QUESTIONS

The Western Christian Journal of Columbus Ohio was given 13 questions to answer based on an article they published - ed.In our paper for August 15, we copied from the "Western Christian Journal," of Columbus Ohio, (a new school Baptist periodical,) thirteen questions under the caption which we have placed at the head of this article. [We will quote the article Beebe is referring to.  He first quotes the article from the Western Christian Journal, then his response. - ed.]:

1. Are not the 600,000,000 heathen, who are perishing in ignorance of the gospel, famishing spiritually?
2. Is the famishing of the soulless lamentable more than that of the body?
3. Are not that six hundred million famishing for the bread of life, dependent upon us who have it, for a supply, with it?
4. Hae not the Lord Jesus Christ told us to supply them with it?
5. If they are truly dependent on our sending it, then, should we not be willing to devote our lives to carrying or sending it, as he was to devote his providing it?
6. If we refrain from any expenditures, which fashion demands, that we may do more to save them, will it cost us more than it did him to leave heaven, and go to the stable, the garden, and the cross to save men?
7. If we refrain from any expenditures for which taste pleads, that we may be able to do more for them, shall we do more than he did for us when he took the form of a servant and subjected himself to contempt, and insult, and a public execution with criminals?
8. If we ever give up some of our comforts and conveniences, the sake of our comforts and conveniences for their benefit, shall we be going beyond him in self-denying benevolence?
9. Was he more benevolent than he would have us be?
10. Would it be more painful for us to refrain from any expenditures that fashion demands and many for which taste pleads, and even deny ourselves many comforts and conveniences, for the sake of giving the gospel to the heathen, than it would be for them, if we should not be sent it, to "have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone?" (See Rev. 21.8-7)
11. If it would not, is it not our privilege and duty thus to refrain and deny ourselves?
12. Would you not be more Christ-like, happier, and more useful, if you should do it than you would be if you should not?
13. Will you be according to your answers?

[Beebe's response - ed.]:

If the editor of the Journal will answer the following questions, we will also answer his.

1. Is Christ, the "Bread of Life," which came down from heaven, and of which, if a man eats, he shall never die, an article of merchandise, that can be estimated in dollars and cents?
2. Christ has said, in John 6.48, "I am the Bread of Life."  Is Christ the gift of God?
3. Can Christ, who is the Gift of God, and Bread of Life, unto his people, be bought for money?
4. Is it less wicked now to indulge the thought that Christ, as the gift of God, or any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, can be bought with money, than such thoughts were in the day of Simon Magus?
5. If Simon Magus, by offering money as a consideration for the gifts of God, thereby gave evidence that he was in the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity, will the same evidence apply differently in the case of the editor of the Journal, and writer of the Journal in answering the above questions succeed in demonstrating that it is less abominable for him to place the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God, the Bread of Life, and the salvation of six hundred million souls, in the market to be bought and sold for money, that for Simon to offer, or Judas to accept of money for them, we shall require the solution of a few more queries before we attempt a direct reply to his.)
6. Can carnal beings who never had spiritual life, furnish spiritually?
7. Are those 600,000,000 heathen, whom you represent ad famishing spiritually, souls that have been born of the Spirit of God, and are now losing their interest in the blood and righteousness of Christ on account of our inactivity?
8. If they were never born of the Spirit, how came they in possession of a susceptibility of spiritual exercises, seeing that Christ has declared (John 3.6,) "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit"?
9. Or, does the writer intend to occupy the position,, that all unregenerate men possess spiritual life, which only requires to be fed, in order to secure its subsistences, and which, if not fed will become extinct?
10. To remove all obscurity, does he believe that each of the six hundred million heathen of whom he speaks, must receive by regeneration, a new and spiritual life from God, which it never had, or could possibly have, in an unregenerate state?
11. If six hundred million of souls are depending on men for a supply of the bread of life, (Christ) will they not inevitably all die without ever tasting it?
12. If the Lord Jesus Christ has ever told us to deal out the bread of life, in what book, or record is that command to be found?
13. Has the all-wise God, made the eternal salvation or damnation of one portion of the present inhabitants of the world, to depend upon the will, works, or money of another portion of the inhabitants of the world?

We have spun out our questions to an even number with hose copied from the "western Christian Journal."  How the editor will treat, time will tell; but we have no idea that he will reply to us; and although his queries were addressed to every reader of the Journal.  We are mistaken if he wished for a reply from us.

We are not so much shocked at meeting with "damnable heresies" in professedly Baptist periodicals now as we formerly were. The time has been when no one called by that name would utter such doctrine, but the predictions of the scriptures are being realized.  "Some have departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils," and they being "evil men and seducers," do, as it is written of them. "wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."  These extravagant belchings forth of a doctrine so abhorrent to every sentiment and feeling of Christianity must serve to draw the line more visibly between the living and the dead, it must have a tendency to scourge out from among them every child of God, and leave their Babylon to be only the hold of every unclean and hateful bird.

Should we suppose the editor of the Journal, as a professed Baptist, to hold the doctrine of an effectual atonement made by our Lord Jesus Christ for all the sins of all his people, answering the designs of God, by whom it was provided could he reconcile that Bible doctrine, with his new theory which makes salvation depend upon something else?  And even, if he believes, as we supposed he does, in a universal atonement; still does he not attach more virtue, to the exertions, contributions, &c., of men, than to the blood of the Lamb?

If Christ has died to save six hundred million of souls that are not upon the earth, and still that same six hundred million, cannot be saved, without our money, and can be saved if we will apply our money, which has the greater power, the blood of Christ, or the money?

The editor of the Journal will not dare not say that the agency of man can save sinners for whom Christ has not died; but he does say, in effect that the blood of Christ has not had sufficient virtue to save those for whom it was shed, that it has utterly failed, and the heathen are sinking to hell notwithstanding his atonement; but, if we will send them the bread of life, if we will deny ourselves of the comforts, or luxuries of this life, and hereby save a few shillings - these savings, when applied will be of more service to the perishing heathen than all the blood of a crucified Christ.  Is it not hard to believe that vendors of such God-dishonoring, and heaven-daring doctrine, have ever found it in their hearts to sing,

"Jesus my God, your blood alone,

Has power sufficient to atone;

Your blood can make me white as snow,

No outward forms could cleanse me so"?

While such awful darkness and delusion, falls on those, who receive not the love of truth, that they might be saved; and, for this, cause God is sending strong delusion, and they are left to believe a lie, that they all may be damned, who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness; we are bound to give thanks always to God, (never to men or money, or means) for you brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chose you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

Elder Gilbert Beebe

Signs of the Times,  August 15, 1847