Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 20
September 12, 1968
NUMBER 19, PAGE 1-3a

The Foment In America

Jere E. Frost

What is wrong? Crime has spread from the gutters and back alleys to cover the streets of America. Illegitimate births are at an all time high per capita, and more and more of our colleges and universities are permitting "dates" in dormitory rooms add Duke University to the growing list. Everybody, it seems, is trying to get his own way and gain his point by a sit-in, walk-out, strike, protest or some sort of demonstration calculated to disrupt normal processes, and that includes the whole spectrum of American society from the garbage collectors to school teachers to Roman priests (yes, the priests are trying to organize to protect their rights and correct inequities too). Of course, everybody is pouring sand into the crankcase and transmission for the ultimate good of all! The long, hot summers are "open house" for riots and civil rebellion as a tide of human corruption mobilizes even now — do you not already dread the summer and wonder where Watts, and Detroit, and Chicago, and Philadelphia, will happen next?

The all-too-pat explanation for our woes is wearing thin. The solution (we are told) is to provide (1) more money, (2)better jobs, (3) greater opportunity, (4) higher education and (5) maximum security.

But don't you believe it - don't believe a word of it! Not one of these is the solution or even essential to the solution. Nineveh's regeneration was brought about without any increase of money — or jobs — or education. And America's degeneration has accelerated with their increase. Never before have so many had so much, nor obtained it so easily, nor have there ever been so many schools, students and "PhDs" in every city and hamlet as right now. And never have we been so bad off!

In a frantic search for a solution our materialistic society has tried everything — except God. Protestant denominationalism, by its limp minimizing of doctrine and refusal to face up to the strict teachings of Jesus ("it doesn't matter what you believe so long as you are sincere" — ever hear that before?) opened the doors to the blight of the twentieth century, world Communism. This system took full advantage of Protestantism's spiritual anemia and simply applied denominationalism's own premise ("it doesn't matter what you believe") to the word of God itself, and subsequently, to the moral teachings of the Scriptures. The success of this tactic is evidenced by the purely secular activities (the social gospel) of most churches, and the corresponding moral deterioration. The extent of atheism in the pulpit is alarmingly revealed by the following poll (the Hadden survey of preachers in 1967).

Preachers (percentage) who agree:"I believe that the virgin birth of Jesus was a biological miracle:"

American Baptist ............ 56 Episcopalian.................. 56

Methodist ..................... 40 Presbyterian.................. 51

"I accept Jesus' physical resurrection as an objective historical fact in the same sense that Lincoln's physical death was a historical fact."

American Baptist ............ 67 Episcopalian.................. 70

Methodist..................... 49 Presbyterian .................. 65

"I believe in a divine judgment after death where some shall be rewarded and others punished."

American Baptist ............ 71 Episcopalian.................. 55

Methodist..................... 52 Presbyterian.................. 57

"Adam and Eve were individual historical persons."

American Baptist............ 45 Episcopalian .................. 3

Methodist ..................... 18 Presbyterian ............... 16

"Scriptures are the inspired and inerrant Word of God not only in matters of faith but also in historical, geographical and other secular matters."

American Baptist ............ 33 Episcopalian ..................5

Methodist ..................... 13 Presbyterian.................. 12

This is a small excerpt from the table that was first published in the July — August, 1967, issue of "Trans-Action. -

Two out of every three American Baptist ministers who preach every Sunday to the Baptist churches across the country, do not really believe the Bible is the Word of God! Almost ninety percent - that's nine out of every ten! — of the Methodist and Presbyterian preachers do not really believe in the Bible. And over ninety percent of the Episcopalian preachers fall into this class of unbelief! Denominationalism is now digesting a large dose of infidelity and materialism, much of it no doubt being prescribed by the Communist inspired and dominated "National Council of Churches." Though Protestantism never was a force for spiritual truth, its interests being in perpetuating traditions instead of teaching the Bible on every subject, it was an advocate of morality and a deterrent to immorality.

But you cannot ignore and deny the force of truth on "doctrine" and then insist on the supplication of truth on "morality" without its catching up with you. Either it is important to be doctrinally right or else it is not important to be morally right, for both come from the same source and are upheld by the same authority. It is either morality and the doctrine of Christ, or it is neither, for morality cannot long endure without spirituality. Denominationalism has tried it — and failed.

What is happening on the moral front now is what has been happening on the spiritual front on denominationalism for years. Men in theological robes have long pooh-poohed the plain Bible doctrine of being governed in religion by a strict adherence to the Scriptures and suavely opined that there was no such thing as religious error (which did not matter anyway, if you were sincere). Well, now the rule has been applied to morals; oh, how it is being applied! For example, ninety Episcopal priests "met recently in New York and generally agreed that the church should classify homosexual acts between consenting adults as 'morally neutral' and acknowledge that in some cases such acts may even be a good thing." (These Times, issue of March 1968.)

Denominationalism has sown to the wind, and now comes the whirlwind. The most graphic picture ever painted of the state of men, and nations, who reject God, is in Romans 1. The attitude of rejection: "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God...they did not like to retain God in their knowledge..." (Verses 21,28) The resulting conceit and egotism: "...but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (Verses 21, 22.) The inevitable moral consequences: "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie...For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change that natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet...God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers..." (Verses 6-31)

This is the harvest, and we are beginning to reap it. Some may call it the "new morality," but it is nothing but the old immorality, the product of vile and ignorant heathen philosophy (which is all even "churches" can offer when they deny and turn from the Word of God; that's what heathenism is, philosophy without God.)

Just as God's Word plainly spells out for us the prime cause (rejection of God), the horrible moral effects (gross and calloused immorality), and the final damnation of all who so live (eternal torment in hell), it tells us the solution. The Bible does not say one word about money, jobs, social legislation or secular education as the solution to any moral or spiritual problem, because they aren't! Not a one of these things produces character, nor can they be combined. God must be enthroned in the heart. And this can be accomplished only by the gospel, "the power of God unto salvation." (Romans 1:16) The Word of God, believed, respected and obeyed can produce nobility of character and purity of life for you in this world, and eternal life with Jesus our Lord in the world to come.

— 890 Hastings Street, Orlando, Florida