p. 3 | Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 26, 1905

Editorial

By Editor

Tainted Adventism

A WRITER who belongs to a small denomination of Sunday-keeping Adventists refers to “adventism tainted with Jewish Sabbatarianism,” evidently intending by this expression to describe the belief of the Seventh-day Adventists. Much depends upon the point of view. In the estimation of the scribes and Pharisees the teaching of Jesus was “tainted” with many heresies, but there was power enough in his “tainted” teaching to win its way against all the opposition of the Roman empire. There seems to be a vital force in this tainted adventism which makes it a more aggressive movement than the adventism which clings to papal tradition. Sabbath reform is an integral part of the genuine advent movement in this last generation.

Sabbath Blessings

THOSE who live in harmony with God and his plan for the human family are surely in the way of receiving blessings which are not bestowed upon those who ignore the revealed will of God. This is true in a marked way concerning the observance of the Sabbath. The Lord has said, “Blessed is the man . . . that keepeth the Sabbath from profaning it,” and this promised blessing will surely be given. Through the spirit of prophecy we have this testimony borne: “All heaven was represented to me as beholding and watching upon the Sabbath those who acknowledge the claims of the fourth commandment and are observing the Sabbath. Angels were marking their interest in, and high regard for, this divine institution. Those who sanctified the Lord God in their hearts by a strictly devotional frame of mind, and who sought to improve the sacred hours in keeping the Sabbath to the best of their ability, and to honor God by calling the Sabbath a delight,—these the angels were specially blessing with light and health, and special strength was given them.” In calling the people to the observance of the Sabbath of the Lord we are calling them to the enjoyment of special blessings.

Spiritualistic Tendencies

THERE is an unmistakable trend toward spiritualism which shows itself in various ways. The habit of spiritualizing even the plain and literal statements of the Scriptures prepares the way for the beautifully worded and generally vague teaching of that mysticism which is the stepping-stone to spiritualism. There is also a tendency to adopt the vocabulary of occultism, and to clothe the thoughts in language which has a spiritualistic flavor about it. The reflex influence of these forms of expression is felt upon the modes of thinking, and stimulates spiritualistic ideas. There is something attractive in the beautiful language and the flattering sentiments of these pretended apostles of light, but this is nothing new. “He who could appear clothed with the brightness of the heavenly seraphs before Christ in the wilderness of temptation, comes to men in the most attractive manner, as an angel of light. He appeals to the reason by the presentation of elevating themes, he delights the fancy with enrapturing scenes, and he enlists the affections by his eloquent portrayals of love and charity.” Having thus secured control of the mind, the deceiver quickly leads on to sentiments which exalt humanity to the place of divinity, and which finally make God altogether such a one as ourselves. He who begins by copying the beautiful language of spiritualistic writers is quite likely to end by adopting their sentiments. This is a time of peril, when the effort will be made to deceive the very elect. Our safety will be found in carefully avoiding even the appearance of the evil thing. “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, . . . keep yourselves in the love of God.”