p. 3 | Contending for the Faith by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 12, 1915

Contending for the Faith

By F. M. W.

IT has been necessary for the children of God in every age to give diligent heed to the purity of the faith. When they have failed to do this, allowing error to work its way insidiously into their belief and practice, apostasy from God has inevitably resulted. Jude tells the church that it was needful for him to write to them and exhort them that they should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Jude 3.

The apostle Paul found it necessary to withstand those who would pervert the gospel of Christ, and bring in that which would turn away the disciples from their allegiance to God. Speaking of his earnest contention for the right against these corrupters of the faith, he says, “To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” Gal. 2: 5.

The shepherds of the flock who succeeded Paul and his companions in ministry failed to preserve this watch care over the church, and in consequence that mystery of iniquity which began its work in Paul’s day, developed into a great system that swept men away from the true faith into the darkness of error and superstition. Through the centuries God has raised up faithful men who contended for the primitive faith given to his people. Tyndale, Luther, Zwingli, and scores of others set their face as a flint against the errors of their day.

The same spirit should possess the hearts of God’s people today in their relation to the truth of the Word. God has made this denomination the conservator of important truths. He has given to them a reform message designed to call men from the accumulated errors of the ages which have found a resting place in the professed church of Christ, back to the pure fountain of Scriptural truth.

Fundamental Principles

The men whom Heaven used to lay the foundation of this movement and to develop this system of truth from his Word, were devoted servants of God. By earnest study and prayer they sought to know the right way, and we must believe that God wonderfully blessed them in their efforts. The principles of truth they developed have stood the test of time and the assaults of the enemy of all righteousness. The foundation laid at the beginning of this work will never be surrendered, and the great fundamental principles constituting the third angel’s message will be preached until the coming of the Lord.

We do not believe that these pioneers were infallible, nor that they had access to storehouses of knowledge or divine grace unopened to us today. But they were godly men and honest men, whom Heaven guided in their conclusions. The same honesty and consecration God will recognize today on the part of every student of his Word. Nor does it detract from the greatness of their achievement if it shall be demonstrated by later research that in some minor details their conclusions were wrong. Indeed, had there been presented to them evidence which proved the weakness of their conclusions in any particular, as honest men they would have been the first to welcome the additional light and evidence. And as their children in this message, inspired by the same honesty of purpose and the same zeal for truth which moved their hearts, we should have our minds open to every additional ray of light which may be brought to our consideration from the Word of God.

The Integrity of Truth

We have no sympathy with the one who would seek to tear down a single fundamental position held by this people. God forbid that such a purpose should ever possess the heart of a single Seventh-day Adventist. From “Gospel Workers,” new edition, page 307, we quote the following:—

“Let none seek to tear away the foundations of our faith,—the foundations

that were laid at the beginning of our work, by prayerful study of the Word and by revelation. Upon these foundations we have been building for more than fifty years. Men may suppose that they have found a new way, that they can lay a stronger foundation than that which has been laid; but this is a great deception. ‘Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid.’ In the past, many have undertaken to build a new faith, to establish new principles; but how long did their building stand? It soon fell; for it was not founded upon the Rock.”

Did not the first disciples have to meet the sayings of men? did they not have to listen to false theories; and then, having done all, to stand firm, saying, “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid”? So we are to hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.

The servant of the Lord, speaking of the threefold message forming the basis of this movement, states: “Said my accompanying angel, ‘Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. . . . The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received,’”—Early Writings, page 121.

Study to Build Up, Not to Tear Down

Recognizing that this movement is of God, that his hand has been over it, that his providence has been seen in its development, that he led and guided its pioneers in their study and their conclusions, we should seek from this standpoint to build up rather than to tear down, to confirm rather than to destroy, the positions we hold. And as we have stated, so far as the fundamental principles of our faith are concerned, we believe that impartial study will inevitably do this.

On the other hand, if we shall find that the preponderance of Biblical or historical evidence shall make it necessary for us to change our conclusions with reference to some minor points, let us not shut our eyes to evidence which perhaps the providence of God would lead us to consider in order that we may be saved from confusion in the days to come through the attacks of our critics.

Professedly Seventh-day Adventists have no creed. They accept the Bible, and the Bible alone, as their rule of faith and practice. With this as the groundwork of its faith, the providence of God has so shaped and molded this movement that the church in every land and clime, through all the years of the past, has spoken practically the same thing, and borne one unvarying testimony in behalf of the special message for this day. We believe that God has led and guided in this. Let us trust in his providence, believing that this unity will be preserved.

If our attention shall be called by some brother to a point of difference, some detail of the message which does not affect its great underlying principles; and we are asked to consider “new evidence,” let us not be too ready to cry “heresy,” and without taking time for study and investigation, decide that the one in question is seeking to tear down the faith which we all hold so dear.

