Will they Tell the Truth?
By P. Strong
In the Grand Traverse M. E. Ministerial Association, held at Old Mission, Nov. 12, among the different subjects advertised to be preached on, were: The Sabbath, Modern Adventism, Origin of the Jewish Sabbath, and Immortality of the Soul. After reading the above, I was led to ask myself a few questions: Will they give these subjects a fair and candid scriptural exposition before their Conference? And why such a general move against these subjects? I am quite certain that truth and fairness will not be used on all points. In company with Bro. Milk, I came into Traverse region last summer and presented the claims of the Sabbath. A number have decided to obey, and there is a prospect of forming a small church, for which I feel very grateful to God. But these ministers appear to view obedience to God’s law as the work of the enemy. Eld. Bathrick (the one selected to preach on the Sabbath), plainly contradicted Eld. Steel (a brother preacher) last fall, and both contradicted the Bible. How then can they be expected to tell the truth before a Conference of ministers? I will give a few of the positions Eld. Bathrick took last fall:— “We can’t tell anywhere near where God blessed the day.” “We will have to conclude by inferences.” “Reason and Scripture teach that the Sabbath was instituted on the first day of time.” “I am not willing to admit that the creation Sabbath was the Jewish, and chronology says so.” “We are no where commanded to keep the seventh day.” “Christ’s resurrection was the anniversary of creation.” “Do not ask, then, for a thus saith the Lord, to prove that redemption is greater than creation.” “It is impossible to keep the seventh day.” “I would rather go into kissing a long row of ladies than do that!—hunt for a first-day text.” “God has blessed the first day of the week.” “Shall we consent to re-instate that old institution, that by this time stinketh?” These are only a few of the hard sayings that he used against God’s holy law, which course his own discipline condemns. Can we expect then that these subjects will have a truthful canvass before the Conference? No. But what will their preaching have a tendency to do? To those that love to have it so, it will shut their eyes and hearts against the claims of God’s law, and the advent of his Son. And when the Sabbath test is made at the polls, this class will be ready to vote for a Sunday Sabbath. As for Modern Adventism, we confess to just what Paul did, and no more. Acts 24:14: “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets.” If they can say this in truth, and practice it toward those that are trying to obey all God’s law, and get ready to meet his Son when he comes, then we can work together in the great harvest field to build up the kingdom of grace, and prepare a people to be translated from the kingdom of grace to the kingdom of glory.