We chanced to open a copy of H.V.Morton’s book, “In the steps of the Master,” at random in a house where we saw it lying on a table. A remarkable statement met our eye to the effect that the Jewish rabbis were wont to say that five things were missing in the Temple rebuilt by Herod, viz.: the Ark, the Holy Fire, the Shekinah Glory, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Urim and Thummin. Ichabod, the glory is departed from Israel, was written in greater force than ever in the days when our Lord was on earth.
We asked ourselves the question, What then had they left? We could only answer our own question by saying—An empty shell, a ritual without meaning, a priesthood with the spiritual left out, a priesthood whose office was degraded to the mere serving of tables and earning a living.
A line of thought was awakened. Is there no counterpart to this today? We think there is. Does not history repeat itself? It assuredly does. We believe these five things are missing in much that passes for religion in the present day, especially modernism.
THE ARK
The Ark, shittim wood, covered with pure gold, was typical of our Lord in His two natures—His deity and manhood. A Modernist refuses the verbal inspiration of the original Scriptures. The full and logical result of this is that they have not the real Christ, who was God. In losing Him they have lost everything. Did not our Lord assert that not one jot or tittle of the law (five books of Moses) should pass till all should be fulfilled? He averred the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, and this is denied, there is certainly involved the loss of Christ Himself in such a system. Such a system becomes an empty hollow shell. It is mere hypocrisy or crass ignorance for a Modernist to claim to be a Christian.
THE HOLY FIRE
The offering of strange fire is no new thing. The sons of Aaron—Nadab and Abihu—did so over three thousand years ago. History repeats itself. The Holy Fire had to do with the burning of incense, typical of worship. Modernism strikes a blow at worship. How can there be power for worship when doctrines fundamental to Christianity are denied? There may be scholarship but no spirituality, there may be oratory, but no getting into the realised presence of God. The Holy Fire is missing. Strange fire seeks to take its toll with woeful consequences.
THE SHEKINAH GLORY
This was the cloud that filled the holy of holies in the Tabernacle and Temple, the sign of the dwelling place of God Himself. Can God give His holy presence to any system, however imposing, which refuses everything distinct and fundamental in Christianity? The question answers itself. At what a price men gain empty hollow applause for “the assured results of scholarship.”
As the Modernists make their boast it reminds us of the striking words in Psalm 74:5-7,
“A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees, but now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of Thy name to the ground.”
Modernism is destructive, not constructive. It deals in subtraction and knows nothing of real helpfulness. It robs and leaves one the poorer. It takes away the fine gold and leaves the dross. It is in short infidelity religionized—infidelity with a hypocritical veneer.
THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
How welcome was that in Old Testament times! It was the proof that God was caring for His people in spite of their wanderings and backslidings. Times might be dark. The pulse of religious life in the nation might be feeble. God did not forget His people. An Elijah, an Elisha, an Isaiah, a Zechariah, a Daniel would be raised up. The Spirit of Prophecy would rouse the people from their lethargy, and call them to reality and truth. But how can Modernism have a Spirit of Prophecy? The deterioration of modernistic missionaries is proof that modernism and the Spirit of Prophecy do not go together. Modernism hamstrings evangelistic energy. It stifles gospel zeal. Instead of seeking the salvation of the lost, modernism seeks to find out how comparative are the religions of the world. With them Christianity is one of many, granted to be superior, but yet on a level, instead of being unique, the antithesis of heathen religions. Modernism resents the followers of other religions being unsettled in their beliefs. Evangelism says their belief are virtually wrong as to the way of salvation, and they must give up heathen beliefs to embrace Christ as the only Saviour, if they are to be blessed.
The modernistic missionary loses the spiritual life and sinks down in the main to the level of a mere educationalist, one who seeks a bettterment of mankind for this life, and who seeks to carry, out his programme without even the help of the Holy Scriptures.
The writer, on board ship, met a Y.M.C.A. secretary, who openly scouted the fundamental doctrines of Christianity and to all intents and purposes was a Unitarian seeking to uplift humanity by philanthropy and education. On the same steamer was a missionary whose Bible was narrowed down to the Sermon on the Mount, and that without its King. He accepted the precepts but ignored the King, for he said nothing of the sacrificial work on the cross; for was not the superscription on the cross, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Yet another lady missionary lay on her deck chair with scanty clothing and painted lips, a cigarette between her fingers.
Could God speak through lips such as these? Would there be power with such?
THE URIM AND THUMMIM
This was an arrangement in the breastplate of the High Priest by which guidance could be obtained in times of national perplexity. We are not told how the oracle worked. Urim and Thummim are two Hebrew words meaning, “Lights and Perfection.” It was typical of divine guidance. Modernism has lost this, for it has in reality flung away the Word of God which can give us the guidance we need. And further, if the Word of God is set aside, on what ground can guidance be sought? They have taken the ground from under their own feet. They have lost their Urim and Thummim.
Modernism is very subtle. It takes many forms and is exhibited in various degrees. These losses may be imminent where least expected. Our only safety lies in the knowledge of Christ, the eternal Son of God. If we have that, we know the Father, we know the absolute need of the atonement, and of faith in the One who died to satisfy the claims of divine righteousness and set God free to express His love to sinful men. For this we must have a reliable revelation, and this we have, thank God, in the Holy Scriptures, verbally inspired in all the sixty-six books. Inspiration binds them into one revelation of God, and of His will and mind for us. May the Lord preserve His own in these days of apostasy.