Their Doctrines Compared

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 14, 1908

Their Doctrines Compared

IN a letter published in the Evening Telegram (St. John's, Newfoundland), Elder C. H. Keslake, who is in charge of our work in that field, replies to the charge of heresy made against Seventh-day Adventists by a Methodist pastor, by comparing some of the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventists with the views of Methodists. We quote from his letter:—

But what is our “heresy,” Mr. Editor, that we must thus be vilified in the absence of straight argument? Simply this:—

(1) We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God—as do the Methodists.

(2) We believe the ten commandments, the law of God, to be the unchangeable and eternal rule of conduct for all mankind—as Methodists do.

(3) We believe that by that law is the knowledge of sin—as do Methodists.

(4) We believe that Christ died and rose again to save us from sin—as do Methodists.

(5) We believe that Christ is our Example—as do the Methodists; that as our example he observed the seventh day—as Methodists admit, and,—

(6) Because he kept the seventh day, and the eternal and unchangeable law of God says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God,” we, consistently we think, observe that day, which Methodists inconsistently do not.

We are reminded of Paul's statement before Felix: “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.” Why should a denomination be charged with “heresy” when its doctrines are so clearly in harmony with the simple and plain teachings of the Scripture, and its practise so perfectly in harmony with the practise of the Great Teacher himself? We would that all the world might adopt and practise just such “heresy.”