| Highlights of Dawn | February 1962 |
“The Second Reformation”
“IT WAS,” the weekly news magazine, TIME observed, “the greatest gathering of Christians since the 16th century, when the Council of Trent worked for 18 years to counter the Protestant Reformation.” This was an appraisal of the third general assembly of The World Council of Churches which was held in New Delhi, India, November 19 to December 6, 1961, and referred to as part of what has been called “the second Reformation.” There met at this conference 577 delegates, representing 197 churches, having a total membership of 300,000,000, distributed in 90 countries and territories. TIME further observed:
“The first Reformation, in the 16th century, caused the break-up of a church so encrusted with corruption that it had lost much of its power to transmit the power and the glory of God to man. Into this glittering desert of faith the reformers threw their prophetic insights to have them seized and shared like bread among the starving; and the counter reformers on the Roman Catholic side pruned back their corrupt and dying tree of faith to a new life.
“In the time of the second Reformation, it is the scandalous disunity among Christians that has alienated men and cheapened the church. And in response to this the scattered forces of the Christian faith are realigning and regrouping to make this the Ecumenical Century. The church, sharded by centuries of suspicion and prideful rivalry and man’s inhumanity to man, is newly mindful of Christ’s command ‘that they all may be one.’”—John 17:21
The reference to the 20th century as the Ecumenical Century is believed to be justified by the many world-wide moves that have been made, and continue to be made, to bring about a better spirit of understanding and unity among professed Christians, both Protestant and Catholic. The Greek Catholics, Russian Orthodox Catholics, and even Roman Catholics under the present leadership of Pope John, are showing interest in the world-wide desire of professed Christians to understand each other better, and work together more effectively. But TIME minces no words in pointing out the real motivation of this desire for unity. We quote:
“This new Christian cohesiveness is no sudden upsurge of agape [love] in the hearts of men. As old enemies huddle together for warmth and protection in a raging storm, so the once proud and self-sufficient churches are being driven together by cold and whistling winds in a turbulent world.”
Seemingly church leaders the world over are recognizing that they are losing contact with the people, and that one of the reasons for this might well be what TIME refers to as the “scandalous disunity” which exists among them. Besides, many of these leaders have long since ceased to argue over the issues which originally divided them. Since to an increasing extent the churches are becoming just respectable social clubs, why shouldn’t they work together for the common good! Analyzing further why church leaders recognize the need for something to be done to strengthen their position, TIME observes:
“In Europe the state churches—both Protestant and Catholic—that once were part of the fiber of society, stand cold with empty pews, and silent with declining vocations. Even the once touted, now tapering off, religious revival in the postwar U.S. turns out—especially in the eyes of theologians—to have been largely a specialized boom in suburban churches, which folks joined to meet other folks and get into the community swim, and which served up a kind of Christianity as bland and homogenized as if it came out of a suburban kitchen blender. All too often ‘the hungry sheep look up, and are not fed’ anything more Christian than a discussion group or a softball team or an every-member canvass.”
Outside Pressures
THE spirit of disunity, and the lack of vision and spiritual vitality within the nominal churches, left them quite unprepared to cope with the growing oppositions from without. The spread of the Marxist ideology of atheism and the near-worship of science as a god, are among the influences which have greatly weakened the position of the churches in the eyes of an unbelieving world.
The stigma that has been attached to professed Christianity that it is a “white man’s religion” has helped to open the doors for the spread of Hinduism, Buddhism, and other non-Christian religions. The fact that these and other pressures against the churches have resulted in a constant diminishing of total membership as compared with the increasing world population, has also helped to prepare the ecumenical soil in which it is hoped the seeds of world unity may take root and grow.
The fastest growing blocks in the World Council of Churches are those representing the African and Asian mission churches. It seems that at New Delhi these spoke out strongly against the disunity of the home churches which mothered them. Speakers for these groups urged the need to be permitted to adapt churchianity to the circumstances and customs with which they were surrounded in the “heathen” countries. This adaptation is called syncretism, which means, “the reconciliation or union of conflicting beliefs, especially religious beliefs, or a movement or effort intending such.”
Observed TIME, “Christians are old hands at this kind of syncretism; the Christmas celebration is an absorption of the Roman festival of the Saturnalia.” And this points up perhaps, as well as anything that happened at New Delhi, that the hoped-for world-wide unity of the churches is not visualized as being based upon a clarified understanding of the Bible, the textbook of Christianity, but upon compromises so radical that should the actual “union” of the world’s churches be accomplished, the ecumenical church would have little or no resemblance to Christianity:
Dr. Joseph Sittler, Lutheran, and professor of theology at the University of Chicago Divinity School, remarked before leaving for the New Delhi Conference that “Christianity has shrunk until it has become little more than a support to our weakness, companion to our loneliness, counselor to our neuroticisms, and heavenly confirmer of our national purpose.”
