Lehre und Wehre St. Louis, Missouri — April 1915, Seite 179

German transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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Kirchlich⸗Zeitgeschichtliches. 179

vou mean. Der A4drocate bemerkr dazu, das sei allerdings eine üble Ant⸗
wort gewesen, doch tröstet er sich so: Charity constrains one to believe
the hesitating preacher was sincere. He may have had in mind the dis-
tinction between the divinity and the deity of Jesus Christ, which needs
always to be made in these times.“ Das ist aber ein leidiger Trost; denn
hielte der betreffende Prediger fest an der Lehre von der deitvy“ des Hei⸗
landes, so härte er wohl nicht diese ausweichende Antwort gegeben, zu der
nur (rund vorlag, wenn er einem Betenninis zur Wesensgottheit (deity)
Christi aus dem Wege gehen wollte. Auf eine Art Heuchelei — der be⸗
schönigende Ausdruck »uplicité“. Zweideutigkeit, wird gebraucht „ deren
manche Prediger sich heutzutage schuldig machen, lenkt in diesem Zusammen⸗
bange der 4ααν die Aufmerksamkeit des Lesers, indem er schreibt:
When they are compelled to expose their exaet opinions, one discovers
that they ascribe about the same kind of divinity, though greater in de-
greée, to Jesus Christ Wwhich they declare belongs to all mankind. They
do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, but they know that in many
instances divinity and deity are regarded as identical by persons who do
not reason caréfullv. Es berriche überbaupt in dieser Frage d vast deal
f foggishness“, und es habe den Anschein, als ob die Lehre, die auf den
theologischen Anstalten vorgetragen wird, »hus Pproctluced a degréce of un-
certainty on this doctrine among theological students preparing for the
ministry in all denominations. From this evil our own Church is not
exempt. We hear it said that the Loung Men's Christian Association is
infected with it. We wish there were no foundation for this charge.
Knowing that many persons who call themselves thoroughly evangelical
are most unsettled in their thought of Christ's person, it is well to ask
those w'ho come to us as teachers, Can vou tell us precisely what vou
mean by the divinity of Christ?'“ Es erinnert diese Warnung an den
Fall Birkhead, der im Monat März dieses Jahres in methodistischen Kreisen
Aufsehen erregte. Birkhead war Pastor einer Methodistenkirche bei St. Louis
und legte sein Amt nieder, weil er „nicht mehr an die Gottheit Christi
glauben könne“. In seiner Erklärung gab Birkhead an, daß er in L'wion
Seminary studiert habe. Seine Resignation wurde angenommen. Ein
reformiertes Blatt macht dazu den Kommentar: „Dr. Birkhead retains
enough of bis eπυπngeheαt hHonesty, to enuse him to leave the Methodist.
pulpit when he realized that he was not in accord with the doctrines in
which he avowed his faith at the time of his ordination. If all the men
Who have ceased to believe in thé evangelical truths Fould give up their
pulpits and college and professorial chäirs, it would brine grent réelief t0
the Protestant Church, and restoré the respect of Utbeir fellou men.“ Der
Ph⁰αα²αι¹nμιια Puhlit Ledher sagte editoriell: In resigning from the min—
istry of the ethodist Episcopal Church. on the grouuil that he no longer
accepted its beliefs. Rev. L. M. Birkhend. of St. Louis. has done ools chat
honor requires. Every Church has its standards. to wbich a clergsman
usually subscribes in his gath of ordination. If sußseguent stndv and re-
lection lead him so far out of harmony with the tenets he is authorized
to represent and expound. common honéesty demands that he should ter-
minate the false relationship by withdrawal. There is still another renson.
No man — and particularly aà teacher of religion and ethies — can work
effeetively in à position that invoves à suppression ok hi- personal con-

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