Text Box: Publish Monthly by 
Pilgrim’s Bible Church
Timothy Fellows Pastor
VOL. XVII No. 9
NOVEMBER, 1990

 

Featured Articles

Psychology: the New Neo-Orthodoxy

A Study of Atonement, Part I

This Month in History

*George Bancroft on the Boston Sermons

*Pilgrim's anchor off of Cape Cod

*Founding of Yale College

*Founding of Dartmouth College

*Christopher Columbus and San Salvador

*U.S. adopts motto "In God We Trust

 

 

 

PSYCHOLOGY: THE NEW

NEO-ORTHODOXY

Text: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ"

"Beware!" The Holy Spirit arrests us in order to deliver a stern warning. He cautions us to beware of philosophy and vain deceit with which men would pervert our mind in order to carry us away. This, He says, is to "spoil" us.

The philosophy and vain deceit He refers to is that thinking which is prejudicial to the person and teaching of Christ. All such systems of reason war against godly religion. Such deceits are vain because they produce only pretended benefits. They are incapable of satisfying the soul of man or of elevating moral nature, yet they would strut their wisdom before the face of God, and defiantly turn men from Christ.

-A PHILOSOPHY-

Psychology is just such a philosophy for it views man as adequate to determine his own fate, and like all heathen reasonings it has no need for divine revelation. Psychology is an attempt by men to address the issue of sin, and guilt, and punishment without God, repentance or faith. Like the Neo-Orthodoxy of Karl Barth that sought to cloak unbelief under the garb of orthodoxy by fabricating a new meaning to words, so psychology has re-defined foundational words.

Psychology would politely remove drunkenness from the category of "sin" and would have us believe it is a "disease." It has done the same thing with gambling and immorality. As Neo-Orthodoxy by its re-definition of the word "virgin" to mean "a young woman" denies the doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ, so by defining "sin" as a "disease" Psychology denies the reality of sin: and therefore it disavows the need for salvation.

The diabolical nature of Psychology is further evidenced when it denies the reality of guilt and defines it as a neurological disorder; and suggests that "guilt" should be dealt with by shedding our inhibitions... something which Scripture calls "hardening the heart."

Psychology forbids the doctrine of punishment and interposes its own vocabulary like "rehabilitation" and "correction." God declares "The rod and reproof give wisdom" and "He that spareth the rod hateth his son." (Prov. 29: 15; 13:24) When Psychologists tell us that in dealing with children we should not remove even their privileges when they are disobedient, it becomes apparent that Psychology’s argument is with God.

The insidious nature of Psychology is never more apparent than in its condemnation of God-ordained authority. When a child has never been taught to respect the authority of his parents, it should not amaze us that he has no respect for others.

-A Spoiled Child-

In the case of an incorrigible child, Psychologists blame the teacher while prohibiting corporal punishment. They will then recommend that the parents take the child to a Psychiatrist for a psychological

evaluation. Very often the Psychiatrist will suggest the child’s behavior may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain and will prescribe a drug to alter the child’s behavior. This is the result of steering around the Biblical use of the rod.

Teachers in New York City can attend a seminar that teaches 80 ways to maintain discipline in the classroom without resorting to the use of Biblical discipline. However, it has only been in our generation that teachers have had to fear for their lives in the classroom. Psychology is as great a failure as any other heathen philosophy.

God committed complete authority to parents to discipline their children. In Israel in the case of a stubborn and rebellious son, the

Law of Moses permitted parents to deliver up the child for death by stoning. (Deut. 21:18-21)

-A RELIGION-

Psychology has become the religion of the state. According to its creed, man is God: the existence of the Creator is denied. Yet, Psychology enjoys the protection of both the state and Federal courts-the same courts that only a generation ago valued the wisdom of godly pastors. In some courts it has become common place for law-breakers to be turned over to Psychologists or to Psychiatrists for evaluation, and "not competent to stand trial" has become a defense for lawbreakers of every description. Many others are recommended for group therapy.

