Whither the Church of England?
The year 1960 is likely to be a critical one in the history of the Church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury has made it very plain that the revision of the Prayer-Book and the 39 Articles is to be treated as a matter of “great urgency.” This means that more rapid and decisive steps will be taken to carry on with the Romanising of this once Protestant Church to the consequent detriment of religion generally, and the strengthening of Popery in Britain in particular.
The theological views of any Church invariably determine and influence its practice. This is only to be expected, as theology is the science of the “knowledge of God.” It is obvious, therefore, that the views men have of God will be the decisive factor in their doctrine, worship and practice. In this connection, an article appeared in Theology from the pen of Dr. E. L. Mascall in which he gives a survey of Anglican Theology from 1939 until 1960. He acknowledges the fact that, while Anglican theologians have displayed a great deal of learning and ability in their theological treatises, they have been invariably guilty of a certain vagueness of outline which have rendered their efforts remote and dull. The reason for this he states to be, “the common Anglican appeal to the threefold authority of Scripture, reason and history.” It may safely be added that a great deal of the trouble in the Anglican communion is due to the failure to treat Scripture as the sole authority.
Dr. Mascall mentions four outstanding points which have appeared during the years under review. The first of these is the revival of what is commonly called a concern for doctrine. This movement, which originated on the Continent, has Karl Barth as its leader and professes a great regard for the Bible. The loose views held by Barth and his followers on the inspiration and infallibility of the Scriptures make it evident, however, that its biblicalism is suspect. The influence of the movement may be seen in the Lambeth Report. It is also claimed that there is a similar movement in the Romish Church, particularly in France.
The second trend which has shown itself is the Liturgical Revival. The desire to have liturgies and to use them in the churches is widespread and lies behind much of the outcry for Prayer-book revision. The third trend is the resurrection of interest in the studies of the early fathers, “a concrete example of which has been the assembling of nearly six hundred scholars at Oxford in September 1959 for the Third International Conference on Patristic Studies.” The Anglican Church has traditionally appealed to the early fathers as the authentic interpreters of Scripture, and the present trend is far from healthy. Principal Cunningham’s assessment of the early fathers is worthy of attention. “We have seen, in surveying the writings of the fathers of the first three centuries, that they were not in general judicious or accurate interpreters of Scripture; that most of them have given interpretations of important scriptural statements which no man now receives; that many of them have erred, and have contradicted themselves and each other, in stating the doctrines of the Bible . . .” (Hist. Theol. Vol. I. p. 175). The fourth trend is the drawing closer together of the Anglicans and the Churches of Eastern Orthodoxy.
The trends contained in this last paragraph are all towards Rome, and reveal a very dangerous state of affairs in the theological stream of the Church of England. The Evangelical party will have a tremendous task in holding their own. It is a pity that the theology of the evangelicals seems to be of the Arminian type. Arminianism fought none of the battles of the Reformation and, when it appeared, it did so only as a disturber of the peace. Certain it is that the Arminian cannot be a true foe to Popery. The two theologies are too similar. Herein lies the tragedy of the Church of England and no one can tell what will happen before 1960 closes.—D.M.
A False Prophet among the Scientists.
A brilliant array of scholars congregated at the University of Chicago, says Christianity Today, for its Darwin Centennial Celebrations on November 24-28. Sir Julian Huxley, grandson of the famous British scientist, T. Huxley, predicted the disappearance of religion—a product of evolution like everything else—from off the face of the earth through “competition with other, truer, and more embracing thought organisations.” There were many rejoinders from those present who characterised such a statement as “naive” and “old-fashioned.” It was a striking fact, however, that these voices of disagreement came chiefly from religious leaders and not from scientists, who are still unwilling to part with their evolutionary theory.
The notion that men can soon dispense with religion has become rather common, and scientists are naturally impressed by the achievements of atheistical Russia. The fact remains, however, that the study of Comparative Religion shows that wherever men are they have and do practise a religion. The events of two world wars have also dealt a shattering blow to the notion that the human race is progressing or evolving into a better state with the passage of time and the accumulation of experience. This idea is certainly “naive,” and the sooner it is relegated to the oblivion from which it should never have emerged the better for the human family. The desire to dismiss religion from the world and to leave to men the right to determine their own destinies, is just the spirit of the implacable foe of God’s glory who said to eve ” and ye shall be as gods.”
The world, and especially the West, needs none of the false prophecies of godless and graceless men, however great their intellectual prowess, but the salvation which comes through the Saviour whose name is called Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins. At the same time, it is sad to see how criminally ignorant Western leaders are of that Glorious One and the divine remedy He possesses for individuals, nations, and generations.—D.M.
A Sad Contrast.
The evils of the tourist trade in ruining places where the gospel once flourished are evident in more places than the Scottish Highlands, as the following extract from Christianity Today shows:—”What a glorious ornament of the Christian religion is such a purity of morals,” wrote Dr. Valentine Andreae, who visited Geneva nearly 50 years after Calvin’s death. “All cursing and swearing, gambling, luxury, strife, hatred, fraud etc. are forbidden,” the Lutheran leader said, “while greater sins are hardly heard of.” Last month (November 1959), Protestants and Roman Catholics joined in urging the Geneva cantonal government to ban striptease shows from the city’s night clubs in order to “safe-guard public morality.” Geneva is the only place in Switzerland where striptease is permitted. It has become a flourishing adjunct of the tourist trade.—D.M.