...multitudes who are not openly
allied with political Socialism are imbued with Socialistic principles
and are advocates of Socialistic theories.
With this great movement the Christian Church is deeply concerned;
first, because of the endeavor which many are making to identify
Socialism with Christianity; and, secondly, because, on the other
extreme, popular Socialism is suggested as a substitute for religion and
is antagonistic to Christianity; and, thirdly, because the strength
of Socialism consists largely in its protest against existing social
wrongs to which the Church is likewise opposed but which can be finally
righted only by the universal rule of Christ. ...
Some are insisting that Jesus Christ was a Socialist and that the early
Church was established on Socialistic principles. Others declare that
Socialism is merely the application of Christianity to industrial
problems, and that it is the duty of a Christian minister to preach
Socialism, and the supreme function of the Christian Church to introduce
and support Socialism as the one cure for all existing social evils.
As to Jesus Christ, it is impossible to identify Him with any social
theory or political party. His teachings are of universal application
and eternal validity; but they do not deal with the questions of
political economy....
....the movement called "Christian Socialism" should be criticized. To
say the least, the name it has adopted is unfortunate, for it implies,
whether intentionally or not, that other Socialists are not Christians,
and that other Christians should be Socialists....
"Christian Socialism" is neither
Christian nor Socialism.... It is disappointing to Christians and
irritating to Socialists. It minimizes or denies such Christian
truths as the incarnation, the virgin birth, the atonement, the
resurrection, justification by faith, the work of the Holy Spirit, the
second coming of Christ, and insofar it ceases to be true
Christianity.
On the other hand, it is not real
Socialism. Few of its adherents deny the right of private capital, or
insist upon the "collective ownership of the instruments of production."
In the effort to unite Christianity and Socialism justice is done to
neither....
II. Popular Socialism,
however, is something quite different from a scientific economic theory.
It is a social creed, offered as a substitute for religion,
promising material benefits to all mankind, and bitterly opposed to
Christianity and the Church. Much of this hatred is due to ignorance
and prejudice. Great multitudes who call themselves Socialists have
vague conceptions of the problems of political science or of the serious
difficulties involved in the establishment of a Socialistic state, but
they are vividly conscious of their hatred against existing
institutions which they hold responsible for the present social
inequalities and wrongs....
2. Popular Socialism unjustly places all capitalists under suspicion of
dishonesty and selfishness. ... Its outcries against the rich are
engendering the bitterest class hatred and arousing passions which,
unless controlled, will result in violence and anarchy and universal
disaster....
3. Popular Socialism fails to recognize that the principles of justice,
fraternity and charity, by which its leaders claim to be animated, are
Christian principles, and have been expressed by the Church as by no
other society of men. ...
4. Popular Socialism is vitally
defective in that it places the physical above the spiritual needs
of mankind. It is, as a philosophy, definitely materialistic.
It insists that better social conditions will produce better men;
III. Socialism is... a serious
protest against the social wrongs and cruelties of the age, against the
defects of the present economic system, against special privilege and
entrenched injustice, against prevalent poverty, and hunger, and
despair....
1. This protest of Socialism is a
call to the Church to proclaim more insistently the social principles of
Christ. This does not mean the adoption of a so-called "social
gospel" which discards the fundamental doctrines of Christianity
and substitutes a religion of good works; but a true Gospel of
grace is inseparable from a Gospel of good works. Christian
doctrines and Christian duties cannot be divorced. The New Testament no
more clearly defines the relation of the believer to Christ than to the
members of one's family, to his neighbors in society, and to his
fellow-citizens in the state. These social teachings of the Gospel need
a new emphasis today by those who accept the whole Gospel, and
should not be left to be interpreted and applied by those alone who deny
essential Christianity....
The Church must proclaim anew the teaching of her Lord relative to
the stewardship of wealth. ... It must be insisted that one is as
responsible for the methods by which his power and position and property
are acquired as for the way in which these are used; and that every man
must render an account to the Lord not only for his use of one-tenth of
his income, but for every fraction he selfishly retains or spends.
Christians must be reminded that an infallible test of being a child of
God is the treatment shown to one's neighbor who is in need.
3. The protest of Socialism is a distinct call to the Church to define
anew to herself her function, and to interpret anew the prophecies of
her Lord. There are many who, in the name of Christianity, have
been promising a new social order, a kingdom of God, which
they declare the Church will introduce. ...
The Church is now being held responsible for social sins and injustice,
for the wrongs and grievances of the age; and for this unfortunate
position she must largely blame herself. She has arrogated functions
which are not her own; she has made promises for which there is no
written word of Scripture. ...
More important still it is to ask
what predictions of Scripture support the assertion that the Church is
herself to introduce the kingdom of God. She is certainly to promise the
coming of that kingdom; she is even now to insist that her members shall
obey its laws, but it is impossible for her to compel unchristian men to
accept the principles of her Lord. Her supreme function is to secure, on
the part of individuals, wholehearted devotion and allegiance to Christ.
It is for her to increase as rapidly as possible her membership and to
extend in every legitimate sphere her benevolent influence; but the
real blessedness of the Church and of the world awaits the personal
return of Christ.
The hope of the world is not in
a new social order instituted by unregenerate men; not a
millennium made by man; not a commonwealth of humanity organized as
a Socialistic state; but a kingdom established by Christ which will
fill the earth with glory at the coming of the King.
The above excerpts is from a
treasured
1909
book titled
The
Fundamentals A Testimony to the Truth
Edited by R. A. Torrey,
who wrote:
"In 1909 God
moved two Christian laymen to set aside a large
sum of money for issuing twelve volumes that
would set forth the fundamentals of the
Christian faith, and which were to be sent free
to ministers of the gospel, missionaries, Sunday
School superintendents, and others engaged in
aggressive Christian work throughout the English
speaking world.
Web Version:
Shaun Aisbitt
at
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6528/fund71.htm
See these excerpts from A. W.
Tozer's wonderful studies:
The
Old Cross and The New |
Key
to the Deeper Life
Root of the Righteous