Who are Orthodox? by William M. Healey

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 1, 1883

Who are Orthodox?

By William M. Healey

WEBSTER defines orthodox as, "Sound in the Christian faith; believing the genuine doctrines taught in the Scriptures." According to this definition, can one be orthodox who denies the Scriptural doctrine that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and instead of it, places the first day of the week, for which they know there is no Scripture command, as they often admit, but only a custom of long standing in the church? When questioned as to the practice of following a church custom that is opposed to the word of God, they reply that, "It does not matter which day we keep, so long as we keep one out of each seven," and they claim that this doctrine is orthodox. Then why do they say that we are not orthodox? for we keep one day in each seven. But an association of ministers in this State, not long ago, decided that those who believe in keeping the seventh day are not orthodox. In substance, their doctrine amounts to this: Keep any day in seven, only do not let it be the seventh day, but the first. "Consistency thou art a jewel." W. M. HEALEY.