The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-02-23
(Second Paper)
THE BIBLE VERSUS INFIDELITY
AND MODERN CRITICISM.
The Great Battle Between Truth And
Error.
(By John IIarcus.)

There was a time when the So-calleC
higher criticism" was not in exist
ence and when bald infdelity and
atheism was the order of the day; but
since the protesting church has in the
main become an apostate body, in
fidelity has largely assumed another
form and is commonly known as de
structive Criticism" or "The Higher
Criticism" SO that now the most cum
ningly-devised of all Satan's attacks
on the Bible is to be found right in
the bosom of the protesting church.
To the careful student Of the Word of
God, however, this is not surprise,
for there is much in the Scriptures,
prophetically speaking, that makes
this as plain as any doctrine taught
in it's sacred pages. In Paul's epistle
to Timothy, his first letter, it is plainly
stated in the fourth chapter and from
the first to bird verses, that The
Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from
the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, (or demons) and doctrines of
devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their conscience scared with
hot iron; forbidding to marry, and
commanding to obstain from meats;
which God hath created to be received
from thanksgiving of them which be-
lieve and know the truth" And the
End Epistle, commencing at the first
verse, and ending with the 4th verse,
you will find this emphasized: Il
charge thee therefore before God, and
the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall Judge
the quick and the dead at His appear
ing and His kingdom; preach the
Word; be instant in season, out of sea-
son; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
%long-suffering and doctrine. For the
time will come when THEY WILL
NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE;
RUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS
SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEM
SELVES TEACHERS, HAVING ITCH
ING EARS" The capitals are ours.
1t is merely desired to emphasize that
portion of truth with which we are
now concerned. Let my reader now
turn to End Thessalonians, End chap
) ter, commencing at the first verse, and
the same prophetic thought is advanc-
ed: Now we beeseech you, brethren,
by the coming of our Lord JESUS
Christ, and by our gathering together
unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken
in mind, or be troubled, neither by
spirit, nor by word nor by letter as
from us, as that the day of Christ is
at hand Let no man deceive you by
any means: for that day shall not
come. EXCEPT THERE COME A
1AFALLING AWAY FIRST, and that
MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, THE
SON OF PERDITION; Who opposeth
and exalteth himself above all that is
l called God, or that is worshipped; so
that he as God sitteth in the temple
/. of God, showing himself that he is
4 Cod" And SO on. This is not the fall
ing away of the world, for that is al
ready fallen; but has distinct and pos
five reference to the processing church
i And here is the crux of the whole stu
alton Were Christian ministers to
see this, and then preach it, there
he less unbelief manifest among
protesting Christians, and no doubt
there would be fewer infidels. But SO
long as they are teaching that the
world is growing better and better,
lust so long will the Scriptures appear
to an intelligent hearer as contradic-
tory.
Post-Millenialism is making intidels;
that is our serious and settled convic-
tion. The doctrines of Pre-Millenian-
3ism would strengthen the faith of be-
levers and close the mouths of blatant
5infidels.
M However, there is a great conflict
now in progress, and many of the
ablest students of the Bible think that
1T is the last great decisive battle of
the ages. The criticism of the Sacred
Word is growing bolder in its assaults
llpon it, and now asserts. with all self
assurance, that it is merely human
production, not whit more inspired
than Shakespeare or Homer, and that
) men should be governed by reason.
The infidel Renan once said that
Treason is capable of judging all
sssiings, but is itself judged by moth
Ing." That is false dictum, and will
not bear honest criticism, for it is an
empty definition when once its char
sscter is really noticed. One has said:
EeGod has given reason to man, SO that,
in his customary way of planting and
building, buying and selling, he may
make practical use of created nature
sz-asSwhich he is surrounded. But is
Neason, even as respects matters of
khis life. in accord with itself? BY no