Profitless and Useless Discussion by Francis M. Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 16, 1913

Profitless and Useless Discussion

By Francis M. Wilcox

The world spends a good portion of its time in profitless discussions. It is said that some of the old philosophers used to argue for hours that one could not move—he could not move where he was, and he could not move where he was not, consequently he could not move at all. The world to-day is not greatly changed. Questions of the most trivial character relating to the political, social, and family life occupy hours of time on the part of a great number. Differences engendered oftentimes lead to alienation, strife, and even murder itself. How many friends are separated over the most trivial differences! How many questions of state have turned upon matters of the smallest consequence! Families are sometimes broken up and whole communities disturbed. It is bad enough when questions of this character are confined to social and political life; but when they invade the family, and even the church of Christ, the results are a thousandfold more evil.

The Scriptures of Truth deal largely with great principles. The Bible does not clearly indicate just what position one should take upon many details of the great truths enunciated in the Word. One man may apply a principle in one detail, his brother may take the same principle and apply it in another detail. Both may be right. Standing together in the recognition of the same great principle, how unwise for these brethren to spend time in unkind criticism! And yet there is much of this done in the world, and too much among Seventh-day Adventists.

A good brother from an island church writes of an unpleasant discussion among the brethren, resulting in unkind criticism, over the question as to what the seven thunders of Revelation 10 said. Surely what the Lord himself has refrained from revealing, it is useless for us to speculate over. A good sister from a church in the West tells of a discussion, amounting almost to a division in the church, as to just how long it will be after Turkey makes Jerusalem its headquarters before probation will close. If in the Lord's good purpose he had desired his church to know the exact day or hour of his coming, he surely would have revealed it. He has not told us just how long after the Ottoman Empire is deprived of its possessions before Michael will stand up, whether it will be a day or a week or a month or a year. If the exact time were known, poor human nature would be inclined to take advantage of that knowledge and put off needful preparation till the last moment. We know it will not be long. The Lord says, “In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh,” and in view of this he bids us to watch and be ready.

An ardent and conscientious brother in another section of the country feels a great burden to urge his particular views of health reform upon the company of believers to which he belongs. He feels that his standard should be adopted by the church, and that one who does not follow it walks in darkness. We very heartily approve of the principles of healthful living, and personally have endeavored to practise them for many years. We believe in the consistent advocacy of these principles. It is proper that the church should take cognizance of the grosser forms of intemperance, like the use of alcohol, tobacco, etc. We do not believe, however, that the Lord has laid upon us the right to test the Christianity of our brethren by their conformance or non-conformance to some particular standard of diet which we have adopted for ourselves. Against this the spirit of prophecy directly advises. While advocating, as those who are acquainted with the “Testimonies for the Church” know, the principles of healthful living, at the same time they declare quite as positively that this question should not be made a test of fellowship in the church. God has committed to this people a great message. If Satan can only lead us off into the discussion of little details, even though these details may be right in and of themselves, and confuse our minds to the great issues before us, he will be pleased indeed. We need to guard ourselves continually against this danger. If our brethren and sisters do not measure up to our standard and conception of right, let us in the fear of God consistently and kindly set before them what we believe to be the truth. Let us exemplify our conception of truth in our lives, but let us avoid nagging. Let us not be led to make unkindly remarks. Let us not be drawn into bitter debate. Harmony in the church of Christ and love and peace among brethren are worth far more than the little that will be gained by such discussion.

There are times when we must contend earnestly for the “faith which was once delivered unto the saints;” when, even though we break with dearest friends, we must maintain the great principles of the truth of God. But even this we should do in the spirit of kindness and Christian love. We read of men so engrossed in their own narrow abstractions of thought that they industriously spend their time tanning mosquito hides while their fellows are perishing in the onsweeping flood. There is danger that if we do not engage in tanning mosquito hides, we shall feel such a burden to criticize those who are thus engaged that we shall leave our fellows to perish just the same.

In the church of the first century there were those, according to the letter of the apostle Paul to Timothy, who engaged in “profane and vain babblings.” Timothy was exhorted not to spend his time in such discussions. He was also exhorted by the aged apostle to avoid “foolish and unlearned questions . . . knowing that they do gender strifes.” We need to-day, as did Timothy, to heed this exhortation. We need to settle down to a realization and consciousness of the great work committed to us as a people. There is a great message to give to the world. The destinies of souls hang in the balance. No questions of secondary importance should consume our time and waste our energies to the exclusion and neglect of the great work which we have to do. F. M. W.