-A Spoiled Society-

Our society is madly in love with support groups. We have Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous and hundreds more. Yet none can offer people the hope of a cure. Hope can only be found in God, and these organizations are built upon the religion of Psychology and not upon godly religion. The failure of every heathen system is its inability to satisfy the soul or to elevate moral nature. Psychology can boast of pretended accomplishments, but it is as great a failure as any other false religion.

In order for the new religion of humanism to convert society, it first had to gain respectability in our courts, but if it was to convert society, it had to convert our system of education. It accomplished this by re-educating our children’s teachers. The method used to encourage teachers to be re-educated was the hue and cry of "continuing education." It is little wonder that when most teachers in our Christian schools have been educated in government schools, or at least have turned to them for "extra credits", that inroads were made for Psychology to gain respectability in the churches. Long ago David warned, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly..." (Psalm 1:1)

God is not the Author of confusion yet the strength of every diabolical system lies in its ability to obfuscate knowledge. Jesus delivered a stinging rebuke to lawyers because they took away the key of knowledge. (Lk. 11:52) In similar fashion, Psychologists would have us believe common men are not capable of understanding and so require their assistance. They will serve as our priests to mediate knowledge for us. It is a kindness of God, however, that He has made knowledge available to all even the knowledge of salvation. This knowledge, which even the angels desire to look into, is understood most often by common men, since they are the people God most often calls. (I Cor. 1:26-29)

-A Spoiled Church-

The question will be asked, "But what about Christian Psychology?

Cannot Psychology be Christianized?" Job asks, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" and then he responds, "Not one." (Job 14:4) Psychology is an atheistic attempt by humanists to supplant godly religion; and it is easier for Emperor Phocas to turn the Pantheon into a Christian church than to Christianize a heathen philosophy. So-called Christian Psychology like Christian Socialism or Theistic Evolution is absurd; and its popularity only reveals how eager the church in this generation is to be rid of God!

In this century, the Church has been seduced by Rock ’n’ Roll music, by the Women’s liberation Movement, by the pretended scholarship first of Neo-Orthodoxy, and now of Psychology. The Church has replaced the teachings of the Word of God with Psychology, preaching with counseling and Holy Spirit conviction with psychoanalysis. The church that today has no counseling ministry is considered to be behind the times, yet it was not until this generation that counseling was considered a part of the ministry. It had no part in the Church from the days of the apostles until our own generation.

The gravity of the Church’s condition can be seen by the fact that the use of Psychology involves a change in philosophy, and therefore a change in vocabulary, and therefore a change in orthodoxy.

Many strong men have been slain by the harlot known as PSYCHOLOGY. Her house is the way to Hell.

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A STUDY OF THE ATONEMENT--

Part One

"Brother Fellows, I still have some difficulty with limited atonement.

Please answer the following remarks from Finney’s Heart of Truth, p. 228."

Dear D__________________, thank you for the inquiry regarding particular redemption, or limited atonement. Before addressing the several statements advanced by Finney, consider two things. First, consider the fact that if one sinner goes to Hell for whom Christ died, Jesus is a failure: He was unable to do what He wanted to do; and He did not know how to save him. It amounts to a denial of the facts that

God is Almighty and All-Wise.

Second, consider as well that behind the inability of men to accept the doctrine of limited atonement is the arrogant conceit of men to presume to judge the fairness of God. Jesus asked, "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good?" (Matt. 20:15) And Paul asked, "Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" (Rom. 9:21) (Romans chapter is the most hated and therefore the most twisted chapter in the Bible.) Now to address the statements as you give them.

8. That it (the atonement) was made for all mankind is evident from the fact that it is offered to all indiscriminately.

There is a call in eternity as well as in time. In eternity the call of God is called "election" or simply "choosing", but in time, the call of God may be a general call or a particular call. Preaching the Gospel makes the call of God in time.

