Another Major Liberal Thrust Against Modernism
The Spiritual Sword1 takes its place in "liberal" ranks, along with First Century Christian2 and Anchor3 to fight the menace of modernism. The Spiritual Sword, edited by Thomas B. Warren, Ph.D., appears as a 44-page quarterly. The first issue dated October 1969 has as its theme, "The Gospel Versus Liberalism." It is set up to be used for classes, as well as for general reading. It is a worthy effort against the theological and classical liberalism.
Editor Warren says of The Spiritual Sword, "This journal is launched both in determined opposition to skepticism, liberalism, and relativism and in strong affirmation that the Bible is the infallibly inspired word of God and that men can learn and obey the truth."4 The articles in the first issue of The Spiritual Sword constitute a "direct counter thrust of truth" against Liberalism among "liberals." Modernists and theological Liberalism have apparently become well entrenched in the ranks of institutionalism, and there is great alarm among "liberals," who still hold appreciation for the ideals and pleas of New Testament Christianity in 20th century America. The battle is on.
Editor Warren cannot resist a little glorying in implying that the original Spiritual Sword of 1958 almost wiped out a couple of views widespread among conservative brethren. We suspect he is glorying in order to cover the circumstances surrounding the demise of the original Spiritual Sword, which did not survive for even a year. However, we hope the new Spiritual Sword will experience longevity because its aim is a worthy one. Tom Warren and The Spiritual Sword are not with us in our opposition to church support of institutions and sponsoring churches, not sharing our views, yet it seems that in the fight against modernism we should "Forbid him not.. For he that is not against us is on our part." (Mark 9: 39-40).
Tom Warren is one of those liberals whom we believe to have been unfair and perhaps unethical, in battles against the opposition to institutionalism and sponsoring church arrangements. Our motives for waging battles against these innovations included our apprehension that the centralizations which they promote offer opportunities for the corrupting of churches by modernists and theological liberals. Further, when the attitude of brethren toward Bible authority was weakened by the principles supporting institutional and sponsoring church innovations, a fertile seed bed for modernism was made. Now Warren and others who fought us, are fighting what we feared would threaten them.
But it must be noted that modernism is a threat to all of us. It makes inroads into "conservative" ranks through individuals who are exposed to it in colleges and universities. It crops out in our Sunday school discussions. A sound preacher told me recently that after explaining to his class of high school and college students what the verbal inspiration of the Bible means, nearly all in the class said they did not believe it. This, in a Sunday school class in a conservative congregation. Let us hope that this is only a remote, isolated situation.
But the problem of modernism among liberals is more enormous because their centralizations offer springboards of opportunity for designing men. Liberal brethren have been made susceptible to modernism by the weakening of their attitude toward Bible authority. We can expect considerable correction of these weaknesses in the efforts to hold back the sweep of modernism in "liberal" ranks. We can expect further, that a rebuilding of proper attitudes toward Bible authority among liberals will create in them a spirit more conducive to understanding our opposition to their church support of institutions and sponsoring church arrangements.
So this scribe is pleased by the fight against modernism carried on by Anchor, First Century Christian, and The Spiritual Sword. We applaud their efforts, and would encourage them, and would share with them in a common battle against a common foe.
Notes:
1 Sponsored and published by the Getwell Church, 1511 Get-well Road, Memphis, In.
2 Pub. by Memorial Church, Box 19263, Houston, Tx. 77024 3 Pub. by First Century Christian Pub., Inc., Box 450, Haley-Ole, Ala. 35565
4 The Spiritual Sword, op cit, pg. 2