No Definite Accomplishment
AS WAS true at the first conference of the World Council of Churches in Holland thirteen years ago, and at the, second in Evanston, Illinois in 1954, nothing really definite in the. way of unity was accomplished. This reminds us of an observation by The Christian Century at the conclusion of the Evanston Conference. The theme for that conference was, “Christ the Hope of the World,” and the Christian Century said:
“If four assemblies handle theological or dogmatic themes as badly as this one did, the outlook is not encouraging. Give the World Council about four more such theological or dogmatic main themes—say, the nature of biblical authority in 1961; the nature of the church in 1966, the nature of salvation in 1972, and the creedal basis of the council’s own being in 1978—and if the world itself hasn’t blown up by that time the Council almost certainly will.”
But the World Council did not continue its theological general themes, and perhaps by not doing so it hopes to keep from blowing up a little longer. President Henry Pitney Van Dusen of Manhattan’s Union Theological Seminary said of the New Delhi Conference, “We are seeing right here one of the very early events in the second great Reformation of Christendom.” And what does this reformation consist of? Largely the setting aside of all Christian doctrines in order that the denominational churches of the world might unite in one great ecumenical social club in which “believers” in every part of the world will have the privilege of mixing the practices of other religions with their pseudo-Christianity.
Such a “reformation” is in reality a purging from the churches of what little may be left of the vital teachings of the Bible. But, after all, from the standpoint of the divine plan as revealed in the Bible, this is what we should expect to see occur down here at the end of the Gospel Age. This does not represent a failure of Christianity, but a revelement of the true character of the great nominal systems to which the name of Christ has been erroneously attached. And this system, like all others in the world that are merely the products of human wisdom and intrigue, must give place to the kingdom of Christ now so near at hand.
Not a word was officially spoken at the New Delhi Conference concerning the promises of God to establish a righteous government throughout the earth, with the responsibility for its success resting upon the “shoulder” of Jesus, “The Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6,7) To whatever extent the delegates at the gathering thought of Christ’s kingdom they visualized it as being set up by man, wishfully thinking, perhaps, that the World Council would, in some way, accomplish this purely human desire.
Centuries ago the nominal church lost appreciation of the real hope of Christ’s kingdom as held out to us in the Word of God. That occurred when it united with the state, and called the combination Christ’s kingdom—Christendom. While most of the Protestant churches are now opposed to church-state governments, they all think that the only kingdom of Christ there will ever be in the earth is one that will be set up through human efforts in guiding the governments of the various nations into formulating and enforcing more righteous laws.
Thus the World Council, and lesser bodies of professed Christians, pass resolutions calling upon the governments to give heed to their wishes. At New Delhi, for example, the delegates agreed that governments must be Limited in power; political structures must allow for nonviolent changes in government; and freedom of choice and conscience must be permitted. From the human standpoint these are high ideals, but to urge the governments of the world to adopt them is not God’s way to establish Christ’s kingdom of peace and righteousness throughout the earth.
The Ecumenical Future
WILL all the denominational churches of the world, both Protestant and Catholic, ever actually unite? We do not know! We think the prophecies point out that efforts would be made along this line, as, for example, Isaiah 8:12. But so far as we know the Bible does, not reveal how, successful these efforts will be. The next general assembly of the World Council of Churches will not be for several years, and much can happen in the political world by then, possibly an all-out hydrogen bomb war. We would like to think that beyond that will be the real kingdom of Christ.
It is well to keep in mind that the motive which is urging the churches on to an outward unity is the desire to be in a stronger position to combat communism and other forces of irreligion which are so rampant throughout the earth today. Up to now communism continues to make rapid gains. Can the united churches become strong enough to stop this onrushing tide of atheism and political distortion? Or will the red menace continue sweeping over the earth? Or will both, together with other political action groups, including the governments of the Western World, all be reduced to impotency by the mass destruction of a hydrogen war?
Will the true followers of Jesus be persecuted by a united nominal church? Or, will they suffer at the hands of demonism? These are all questions to which we would like to know the answers, but evidently our Heavenly Father knows that it is best for us to continue on in his service upon the basis of faith, and in his strength meeting and bearing up under the experiences which he permits to come to us from day to day. As the line of a hymn states, “’Tis better not to know.”
Our Hope and Commission
THE important consideration for us is that by divine grace we have a sure and glorious hope, not only for ourselves, but for the distraught and confused world of mankind. That hope is based upon the promises of God, promises which have been ratified by the death and resurrection of Jesus. When Pilate Asked Jesus if he was a king, the Master’s reply was that for this cause he had come into the world. But he also explained that his kingdom was not of this world. (John 18:36,37) It was not the Father’s plan for Jesus to reform the governments and customs of this world that they might be considered his kingdom. It was not the Father’s plan for Christ to establish his kingdom by military might, as do the rulers of this world.
True, Jesus’ enemies killed him—killed the King—but this did not for a moment hinder the outworking of the divine plan as it was centered in him. Instead, it helped to accomplish a very basic feature of that plan, which was the redemption of the sin-sick and dying world in preparation for the actual restoration of the people to health and life when the due time came.