Whenever the Gospel is preached, a general call is given; but when the Holy Spirit "convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment" applying the truth of God to the sinner, it is a specific or a particular call. The general call brings the Gospel to bear on no one, but only serves to bring men to judgment. The specific or particular call is designed to bring salvation to God’s elect. This is the reason the angel told Joseph, "Thou shall call His name ‘Jesus’ for

He shall save (not, "try to save") His people from their sins." (Matt 1:21) So Luke says, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save (not, "try to save") that which was lost."

Jesus prayed, "I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them me; and they have kept Thy word.... I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given me, for they are Thine." (Jn: 17:6,9) Have I taken this out of context? Then I am dishonest and a deceiver.

THE TWO EDGED-SWORD: The purpose of preaching is not only to save: it is also to bring this world to judgment. This is the reason the apostle says, "Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savor of HIS knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish: To the one we are the savor of death unto death, and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ." (II Cor. 2:14-17) -TO BE CONTINUED

NOVEMBER

4, 1676 -Massachusetts. "Whatever is done against the order that God has constituted is done against God." (Boston Sermons) George Bancroft observed, "New England was a religious plantation, not a plantation for trade. ‘We all came into these parts of America’ reads one of the two oldest American constitutions, ‘to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel in purity and peace.’ Consequently, they were most careful to promote habits in the young that would promote chastity.... ‘Of divorce,’ writes one noted historian, ‘I have found no example.’ Divorce from bed and board, the separate maintenance without the dissolution of the marriage contract, --an anomaly in Protestant legislation that punishes the innocent more than the guilty, --was abhorrent from their principles. The sanctity of the marriage-bed was protected by the penalty of death; a penalty that was inexorably enforced against the adulteress as well as her lover....

"They opposed wigs, and denounced the femininity of long hair

They disliked the symbol of the cross as a carry over of Romanism and would not allow the celebration of Christmas being Roman in its origin as ‘Christ’s Mass.’ They prohibited frivolous fashions in dress, and ...extended the sleeve to the wrist.... The courts of Massachusetts respected in practice the Law of Moses.

"Beggary was unknown and theft was rare. Musicians by trade and dancing schools found no place here. One might dwell here from year to year, and not see a drunkard, or hear an oath, or meet a beggar. Cruelty to animals was treated as a civil offence...."

9, 1620 -Massachusetts. The Pilgrims anchor in the bay at Cape Cod and though hastening to keep a Sabbath of prayer and praise on Clark’s Island, the Mayflower Compact is drawn up and signed.

11, 1701 --Connecticut. The Connecticut trustees state the purpose of the college they have decided to undertake is to "propagate in this wilderness the blessed, reformed, Protestant religion..." Thus Yale

College is founded.

16, 1775 --Connecticut. Dr. Eleazar Wheelock has founded a mission to the Indians. It will result in the formation of Dartmouth College and will move to Hanover, New Hampshire. He has preached that rulers have power only to propose the keeping of days and days of thanksgiving and to protect all. The consent of the people to keep the day is the only thing that can make it binding upon them.

"When civil power encroaches an inch upon Christ’s prerogative a sanctified and enlightened conscience can never be compelled to a compliance..."

27, 1492 --San Salvador. "...Your Highnesses ought not to consent that any stranger should trade or put his foot in this count, except... Christians, for this was the beginning and end of the undertaking namely, the increase and glory of the Christian religion: and that no one should come to these parts who was not a Christian... Henceforth, with the permission of our Lord, I shall use my exertion, and have the language taught to some of our people...and shall endeavor to convert to Christianity these people, which may be easily done, as they are not idolaters, but are without any religion." (Christopher Columbus in his Journal.)

30, 1861 -Washington, DC. The Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, requests Philadelphia Mint Director, Pollock, to submit a design for a coin to include a motto "expressing in fewest and tersest words (the) trust of our people in God. No nation can be strong except in the strength of God; or safe except in his defence." The new coin will be the two-cent piece, and the motto adopted is "In God We Trust."

WE HAVE FORSAKEN THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS. You need Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy. -3 vols. $45.

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