p. 197 | IS IT SLANDER? by E. G. Rust

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 2, 1867

IS IT SLANDER?

By E. G. Rust

Some who do not fully believe in the truths of the “third angel’s message,” Rev. xiv, 9-14, gain the impression upon reading the Review that the writers therein are very uncharitable, if not even slanderous, in their articles. My attention was lately re-called to this subject by a letter from an esteemed friend in which he stated that he liked the Review very well, but “thought they slandered too much.” In meditating upon this I was led to ask myself the question, Is this really so, or does it only appear so to him?

According to Webster, to slander is to censure falsely; to defame; and we hope and believe that none of the writers for the Review do this. We know that very “strong meat” is found in its columns, but we think it is meat in due season. To such as are accustomed to hearing sins glossed over and made to appear like righteousness, and who seldom if ever hear the exceeding sinfulness of sin pointed out, it may seem harsh and uncharitable when the plain cutting truths of the Bible are declared.

Let us bear in mind that the mission of the Review is to “Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.” It is appointed to herald the last message of mercy to a dying world—to cry aloud, and spare not; to lift up its voice like a trumpet, and show God’s people their transgressions. Like the faithful watchman, it is set as a defense for the people, to rebuke sin upon them, and to warn them of coming danger; and it is impossible to preach the “commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” without cutting across the track of many, when the people have so far departed from the holy law of God. God’s people must be warned of their approaching danger, Rev. vi, 12-17, or his ministers and servants have failed to do their duty. Ezek. xxxiii, 1-20. And when we speak of God’s people in this sense, we mean all the honest-hearted to whom the “last message” shall come, whether they are in the world, or in the bosom of the fable-loving churches. To be prepared to meet our blessed Saviour when he comes in the clouds of heaven, is a great work, and it is only by heeding the plain, cutting truths of the Bible that we shall be prepared.

When contrasting the mission and course of God’s ministers and servants under the last warning message, with the “smooth things,” which are spoken from the popular pulpits of these last days, we do not wonder that those who do not know the truth think it pretty strong meat; but our prayer is that such may have a teachable and investigating spirit, and that they may earnestly desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby, and eventually be led into all truth, and to implicit obedience to all the commandments of God. We hope that all who read it may give heed to its reproofs, be warned in season, be encouraged and strengthened by its exhortations, leave error and embrace right doctrine, and thus be enabled to grow in grace and the knowledge of the truth, and be prepared to stand amid the perils of the last days, and to meet the Saviour at his appearing.

E. G. Rust.