p. 108 | Untitled article by William C. Gage

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 5, 1865

Popular Errors and Their Fruits. No. 4.

By William C. Gage

Among the many pernicious errors of the day, we may also reckon the popular doctrine of the temporal millennium, or world's conversion. Like many other errors originating in the mind of Satan, it has been promulgated by the servants of God. And this, we may remark, is what gives all these false doctrines their destructive tendency. The arch-deceiver well knew that sinful, ungodly, men would have but little influence in spreading the darkness of error among those he wished to lead astray, and so with cunning artifice he has directed all his energies to planting them in the very bosom of the church. By perversions of scripture, and the sophistries of "vain philosophy" he introduces "cunningly devised fables" into the minds of the people, until, when their wicked influence is most mischievous, they are so deeply rooted as to render it almost impossible to remove them.

That these remarks apply to the doctrine of the world's conversion, is painfully apparent to all who have endeavored to lay before others the evidences concerning the soon coming of Jesus. Once fixed in the mind it completely neutralizes, and overcomes all the testimony on this important truth, and thus the plan of God is thwarted so far as it concerns them as individuals, and their eyes are closed to the fact that the great day is "near, even at the doors." The general effect of this doctrine is indifference and stupor, as regards the great and prominent points of present truth, and an unwillingness to recognize their claims. By placing the day of the Lord "afar off," all anxiety in the matter is dispelled, and awakened conscience is quieted, and the mind lulled into a feeling of security, which we fear will be broken in many cases only by the alarming consciousness, that the door of mercy is forever closed against those who have rejected the faithful testimony, and neglected to prepare for an entrance into the kingdom of God. Thus through the influence of this poisonous error, multitudes are kept in darkness, and if they persist in clinging to it will finally be drowned in perdition.

The doctrine of unconditional election, and once in grace, always in grace, have also performed their share of mischief, in adding to the number of those who are "at ease in Zion," while they have also been conducive of a great amount of unbelief.

The first of these consists in the claim that a certain favored portion of the human race are elected to be saved, and that it is therefore impossible for them to be lost. The method of reasoning by which this conclusion is reached, also compels the admission that the remainder of the race are elected to be lost, thus depriving man of free moral agency, and making him a mere machine, incapable of fulfilling any other course than the destiny marked out for him by the stern decree of fate. The tendency of such a doctrine, is to produce skepticism or a belief in fatality. A large proportion of the infidels with whom we converse, preface their apologies for their unbelief, by declaring that they were "brought up" to believe in the doctrine of election, and have only carried their reasoning to its legitimate result, and thereby proven that "whatever is, is right." The writer having been well-nigh swamped in the same fog-bank, from which he was rescued by the present truth, can speak from experience of the dangerous tendency of this belief.

Of all the doctrines to produce spiritual drowsiness, it would seem that none were better calculated for this effect, than that which asserts that no one who has been genuinely converted can be lost in the end; or in other words, that no saint can "fall from grace," and become a sinner. To be sure, many good ones have believed it, but this makes it none the less an error, nor does it diminish its pernicious effects. The Scriptures continually warn those who have tasted of sins forgiven to remain steadfast, lest if they fall away it be impossible to renew them again, and even Paul feared, lest his passions overcoming him, he himself, after all his labors, might become a castaway; yet this doctrine asserts that the Christian cannot fall away, and lose the favor of God. Now it is the privilege of every true child of God to know that he has passed from death unto life; so if this doctrine is true he knows he cannot be lost. What could be better calculated to produce carnal security, and self-satisfaction? When the truths of God's word are presented to those who are befogged in this error they make but little impression, for such do not realize the need of saving truth.

The evil fruits of this error are felt in a special manner in those days, when a people are to be gathered who shall come to a unity of the faith, and be sanctified and be saved through the truth.

Wm. C. Gage.