Always Our Position

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 19, 1910

Always Our Position

Always Our Position.— In the early days some charged that because we recognized spiritual gifts in the church, particularly the spirit of prophecy, we must be adding something to the Word, as a doctrinal standard. In reply James White wrote in the REVIEW (Oct. 16, 1855), quoting the following from a tract he had published in 1847:—

The Bible is a perfect and complete revelation. It is our only rule of faith and practise. But this is no reason why God may not show the past, present, and future fulfilment of his Word in these last days, by dreams and visions, according to Peter's testimony. True visions are given to lead us to God, and to his written Word, but those that are given for a new rule of faith and practise, separate from the Bible, can not be from God, and should be rejected.

Again, in the same article, he quoted from the REVIEW of Oct. 3, 1854, the uniform position held as follows:—

Every Christian is therefore in duty bound to take the Bible as a perfect rule of faith and duty. He should pray fervently to be aided by the Holy Spirit, in searching the Scriptures for the whole truth, and for his whole duty. He is not at liberty to turn from them to learn his duty through any of the gifts. We say that the very moment he does, he places the gifts in a wrong place, and takes an extremely dangerous position.

These are hearty words that ring true. They exalt the spiritual gifts in the church by showing their true place and purpose. And ever these gifts among us have besought us to let the voice of the messenger but lead us into God's Holy Word.