“What Is There Left Us?” Mere Rationalism

And now it is high time to pause that we may consider whether anything is left to support the Nazarene’s claims to transcendent homage. “What is there left us?” our author may well demand. I own I cannot see that anything is left us, unless it be the tradition of an ideal life, to serve as a pattern of all good for all time. And as we stand amid the wreck of everything on which the Christian faith has rested during all the centuries, it is impossible to keep back the fear lest that life too may prove to be nothing but a mere “idea” — the splendid dream of those noble and generous enthusiasts who imagined that the son of Joseph was the Son of God.

Of the Greek Church Prof. Harnack writes that it took the form “not of a Christian product in Greek dress, but of a Greek product in Christian dress.” And of his own scheme we may aver that it is not Christianity in the foreign garb of Rationalism, but Rationalism disguised in Christian language. If even a soap or soda-water manufacturer adopts a trade-mark fitted to deceive the public, the law restrains his a; but there is no tribunal to issue an injun; cred title of “Christianity.” And Dr. Harnack’s system is not even a travesty of Christianity, it is in all essentials anti-Christian. If any should think this language-unwarranted, I would justify it by the application of a clear and simple test. In the light of this German theology can we still condemn the crucifixion of the Nazarene?