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The Standard of Attainment

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 32.

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The Standard of Attainment

By O. F. Schwedrat

In the last few months a certain word has impressed itself upon the mind and thought of the American people. The word is “preparedness.” Preparedness in any work means ability and readiness to do any task that may present itself, no matter how unexpectedly.
Preparedness in the life of the Christian calls for a thorough and sanctified knowledge of the teachings and doctrines of the Holy Scriptures, and the ability to employ that knowledge for a firm but courteous defense of one's faith, and also for a tactful soul-winning “offensive.” It is not sufficient for the Christian to know that his life is transplanted into the garden of God's planting, but it is also essential that he take root and be firmly grounded, that no wind of doctrine may bend him, no storm or tempest of persecution uproot him.
To secure this needful efficiency for our denomination, its leaders have sounded for several years the bugle note of preparedness in the Standard of Attainment plan, and have urged it upon old and young, but especially upon the members of the Missionary Volunteer Societies. What the A B C is to the student, what the training of the camp is for the soldier, what the foundation and corner stone are for a building, that is the Standard of Attainment to our young people as students of the teachings of the Bible, as soldiers of the cross of Christ, as builders of Christian character.
After the principles of the Reformation of the sixteenth century began to spread, another movement was organized to counteract the influence of the Reformers. This movement has come down to us in that powerful organization known as the order of the Jesuits. Those who were admitted to that order had to apply themselves diligently to study and discipline, and when sent out as emissaries of the Roman Church, were powerful orators and masters of discussion, able to sway any audience at their will. Had it not been for their influence, the principles of the Reformation would have been vastly more far-reaching in their effects, and would have covered more territory than they did. We must not be surprised, therefore, to see the powers of evil organizing to counteract the influence of the last message of reform to the world in these days.
But will the large body of lay members be able to offer any more intellectual resistance to the skilful wiles of the enemy than were the people in general of the sixteenth century? The answer is to be found in the clear and distinct utterance of Mrs. E. G. White, that “none but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test, Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand.”—“The Great Controversy,” pp. 593, 594. But to those who do give heed to the admonition, who with the psalmist hide the word of God in their hearts, the promise is given: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:10.
We should also be acquainted with the history of our denomination, and be able to see how the beginning of it came about through the providence of God; how its missionary enterprises have grown and are extending today over the whole world. We should be familiar with the life and character and struggles of those whom God used in laying the foundation of this movement. In the General Conference Bulletin, Vol. V, No. 2, p. 24, Mrs. E. G. White says: “The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant. In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as our leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history.” This is in accord with the instruction the Lord gave to Israel, as recorded in Deut. 8:2: “Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these . . . years, . . . to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or no.”

Preparedness for Soul-Winning

The Standard of Attainment means also preparedness for a tactful soul-winning campaign. Many there are who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Many there are who are willing to be led to the fountain of life, who are anxious to be taught the plain teachings of God's Book. But how many opportunities to speak a word for the truth are being allowed to slip by without being grasped, because of a lack of knowledge of how to prove our position if asked to do so. We are told again and again that “the work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, p. 117. I think it is not due to the lack of willingness on the part of the individual members, but rather to the lack of preparedness to do the work intelligently, that a greater percentage may of the membership has not been more active in missionary endeavor.
The Standard of Attainment plan advocated and adopted by our churches will prove to be the corner stone for the training of the young people of this denomination who are not able to avail themselves of an institutional education, and will constitute a landmark to many members of the Missionary Volunteer Societies on their road to advance preparation for Christian service. Reaching this goal, many will have an experience similar to that of prospecting for gold, and having found the first nuggets of this precious metal, will make extensive preparation to mine all that the vein contains.
The Standard of Attainment will strengthen the hold of the young people upon the truth for this time; it will save many from drifting away; it will strengthen the church and extend its missionary work; it will furnish recruits for higher training and service; it will constitute a basis for a stronger denomination intellectually and spiritually, and in number of adherents. The Standard of Attainment in this denomination aims for preparedness of the highest order; it is like a nail fastened in a sure place.
O. F. SCHWEDRAT.