What Are Essentials? by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1910

What Are Essentials?

By F. M. W.

WE are perfectly willing to admit that Christians may employ widely varying methods in the expression of their service to God. The Scriptures of truth do not prescribe the precise ways and forms in which our service shall be rendered. This is left largely to individual judgment. On the other hand, the Bible very clearly indicates the will of God with respect to what should and should not be done as relates to man's general conduct. The law of the ten commandments is set forth as the standard of right. By it every character is to be judged at the last day. It therefore makes a great difference as to whether one observes this law. It is not for man in his finite judgment to count any part of it among the non-essentials; and we regret that the Christian Herald, which says so many good things, is led to do this in its issue of June 15. Replying to a correspondent who raises a question as to the reason for so many different denominations and beliefs, it says:—

God looks at the heart and the purpose, rather than at the act itself. There always have been and always will be differences in methods among God's people; but these matter little, so long as they are sound and united on the essentials. There may be a thousand different ways of serving him, yet all acceptable. Thus all may differ as to holy days, forms of ordinances, etc.; but these are not the essentials. He has ordained infinite variety in all nature and in humanity also. There can be no uniformity save in essentials, and in the holding of vital truths. “A thousand roads,” says the proverb, “lead up the sides of the holy hill, but they all meet at the top.” So we may worship God and serve him in manifold ways; but if the service be sincere and the heart right, one form is as acceptable as another. We are not bound by laws and observances, but all can be one in Christ, in faith, in love (which is the fulfilling of the law), and in the liberty of the gospel. God has but one plan of salvation, and there is but one road by which that salvation may be obtained. Christ says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Christ was our perfect example; we are to follow in his steps. The prophet says of him, in his relation to the law of God: “He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” He himself says: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil;” and the apostle adds: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” To this we may add the words of John: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

We may differ as Christians on methods, but let us not make the sad mistake of differing on principles, of setting aside the great cardinal truths of the Scriptures because they do not serve our pleasure or meet our convenience. If one requirement of God's law is non-essential, then all requirements are non-essentials. We are not competent to determine our relationship to God: this has been determined by the Lord himself. It is for us to conform our ways to the requirements of his Word.

F. M. W.