The Graf, Wellhausen documentary hypothesis caused the erosion of the church in America. One event that demonstrates this is the inauguration as president into Union Theological Seminary of Charles Augustus Briggs. Union is a seminary in New York City. At that time, it was part of the United Presbyterian Church. In his speech on January 20, 1891 Briggs made some points, which can only be classified as destructive heresies. Union was a seminary that was devoted to training ministers for Presbyterian pulpits.
Briggs made six points, which caused the beginning of a serious split in American churches.
1. He asserted that there are three great fountains of truth: The Bible, the church and reason. So, reason and mankind became equal with the revealed Word.
2. Some Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled and some were reversed.
3. He questioned the Mosaic authorship of the first five books of the Bible.
4. He questioned the unity of the book of Isaiah.
5. Those unsaved who died would have a second chance at eternal life.
6. Sanctification is not complete at death.
This was the first public affirmation of what is known as Modernism in a theological seminary in the United States. The New York Presbytery brought Charges against Briggs on two occasions 1891 and 1893), but the charges were dropped, to preserve unity of the church rather than to deal with what was actually said.
TRUTH MUST NEVER BE SACRIFIED FOR PEACE. IT NEVER WORKS!
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