Our Denominational History and the
Laodicean Message
Chapter 6 (Continued part 3)
For decades we have shown a general
feeling of satisfaction that we have been enriched by "glorious
victory" in our 1888 history. Most of our ministers have been as sure
that they understand and preach genuine righteousness by faith as that
they understand and preach the Sabbath truth. Note how these various
authors of our histories unwittingly confirm our Lords charge, some
even using the exact words that He has put into our lips:
Higher achievement [1888]
resulted
in a spiritual awakening among our people. (M.E. Kern, R&H, Aug. 3,
1950, p. 294).
A notable landmark in Seventh-day
Adventist history
crossing a continental divide into a new country
a glorious victory
a great
spiritual awakening among Adventists.
The dawn of a glorious day for
the Adventist church.
The blessed consequences of a great awakening
are with us yet.
This blessed period of revival beginning in
1888
was rich in both holiness and mission fruitage. (L.H.
Christian, Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, pp. 219-245 note the
word "rich".)
An inspiring message which rescued the
church from the danger of legalism, and opened minds to the sublime
reaches of the gospel. The last decade of the century saw the church
developing, through this gospel, into a company prepared to fulfill the
mission of God
The church
was aroused by the revived message of
justification by faith. (A.W. Spalding, Captains of the Host, p.
602).
In many cases, churches that have begun
with a profound evangelical emphasis have lost somewhat of their glow
with the passing years.
Seventh-day Adventism presents an
interesting variation from the usual trend among religious bodies.
Adventist history shows a growing emphasis upon evangelical truths.
A religious denomination becoming more evangelical with the passing
years is a unique phenomenon. (N.F. Pease, By Faith Alone, p.
227).
Foremost among such persons are those
of a critical turn of mind who see only the failures of the church, but
who are blind to its achievements. While we regret our neglect of the
great truths of the gospel, we thank God for the noble men and women who
have emphasized these truths through the years. We also salute the
unnumbered army of church members who know Christ as a personal Saviour.
and who have been truly justified by faith alone. We are grateful for
the crescendo of emphasis on justification by faith during the past
forty years; and while we have not done all we should or might have
done, we are unwise to ignore the progress that has been made. (Ibid..
p. 238).
During my fifty-five years in the
Seventh-day Adventist ministry I have come in contact with our workers and
members all around the world. I have associated with our ministers in
nearly every land where our work is established
I have never heard a
worker or a lay member in America, Europe or anywhere else express
opposition to the message of righteousness by faith. (A.V. Olson, Through
Crisis to Victory, 1888-1901, p. 232; Thirteen Years of Crisis
(1982). p. 238).
It is correct to say that the message [of
righteousness by faith] has been declared, both from the pulpit and
through the press, and by the lives of thousands upon thousands of Gods
dedicated people who have learned the result of spiritual life in Christ.
Anyone who takes the time to examine Seventh-day Adventist books, papers,
pamphlets, and tracts will discover that this glorious truth has been
printed time and time again.. The various phases of salvation through
faith in Christ have been taught with power and clarity over the radio for
a number of years and more recently on television. This subject has been
made prominent in different courses of Bible correspondence lessons.
Adventist pastors and evangelists have announced this vital truth from
church pulpits and and public platforms, with hearts aflame with love for
Christ. (Ibid., pp. 233- 237; new edition, pp. 239-243).
This chapter can only touch the
tremendous emphasis on justification by faith at the General Conference of
1926. It is my firm opinion that it would be well to give less emphasis to
1888 and more emphasis to 1926.
Some have suggested that the
denomination should go on record in some specific way, acknowledging the
mistakes of 1888. No more positive evidence of spiritual growth and
maturity could be presented than the sermons of 1926. (N.F. Pease, The
Faith That Saves, p. 59).
"Thou sayest, Rich I am, and I have
been enriched!" 1888 was the beginning of a great enrichment, a
glorious victory, "spiritual
maturity". We are unique. We
are getting better and better.
These historians were all earnest,
dedicated, faithful men. They sincerely tried to reflect a common pride
and satisfaction in the tremendous "progress" of the church. But
not one has been able to recognize the import of the Laodicean message,
that it is precisely in our assumed "enrichment" through
acceptance of righteousness by faith that we are self-deceived. Not
one recognizes the need for a
reconciliation with Christ through a final atonement in consequence of the
disgraceful treatment accorded Him at one of our General Conference
Sessions. They all seek to find better words to describe our present
spiritual state than the inspired one, "deplorable".
Not one has discerned that in 1926 and
currently our boasted "spiritual growth and maturity" in
understanding and proclaiming "righteousness by faith" was not
in the acceptance of the 1888 message, but in accepting the popular
Protestant, Evangelical, or Calvinist message of justification and
righteousness by faith. They have mistakenly assumed that this
"unique phenomenon" of the Seventh-day Adventist church becoming
more "evangelical" was through acceptance of the message that
was to have been the beginning of the Latter Rain and the Loud Cry.
Instead, we have unwittingly gotten away from that message that the Lord
gave us, and have adopted views almost identical to those who reject the
three angels messages. And we are pleased with this "profound
evangelical emphasis", sadly unaware that it is not the true
"everlasting gospel".
This is the true remnant church, and its
future is indeed bright.
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