Ellet J. Waggoner
A well-known clergyman has drawn up in one of the Reviews a statement of the attitude, which the new pulpit must assume in order to minister to clever people of this advanced age. It is instructive to see it plainly stated, as it marks the progress of the popular movement, which is causing the old-fashioned infidel critic of the Bible a loss of his occupation.
The Old Pulpit said, “The Bible is the word of God.”
The New Pulpit says, “The word of God is in the Bible.”
The Old Pulpit said, “The Bible is an inspired history.”
The New Pulpit says, “The Bible is the history of an inspired people.”
The Old Pulpit said, “The Bible is infallibly inspired.”
The New Pulpit says, “The Bible is inspired, but not infallible.”
The Old Pulpit said, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.”
The New Pulpit adds, “I believe in the survival of the ego and the continuity of the individual in some suitable, though at present unknown, form, under some suitable, though at present unknown, conditions, and so forth.”
“When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). As the Word is the word of salvation, and as “It is written” is the one defense against the power of sin, it is not strange that Satan’s attacks have always been directed against the Word, nor that when “he knows that he has but a short time” he should specially work to undermine the Scriptures in the last days. Over against this statement of the position of the New Pulpit, let us place the apostle’s declaration in that epistle which warns against latter-day perils and conditions: —
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! … For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, … and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful” (2 Tim. 3:16 - 4:5).
(The Present Truth 11, 167 (April 25, 1895), p. 262.)