Jesus knew that crucifying him would not defeat the plan of his Heavenly Father, for he knew that it was the Father’s plan to raise him from the dead, and this is what occurred on “the third day.” Can anything interfere with a power that is able to restore the dead to life? Surely not! And this is our assurance of the ultimate accomplishment of every detail of the glorious divine plan of the ages.
The footstep followers of Jesus throughout the Gospel Age have been given the privilege of suffering and dying with him, that in due time they might live and reign with him. (II Tim. 2:11,12) Those to whom the Heavenly Father has given to know the mysteries of the kingdom are aware that to live and reign with Christ implies much more than sharing a heavenly reward with their Master. They know that it means an actual share in the spiritual rulership of his thousand-year kingdom.
These know, even as Jesus knew, that to become rulers over the nations it would be necessary for them to be raised from the dead, and the Lord has given all these that blessed assurance. These sacrificing followers of Jesus are depicted in Revelation 20:4 as those who are “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God,” and the promise to them is that they shall “live and reign with Christ a thousand years.”—Rev. 20:4,6
So, again, there is the operation of the life-giving power of the Creator in the preparation for and setting up of the messianic kingdom. Neither hydrogen bombs nor intercontinental ballistic missiles can, in any way, nor for a single moment, interfere with power like this. And it is such power that guarantees every aspect of God’s wise and loving kingdom plan. Truly we have a firm foundation for our hope, a hope in which we can rejoice amidst all the confusion and failures of the dying nominal church and the sin-corrupted world!
Witnesses
NOT only do we have this glorious kingdom hope, but it is also our privilege to tell it out among the nations, proclaiming “this Gospel of the kingdom.” (Matt. 24:14) And what an all-comprehensive message this is! It is outlined in that great commission of the Holy Spirit which was given to Jesus and to his followers, as stated in Isaiah 61:1,2—“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.”
How wonderfully “good” are the “tidings” we are privileged to proclaim to those who are sufficiently meek and teachable to receive them! It is the good tidings of redemption and salvation through Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time. (I Tim. 2:3-6) It is the good tidings of the kingdom of Christ, that glorious kingdom which is to reign until all the enemies of God, of man, and of righteousness are subdued; and even death destroyed.—I Cor. 15:25,26
What a “reformation” this will be in the experience of mankind! There will be no more war, neither fear of war. The knowledge of the true and loving God of the Bible, the Creator of the universe, will fill the earth, with peace and good will prevailing everywhere. This is the true meaning of the angel’s message of good tidings which the shepherds on the Judean hills heard more than nineteen centuries ago.—Isa. 11:9; Luke 2:10-44
Contained in the good tidings proclaimed by the angel, and which is ours to trumpet forth to the people today, is the assurance that those who have died will be restored to life. The captives of death are to be given their liberty, for the doors to the great prison in which they are bound are to be opened. (Rev. 1:18; 20:12,13) Can we think of a message that should do more to comfort the brokenhearted than this?
It is also our privilege to continue to proclaim the “acceptable year of the Lord.” This is the great truth that the Lord, through his Word, is still inviting those who have “an ear to hear” to lay down their lives in his service, and thus run for “the prize of the high calling,” “the heavenly calling.” (Phil. 3:14; Heb. 3:1) With this message goes the assurance of the Word that the sacrifices of his people are still acceptable, being made so through the merit of the shed blood of the Redeemer.
Followers of the Master are also commissioned to proclaim “the day of vengeance of our God.” This day of vengeance is the time in which we, are now living when the Lord is permitting the angry and opposing forces of fallen humanity to destroy the world over which Satan is the prince. Our message, however, is not to be a pronouncement of vengeance, but rather an explanation of “the distress of nations with perplexity” that is so universal throughout the earth.—Luke 21:25,26
This explanation inevitably is also a message of comfort for those who are mourning because of the “great tribulation” that is so widespread upon the earth. (Matt. 24:21) We can say to the fear-filled world, “Fear not,” for although this is the day of God’s vengeance, he is not vindictive toward his human creatures, but is merely preparing the way for the full establishment of Messiah’s kingdom through the agencies of which salvation from death will be extended to all who believe and obey its laws.—Isa. 35:3,4; Heb. 2:9
So we do not need to be overly concerned about the day-to-day, or year-to-year shape of things in the world, either in the field of politics or of religion. We know that all the elements of Satan’s world are destined eventually to “melt with fervent heat,” and while the opportunity remains it is our privilege to continue preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of Christ.—II Pet. 3:10,13
May we be faithful in this; faithful in telling the whole world as best we can, these blessed tidings; assuring all who are willing to listen that the long foretold time for the blessing of all the families of the earth is at hand. This bright beam of hope which shines out from the Master’s followers is the only light in the dark world of today. May we, by God’s grace, keep it shining!