Fundamental
Evangelistic Association
selected
articles from:
©FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
"Dumb
Dogs!"
by Franklin G. Huling
©Foundation Magazine, Jan-Feb 2001
[This article, which appeared in the July 1931 issue of Grace and
Truth draws upon Isaiah 56: 10-11 and decries those professed believers
who are silent (dumb) about the liberalism (Modernism) that has crept
into the mainline denominations. Today, this article is just as relevant
as it was almost 70 years ago, for today's New Evangelical Christians
and even some who still call themselves Fundamentalists fit the
description of the "dumb dogs," for they seek to find common
cause for unification with those who preach a false Gospel rather than
separating from them and warning about them. Isaiah 56:10-11, while
primarily referring to the nation of Israel thousands of years ago, is
applicable to us even today. We must not be silent, but serve as
faithful, alert "watchmen" who are sanctified, set apart for
the Master's use.]
W
HAT A TITLE! But worse still, what a tragedy! Of what
value is a "dumb dog" when danger is near and those in peril
are not aware of their danger?
Who Are the "Dumb Dogs"?
God's Word tells us: "His watchmen are blind: they are all
ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying
down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have
enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to
their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter" (Isaiah
56: 10-11).
What a terrific indictment! And it is certainly no less applicable
today than when it was first spoken. If we are included within the
circle of its sweeping condemnation, may God have mercy upon us unto
real repentance and to the bringing forth of fruits meet for repentance.
Who are God's "watchmen"? Every pastor, every Christian
worker, every denominational leader, every missionary, etc.—and in a
special sense, all Fundamentalist leaders, heads of Bible institutes,
heads of seminaries, heads of Faith Missionary Societies, editors of
Fundamentalist publications, Bible teachers, evangelists and others.
What Are God's Watchmen
"Dumb"
About?
Many things doubtless, but chiefly about the great and grievous sin
of those who believe the Word of God supporting those who deny the Word
of God. How do they support these unbelievers? By contributing to
denominational budgets that support the propagation of
"Modernism," which is simply present-day infidelity! With
scarcely an exception, the denominations have adopted the
"inclusive policy," which is Satan's masterpiece, and whereby
"Modernist" missionaries are sent out to spread deadly
spiritual poison.
Modernism has won the conflict in practically all the denominations.
The fight to oust Modernism is over! The number of Modernists and "
indifferentists" is growing all the time. Indifferentists are
embryo Modernists. They care less and less whether things are true to
the Word of God or not. In the Methodist church, there is no struggle
now because Modernism is solidly enthroned. Their type of organization
makes this possible. The Presbyterian General Assembly has ordered the
"modernizing" of their last stronghold of orthodoxy, Princeton
Seminary. And no longer is a Fundamentalist candidate for Moderator even
nominated! The Northern Baptist Convention has repeatedly routed the
Fundamentalists, and the Fundamentalists have given up trying to put the
Modernists out, lest they themselves be thrown out! The Southern
Baptists are in the same fix. The head of the foreign mission society is
a confessed Modernist. Their leaders have betrayed them!
In view of all these facts, the only effective protest that can be
made is to withhold all financial support from these budgets, for
finances are "the sinews of war." And to give no financial
food to these corrupted budgets is the positive duty of all who want to
be true to God and His Word in this day of crisis and compromise. Those
who help to feed them are bidding them Godspeed in a most substantial
way, and God's Word declares, "He that biddeth [an unbeliever] God
speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 11).
There is no justification before God for any of His watchmen being
parties to the colossal conspiracy of silence about this all-important
issue, but that Fundamentalist leaders, who claim to be uncompromising
champions of the whole Word of God, should join this cowardly conspiracy
of silence is a sight to make angels weep. A few of them are not silent,
thank God, but the vast majority of them are "dumb dogs!"
Why Are God's
Watchmen "Dumb"?
Let them say. However, every watchman knows what would occur in most
cases if he ceased to be "dumb" about God's people supporting
this unholy marriage of truth and falsehood by contributing to these
budgets.
1. Pastors and other denominational workers would quickly lose their
jobs, and "doors" into other positions of similar nature would
be closed to them.
2. Heads of Bible institutes and seminaries would lose the financial
support of many friends whose first loyalty is to their ecclesiastical
organizations now corrupted by Modernism. Fewer students would come from
churches tied up with these systems. And furthermore, no positions in
these denominations would be open to graduates of schools whose heads
and whose teachers had the courage to speak out against God's children
continuing to support this evil combination. Some teachers would speak
out, did they not fear they would then be let out.
3. Heads and other representatives of Faith Missionary Societies
would lose friends, "open doors" and financial help if they
warned God's children not to support Modernism by contributing to their
denominational budgets and instead invited them to support missions that
are faithful to the Word of God. They are responsible to do both.
