1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES THE SOURCE OF TRUE WISDOMIT IS POSSIBLE that even the Lord's peoplemay sometimes fail to appreciate the valueof that great Book, the Bible, which hasexerted more influence in the world thanall other books combined. Few realize thatthe Bible has been in the hands of the publicfor only about one century. When ouroldest Bible Societies were organized,Bibles were possessed by the rich alone.Now they are to be found in every houseand can be obtained free of cost by the destitute. Additionally,many helps to Scripture study are in print andpeople are learning the value of some of these and theusefulness of Bible Concordances.Furthermore, we are prone to forget that generalknowledge has just begun to reach the masses. It is notmore than a dozen years since education has been madecompulsory in all the most civilized lands. Thus God hasfavored our day in a two-fold manner--by giving us theBible and by giving the intelligence necessary to its study.HIGHER CRITICISM THE MOST DANGEROUS ENEMY TOFAITHBut just as these most precious opportunities are inthe hands of the masses, just as these blessings of increasedknowledge are being given to humanity, just asChristendom is prepared for Bible Study, the Lord hasallowed the Adversary to bring forward the most subtleinfluence in opposition to the Scriptures. The foul-mouthedinfidelity of the past has been supplanted by afar more dangerous enemy to Christian faith--the infidelitygenerally known as "Higher Criticism," dangerousbecause of its insidious character.R5104 : page 297Higher Criticism has entrenched itself in nearly allthe colleges and theological seminaries of Christendom.While all of our churches of all denominations ostensiblystand as defenders of the Bible, yet the citadel of faith isbeing captured by the great Adversary of God and theTruth--Satan--who is deceiving, estranging and misleadingthe hosts of Christendom through the very theologicalprofessors and doctors of divinity to whom they havebeen led to look for spiritual light and direction and whomthey had supposed to be stanch defenders of the Bible asthe inspired Word of God.This arraignment is severe, but it is a generally truthfulone, as each may demonstrate for himself. Most regretfullywe are persuaded that four out of every five ofall the ministers and Sunday School superintendents ofChristendom have ceased to believe in the Bible as the