54 Question. What were the other reasons for the Free Presbyterians leaving the Declaratory Act Free Church?
Answer. The other reasons were (1) the infallibility of God’s Word was called into question; (2) erroneous doctrines were taught; (3) unscriptural innovations were permitted in worship; (4) Voluntary principles were avowed.[1]
55 Q. By whom was the infallibility of God’s Word denied?
A. Professors in the theological Colleges of the Free Church who entertained Higher Critical views, ministers and others, all denied the infallibility of the Word of God.
56 Q. Were all the scholars of the day in favour of these new views?
A. By no means; some of the most distinguished scholars stood in defence of God’s Word and opposed the Higher Critics.
57 Q. Give an example of blunders made by the Higher Critics.
A. The Higher Critics alleged that Moses could not have written the Books of Moses because writing was not then known, but archaeology has since shown that writing was in use long before the time of Moses.
58 Q. Did the Critics call in question the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ?
A. Yes; the Critics alleged that when Christ spoke of David being the author of the 110th Psalm, this could not be true.
59 Q. What was the response of the Critics when challenged that their principles led them to deny what the Lord Jesus affirmed?
A. The Critics, when challenged, expressed no regret and were unabashed, daringly asserting that the Lord might err on a question of the authorship of the Old Testament books.
60 Q. Can you name the scholars within the Free Church who were favourable to the new views on the Bible?
A. Professors William Robertson Smith, Marcus Dods (junior), Alexander B. Bruce, and Andrew B. Davidson were the chief among the Higher Critics in the Free Church.
61 Q. How did the Free Church deal with these Higher Critics?
A. Robertson Smith was deprived of his Chair in Aberdeen in 1881, but others continued to teach their dangerous doctrines, despite attempts by faithful men to have them disciplined.
62 Q. Did the Higher Critics in the Free Church meet with opposition?
A. Yes, initially the Critics met with opposition but gradually the opposition became weaker and weaker.
63 Q. How were the lovers of God’s Word affected by the new views about the Word of God?
A. The Lord’s people were deeply grieved at the views being entertained and taught by the Higher Critics and a few left the Free Church before 1893.
64 Q. Is it a serious thing to call in question the truthfulness of God’s Word?
A. It is most serious to question the Bible, for (1) it calls in question the truthfulness of God, who cannot lie; (2) it challenges the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ; and (3) it does grievous dishonour to the Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures.
65 Q. Did the Lord Jesus honour God’s Word?
A. Yes, Christ honoured the Word of God in remarkable ways, for example: (1) he said, ‘the Scripture cannot be broken’ (John 10:35); (2) he said, ‘Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?’ (Matt. 26:53, 54); (3) when hanging on the Cross it is recorded that Jesus, ‘knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, “I thirst” ’ (John 19:28); (4) when he rose from the dead, he made the Old Testament Scriptures the basis of his address to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus: ‘And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself ’ (Luke 24:27); (5) and, again, in addressing his disciples he says, ‘These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me’ (Luke 24:44).
66 Q. Where may we find Christ’s testimony to God’s Word set forth?
A. Christ’s own testimony to God’s Word is set forth particularly in the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
67 Q. Should all who love the Lord Jesus be concerned about the testimony given to God’s Word by the Church to which they belong?
A. Most assuredly, and we should cleave to the Church which honours God’s Word in doctrine and practice; such the Free Presbyterian Church has done in the past and by God’s grace will do in the future.[2]
[1] 9. See Question 83 for details of Voluntaryism and also Deed of Separation.
[2] See Free Presbyterian Synod Resolution on the Bible and Higher Criticism, Appendix III.1 on page 45.