Additional Light and Truth

We do not yet possess the fullness of gospel light. The spirit of prophecy tells us that there is more precious truth to be revealed. Says the servant of the Lord:—

Peter exhorts his brethren to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Whenever the people of God are growing in grace, they will be constantly obtaining a clearer understanding of his Word. They will discern new light and beauty in its sacred truths. This has been true in the history of the church in all ages, and thus it will continue to the end. But as real spiritual life declines, it has ever been the tendency to cease to advance in the knowledge of the truth. Men rest satisfied with the light already received from God’s Word, and discourage any further investigation of the Scriptures. They become conservative, and seek to avoid discussion.

The fact that there is no controversy or agitation among God’s people, should not be regarded as conclusive evidence that they are holding fast to sound doctrine. There is reason to fear that they may not be clearly discriminating between truth and error. When no new questions are started by investigation of the Scriptures, when no difference of opinion arises which will set men to searching the Bible for themselves, to make sure that they have the truth, there will be many now, as in ancient times, who will hold to tradition, and worship they know not what. . . .

God would have all the bearings and positions of truth thoroughly and perseveringly searched, with prayer and fasting. Believers are not to rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas of what constitutes truth. Their faith must be firmly founded upon the Word of God, so that when the testing time shall come, and they are brought before councils to answer for their faith, they may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear,—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. V, pages 706-708.

There is one thing in religious faith and experience worse than free and open investigation,—the right of every church and individual,—and that is religious stagnation. May God save us from the excesses of the one, and from the disastrous results attending the other.

The Minister a Representative

All should recognize that the ministers sent out by this denomination should represent the faith of the body. This certainly is a matter of honor and loyalty. If in his study any worker believes he has received new light, it is not wise for him at once to rush into print or into public address in an exposition of his views. He should exercise the same tact as did the apostle Paul, in sitting down with brethren of good repute and placing before them the light which he believes God has given him. This indeed is the counsel given by the spirit of prophecy:—

All should be careful about presenting new views of Scripture before they have given these points thorough study, and are fully prepared to sustain them from the Bible. Introduce nothing that will cause dissension, without clear evidence that in it God is giving a special message for this time. . . . No one should claim that he has all the light there is for God’s people. The Lord will not tolerate this. He has said, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Even if all our leading men should refuse light and truth, that door will still remain open. The Lord will raise up men who will give the people the message for this time.—Gospel Workers, old edition, page 126.

I saw that the shepherds should consult those in whom they have reason to have confidence, those who have been in all the messages, and are firm in all the present truth, before they advocate new points of importance, which they may think the Bible sustains. Then the shepherds will be perfectly united, and the union of the shepherds will be felt by the church. Such a course I saw would prevent unhappy divisions, and then there would be no danger of the precious flock being divided, and the sheep scattered without a shepherd.—Early Writings, page 52.

There is quite as much danger of our running ahead of God’s providence as in being too slow and too conservative. Let us avoid both extremes.

The Really Essential Things

After all, we feel that we have come to a time in the history of our work as a denomination when there is danger that we shall spend too much time and energy in the discussion of unimportant features of the great message God has given us to carry to the world. If the author of confusion could lead us to neglect the great main issues, and sidetrack this denomination by the discussion of minor questions, it would be well pleasing to him. We need to be right in our conclusions regarding every point.

It is wrong for us to go out as ministers of Christ and teach the people error in any phase or form. But instead of allowing questions of difference to absorb too much of our time and energy, and particularly instead of allowing these questions of difference to engender strife and alienation, we should feel that there is a great field for Christian labor in the giving of the great principles of the message which have been committed to us. Hence, we believe that from whatever angle we view these questions we need to be guarded.

The Preservation of Unity

Some in the church of God, today as in every age, are inclined to be too fast. Others are inclined to be too slow. God in his providence links the impulsive

Peter with those who are more staid and conservative. In the providence of God there are found in the Seventh-day Adventist Church today these varying natures and elements. God designs that one should balance the other. So to whichever class we may count ourselves as belonging, whether to the staid and conservative class who are perfectly content to preach the truth today in the same form and setting that they preached it yesterday, or to those who feel that while the truth is the same it should be presented in new relations and new phraseology, let us remember that God has his hand upon the helm. Let us be careful that by no unguarded course do we precipitate a crisis or division in the church of God.

Well-Balanced, Generous-Hearted Men

Let us act the part of sensible, well-balanced men, careful not to reject light, careful not to take up with theories of men. Let us be sure that our own positions are founded upon the Scriptures of Truth. Let us be broad-minded, and generous-hearted toward our brethren who may not see every question from our viewpoint.

And let us in the consideration of every question, whether in doctrine or plan or method, seek to keep near to God and near to our brethren. When we come into close personal touch with one another, when we sit down and exchange experiences in the work of God, and tell one another what God is doing for our souls, somehow our estimate of our brethren changes. Perchance those whom we counted enemies before, we find are friends; and we find that, after all, distance has not lent enchantment, but rather has blinded our eyes so that we could not see clearly.

“The foundation of God standeth sure.” This message which was begun in weakness, will finish in power. It will gloriously triumph at last. We shall triumph with it only as we receive its spirit into our hearts and allow its principles to mold and guide our experience.

F. M. W.