ARE WE INFIDELS? by W. S. Foote

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 26, 1869

ARE WE INFIDELS?

By W. S. Foote

In No. 14 of the REVIEW the question was asked, “Who are Jews?” Seventh-day Adventists are sometimes called so by latter-day scoffers, because they are trying to fear God, and keep his commandments, and the testimony or faith of Jesus; and because they will not make dyspeptics of themselves by eating swine’s flesh, which the Lord, “who is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever,” is pleased to call an “abomination.” Lev. xi, 7; Deut. xiv, 8; Isa. lxv, 4; Isa. lxvi, 17.

Some, who are frequenters of grog shops, and other places esteemed more sacred, are pleased to call us infidels.” Webster says that “an infidel is one who denies the divine origin or authority of Christianity.”

We believe that the great Author of the Christian’s faith will soon “come in the glory of his Father, and all the holy angels with him; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. xvi, 17. “And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. ix, 28. We believe also that the Lord means just what he says in Isa. lxvi, 5: “Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Any infidelity in this?

We believe that God has given us what is called the moral law, or ten commandments, as a rule of moral action, and that he that offends against it in one point is guilty of all, and thus makes himself a transgressor of the law, or a sinner. We believe also that sin unrepented

of will condemn us, not to everlasting life in misery, but to devouring fire, as the Bible declares. “The day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch,” Mal. iv, 1; or, as Isaiah says, in chap. x, 18, “Both soul and body.” Are we infidels on account of believing these things?

Are we heterodox in sentiment because we believe that “he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him?” 1 John ii, 4. Are we infidels for the reason that we believe that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was slain on Calvary for our sins, was buried, and rose again for our justification, and is now pleading before his Father’s throne, and there offering for us his merits and intercession?

Our religious faith not only takes in the idea of salvation through the blood and righteousness of Christ, but full belief in the promises and threatenings of the word of God; also giving full credence to the statement that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.” Is there any infidelity in this?

To conclude we wish to say to our antinomian friends, who sometimes accuse us of denying the divinity of Christ, that we believe him to be God manifest in the flesh, the promised Messiah, our Elder Brother, our Saviour (for we cannot save ourselves); and out of gratitude to God we pray daily that we may have grace to keep all his commandments; “for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” Rom. ii, 13. Unprofitable servants as we are, and compelled to say, with old Mr. Wesley, “I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me,” we hope soon to hear the welcome plaudit, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Does all this make us infidels? W. S. FOOTE.

Pendleton, O.