4. Editors of Christian publications would lose what some of them
seem to prize above the will of God namely, subscribers! But wherein is
the consistency of writing about the need of the power of the Holy
Spirit for revival and then ignoring this great sin of the yoking
together of God' people with unbelievers, which effectually blocks the
power of the Holy Spirit and the coming of any heaven-sent revival?
5. Bible teachers would find "doors" into these churches
shut to them; they would lose popularity and that sine qua non, financial
support, if they faithfully warned God's people about these matters.
Many believers are unwitting partners in the propagation of Modernism
because God' watchmen have failed to warn them.
6. Evangelists would fare the same as Bible teachers.
"Doors" into churches supporting this wicked alliance of
Fundamentalists and Modernists would be barred to them. However, they
have the same duty to warn God's people as have His other watchmen and
the same guilt if they are "dumb." Why should they denounce
worldliness and yet say nothing about this ruinous disobedience?
Yes, God's watchmen would lose many things if they ceased to be
"dumb" about vital issues. But are there none today with
Paul's spirit? He said, "I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ" (Phil. 3:8). And how rich the gain, beloved, of being
willing and perhaps actually suffering the loss of all things to be true
to Christ! We then have a good conscience and can confidently look
forward to hearing Him say, "Well done, good and faithful
servant!"
Paul's lament was, "All seek their own, not the things which are
Jesus Christ's" (Phil. 2: 21). Can it be that earthly
considerations under the guise of spiritual advantages explain this
diabolical dumbness? Let us remember that Satan never tempts us to keep
silence when we ought to speak out without offering us some seeming
"good" to be gained or preserved.
Is God so limited that His work could not prosper if His watchmen
obeyed His Word and cried out against this deeply entrenched and
well-protected evil? Our Lord Jesus came "to proclaim liberty to
the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound"
(Isa. 61: 1). Many of God's children today are "captives " to
a false idea of loyalty. They feel that they ought to support their
denominational budget whether it supports unbelievers or not. And it is
the solemn obligation of God's watchmen to proclaim Christ's liberty to
those who want to obey God but are now held as prisoners behind
ecclesiastical bars.
What Are the Consequences
of "Dumb'
Watchmen?
Isaiah 9:16 tells us, "For the leaders of this people cause them
to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." Who does God
say is responsible? "The leaders!" What fearful havoc results
from unfaithful leadership! The Word says God's people are
"destroyed!" just before God declared that His watchmen had
become "dumb dogs," and because of that sad fact, the beasts
of the field and of the forest were called to "come to
devour" (Isa. 56:9)! Why? Because the unfaithful watchmen had left
the door open for them to come in to ravage the flock of Christ!
What do we see all about us? The spiritual vitality of the children
of God has been, and is being, "devoured" and
"destroyed" by this compromise with the enemies of the Word of
God. Unsaved ones are being comforted in believing soul-damning
falsehoods. And civilization is being destroyed before our eyes—morally,
educationally, politically and economically, all because of this
devastating destruction which is spreading like a plague among the
children of God.
God Commands His Watchmen
to "Cry
Aloud!" and Not Be "Dumb"
Brethren, let us hear and heed the Word of the Lord. Are we
"blind, " "ignorant," "dumb" watchmen? Are
we "shepherds that cannot understand"? Do we say, "This
is a 'denominational issue' and not my affair"? We may fool
ourselves with that excuse, but we do not fool God. It is my affair, and
it is your affair and should be the deep concern of every child of God
because it involves the Word of God. Through Jeremiah, God said,
"The whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to
heart" (Jer. 12:11). Is not this the whole trouble? We think
someone ought to do something about it but not me! Let us quit "the
Pilate act" of trying to wash our hands of responsibility in this
matter. Every Christian who knows the situation is under obligation to
God to admonish other believers "in season, out of season," to
stop supporting those who deny the Word of God.
Can it be that God has to call any of His watchmen by such a name as
"greedy dogs which can never have enough" and that look
"every one for his gain"? If so, why? Is it because we seek to
maintain our own position, our reputation, our institution or other
interests, rather than to obey God?
Shall we not heed the voice of God through His prophet Isaiah,
speaking to each of us now: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy
voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the
house of Jacob their sins" (Isa. 58: 1)?
This is the definite duty of every one of God's watchmen. Having
entered into the service of our Lord Jesus Christ and having vowed to be
faithful to Him and to His Word, no matter what the cost, are we guilty
of violating that plain command of His Word, "Be ye not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Cor. 6:14)? Every believer who
contributes to budgets that support unbelievers is certainly "yoked
together" with them. If your own neck is in this awful yoke, my
brother or sister, I beseech you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to
take it out immediately and trust God about the consequences. Then
"cry aloud!" and show God's people their great transgression
in supporting the propagation of the deadly poison of Modernism by
contributing to these unified budgets. Let us no longer be one of
Satan's "D. D's.,"—a "dumbdog"—but may each one
of us be a "trumpet" for God! Amen! 171
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