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Home » Publications » Free Presbyterian Magazine » 1923 » March 1923 » The Higher Criticism in the Mission Field

The Higher Criticism in the Mission Field

ONE is ready to charitably suppose that all who go out to the Mission Field are fired with a heavenly zeal, and that they are loyal followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. For a number of years, however, there have not been wanting warnings by those who knew that Satan has been busy sowing the seeds of infidelity in the Mission Field. Some months ago we called attention to a remarkable article by the Rev. Dr Griffith Thomas, in the “Princeton Theological Review,” in which he reveals a distressing state of things in the China Mission Field. The Higher Criticism and the teaching of Modernism have been accepted by a great number of missionaries, and in a pamphlet issued by Mr Watkin Roberts the same distressing state of matters is revealed in the Indian Mission Field. For some time past a keen controversy has been going on in connection with this matter in the Church Missionary Society. It has ended with those who accept the infallibility of the Bible in breaking off from the parent Society and forming a new association. This, in itself, is an encouraging sign that there are still some who will not allow money contributed for teaching the truth of the Bible to be used in the propagation of German unbelief. The condition of things in India, as made known by the above booklet, is deplorable. Here is a quotation from a preacher of the Gospel in high repute in the Indian Church—”If the other parts of India are anything like this province, the case is a very sad one. The Higher Critics seem to have occupied all the positions of prominence here. The Missionary Professors are most of them Higher Critics . . . Many of those who come out now are Higher Critics. They help to destroy our faith rather than build it up. It seems to me that what is now needed, so far as India, or at least this part of India, is concerned, is to awaken the Churches in England and Scotland to a firm and solemn resolution not to send out men and women who are not faithful to the Lord and to His Word.” Mr Roberts quotes quite a number of passages from the sermons and addresses of missionaries, and also from missionary periodicals, to show how strong a hold the modern views have. From what is known of the United Free Church at home, it is not surprising that it figures in bad company in India. The Theological Colleges and Educational Institutions are also seriously infected. Professor Peake’s Commentary, which has been described as “sodden with infidelity,” has a wide circulation, and is doing its deadly work among Indian missionaries and students. In some of the school prayers the name of Jesus is omitted, on the ground of its unsuitability to non-Christians. Yet these schools are kept up and maintained by money collected for missionary purposes. If things go on as they are going, it will soon be necessary for Christians at home to send out money to native Christians, many of whom are deeply grieved at the new teaching, to evangelise the missionaries that have gone out from England and Scotland. We are not forgetful of the deadly leaven that leavened so many of the churches at home when we call attention to what is taking place in the Mission Field, but it does come as a shock to learn that the Enemy has so successfully sown his bad seed in the Mission Field. It is his purpose to choke the good seed if he can, and it grieves one to know that he has so many active agents.

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