any
reason whatsoever against the corrupt
doctrines, the evil practices, or the enor-
nous usurpations of the See of Rome,
were called Professionals says the
Church Standard (P. Ed of Philadel-
phia, land even the Church of Eng
land has been so described in acts OF
Parliament. But the name was never
adopted by the church, nor by any part
of the church. until a convention of
churchmen in Maryland, at the time of
the American Revolution, chose to de-
scribe itself as a convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. the form
err adjective being used to correct a
prevalent opinion that the doctrine If
the church differs but little from Ro-
manism, and the latter to describe that
feature in her system Of government,
in which she chiefly differs from the
Protestant denominations in this coun-
try. The adoption of the name was
natural enough; we do not pretend TO
think that it was either wise or fortu-
nate. Historically and etymologically
the word reeks of controversy, and
breathes the spirit of division If the
church were at bottom Protestant she
would be essentially schismatic. At
bottom our church is Catholic, holding
the Catholic faith. maintaining the
Catholic order. celebrating Catholic
rites. conceding Catholic privileges to
all Catholic Christians, and not only
permitting, but imperatively requiring
her members and her ministers to hold
and teach and do whatever the Cath
olic Church requires
Professionalism, the world over. is in
state of flux and change" says the
Christian Register" CUnit) of Bos-
ton. Its theological system is like a
huge castle wall. undermined by run
ming waters. The watchmen point
complacently to the massive masonry,
while yet a solemn voice is declaring,
There shall not be one stone left upon
another. Meanwhile the process of
reconstruction goes forward with vigor,
and the reconciliation of reason and
faith is slowly accomplishing itself in
every seminary parsonage and Bible
class, s we'll as among the more intel
ligent laity. The creeds of Augsburg
Geneva, bort and Westminster are no
longer objects of attack or defense:
they are grass-grown earthworks, on
which old and broken gun-carriages
thought of God with the union of the
divine and human, as illustrated in
Jesus for mankind, is working widely
and nightly to subdue all things to
itself. 1t would be a mistake to judge
the present. religious situation by surface
facts and external activities. There are
powerful undercurrents, felt alike in
church and State, reporting their ten
denotes in social agitations and aspira-
lions, in literature. art and science,
which indicate broad sweep of mod
ern life away from materalism towards
a richer spirituality"
Every one admits" says the Chris
tan Advocate" (Meth) Of Nashville,
that the churches are at present in a
transition condition SO far as theology
is concerned. The old faith has large
~ departed as to form. and the new
faith has not yet been grasped by the
people. This is state of things which
has its drawback and difficulties.
While the theological establishments of
recent years have touched the form
rather than the kernel of evangelical
truth, the sense of change in the air
not infrequently detracts from the Sc
rene authority and blessed dogmatism
which should clothe the messenger OF
the Gospel of Gods peace. The preacher
is apt to be mediator or an apoogist
where he ought to be a herald. pro-
claiming with unfaltering voice the
message of high heaven The emphasis
is subtiy changed from the salvation of
souls TO the salvation of the truth,