Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-06-23
Something
About the New
Theology"
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~ AllAtAGN OIL inc new
EM theology" 1t is taught in
w many schools; 1t is heard from
many pulpits; it fills the pages
Of our current literature; 1t has pos
session of the minds of a large popu-
lar audience. 1t is not easy to define
the term, for the teaching is common
ly indefinite, declares a writer in the
United Presbyterian. It comes before
the people as a reformation, a re-
statement of theological doctrines, in
which the most cardinal parts of the
system of truth are either omitted or
so set forth as to destroy their vital
ity. 1t appeals to an age weary of
positive religious TRUTH that calls for
the pleasant and cheering teaching
concerning God, man and redemption.
The age seeks after new things. 1t
is materialistic age, and turns away
from the spiritual. 1t has seen old
scientific theories set aside by new
discoveries, and, applying the same
rule, it rejects the old foundations in
the world of faith and builds up a
theology which has little of God in 1t.
The new theology" very largely
eliminates the divine In our religion.
The Bible is lowered from its old
standing as the inspired and infallible
Word of God, and given a place little
above that of the books of men. The
new theology" is indefinite, but when
summed up it is positive and destruc-
tive of faith and of the solid founda-
tons of hope. 1t removes God far from
us instead o. bringing him nearer to
us as personal God, just and holy,
loving and judging men. The Saviour
is robbed of his divinity and lowered
to the plane of a wise teacher and a
good man. The atonement for sin is
rejected and salvation is an evolu-
ton. The resurrection of the dead is
relegated to the list of beautiful, but
impossible, things. All this is popu-
lar and the new theology" is making
Roadway.
Church Facing Crisis.
Under the heading, rs It a Crisis ?"
the Herald and Presbyter sounds an
alarm. Referring to numerous letters
received from widely different parts of
the church, it says: These letters in
dictate that the church is alarmed.
Error is insidious. The age is tolerant.
Ecclesiastical discipline is unpopular
People deplore looseness, but hesitate
to say so. Many of the churches have
grown rich and have drawn to them
people who regard them chiefly as So
cial centers. Many exalt culture above
piety, and popularity above sound doc
trine.
rs it crisis? We believe it is. If
the church does not stand for evan
gelical truth, it has no gospel. If it
does not preach mans sin and lost
condition and the gospel of salvation
through the merits of divine atoning
Saviour it has no mission"
The words have a wider application
than that made by the writer; the
new theology" is not restricted ty
UNCONVENTIONAL lines; it finds the gen.
eral religious condition favorable to
its development We must recognize
this fact. The Herald and Presbyter
forcibly says: 1T represents a system
of thought as far removed from the
old doctrines of a personal God, a di.
vine Saviour, vicarious atonement
and the resurrection, as the east is
from the west, and should such teach
ings prevail 1t would be, not a crisis,
but an apostasy." There is a loud call
for adherence to the old faith, and a
real demand, if men would but hear it,
for the positive doctrines of human
guilt, divine, memorable justice and re-
demption by the Son of God. Here we
must stand firm, and preach the Word
OF God in its fulness and power.