Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 30:118 (Apr 1873)
Article: The Progress Of Christ’s Kingdom In Its Relation To The Spirit Of The Present Age
Author: Samuel Harris

BSac 30:118 (April 1873) p. 287

The Progress Of Christ’s Kingdom In Its Relation To The
Spirit Of The Present Age

Samuel Harris

The present age is scientific, and disinclined to acknowledge the supernatural. It is rationalistic, rather than believing; self-sufficient in the pride of virtue, rather than humble in the sense of sin; philanthropic, rather than spiritual; utilitarian and realistic, rather than sensitive to sentiment and enthusiasm. I propose to consider the progress of Christ’s kingdom in relation to the characteristics of this age.

I premise that Christianity comes to every generation as new as to the first generation to which it came. When the mother tells the story of Jesus to her child, the wondrous story is as new to that child as to those to whom it was told in the days of Paul. It comes anew to every generation and to every man, a message fresh from heaven, and every one must consider it and receive or reject it for himself.

I premise, also, that Christianity remains unchanged. It is always God’s love redeeming men from sin through the humiliation, death, resurrection, ascension, and continued reign and intercession of Christ, and the abiding presence and work of the Holy Spirit. As such, by the lapse of ages it never grows old. It rises on generation after generation, as day after day the morning rises in dewy freshness on the awakening world, and as night after night the evening reveals the unchanging glory of the starry sky. In these respects, one generation has no advantage over another.

Each generation has peculiarities which present peculiar obstacles to the gospel. We have no reason to believe that the peculiarities of this age are more formidable obstacles

BSac 30:118 (April 1873) p. 288

than those of other ages. A careful study of the age of Luther or of Paul would exemplify this.

The general principle underlying the discussion is this: Christianity can prevail in any age, only as it meets the thought and life of that age. It must meet and satisfy the thinking of men respecting the problems of human life and destiny, and give repose to their intellects. It must meet the life of men, and give light, peace, wisdom, and strength for the work, the suffering, and the wants of the time. To have met and satisfied the thought and life of a previous age avails nothing to meeting and satisfying the thought and life of this generation. The manna which came down from heaven yesterday will nourish no soul to-day. Christianity must meet, help, and save men in the conditions and necessities of the age in which they are.

Two thoughts are involved in this general principle. The first is: It is Christianity which is to meet the thought ...