Who Is the Infidel? by Uriah Smith

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 10, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 22.

Who Is the Infidel?

By Uriah Smith

IN a meeting held by one of our brethren some years since, at which it was our privilege to be present, an opposer in a very angry and excited manner interrupted the speaker with the reckless assertion that “Millerism had made more infidels than any other thing under the sun; that the Bible said we did not know anything about the time.” Being unable to quote the passage he had in mind, he was asked if he was sure that the Bible made such a declaration. He was very sure it did if he remembered correctly; but it was very evident that he did not remember correctly, or, perhaps, that he never knew precisely what the passage was, and had but an indifferent idea of what the Bible did teach on the subject of the second advent. But somehow everybody, from the lowest drunkard to the bigoted bishop, seems to know that the Bible says that no man knoweth the day or the hour; and, tearing this text away from its connection, they give it an unlimited signification, and seem to think it sufficient to put an eternal quietus on the agitation of the advent doctrine.

This text the objector in question had got fixed in his mind in such a shape as to lead him to suppose that the Bible asserted that nothing could be known respecting the second advent of Christ. When informed what the text does mean, that no man maketh known, etc., and reminded that we were doing nothing of the kind, that we do not attempt to make known the day and hour, as the Bible does not reveal it, he was asked if he believed this text which stands in immediate connection with the other; namely, “When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” He could not be made to acknowledge that he did. He had taken his position that we could know nothing about it, and so it should be, and he would make no other reply. Very clearly, he did not believe this text.

Now infidelity is a disbelief of the Scriptures; and we ask, Who was the Infidel in this case, the Adventist, who believes all the Scriptures, or the opposer, who for the sake of avoiding the conclusion that we are to know something about the second coming of Christ, was ready to deny one of the plainest statements in all the Bible? Adventism does not make infidels, it only develops those who are already such.

But this is no new phase of the question. This cry of infidelity is no new thing. Adventists have had to meet it all the way along. The Advent Herald of Feb. 14, 1844, under the heading, “A Prediction Fulfilled,” thus spoke on this point:—

“It has often been remarked by our opponents that the preaching of the advent would make infidels. This prediction has been fulfilled; or, at least, it has been the means of showing many to the world as infidels, who, but for the preaching of this doctrine, would have escaped all suspicion. In their efforts to escape the conclusions of Mr. Miller, many of our most distinguished ecclesiastics have been found to take strong infidel and neological ground; and among their hearers have been found ready listeners fully prepared to adopt any conclusions, however transcendental, if they could thus be made to believe the coming of the Lord a fable.”

As it was then on the advent doctrine, so it is now, not only in relation to that doctrine, but to the great truths developed since that time. Take, for instance, the law of God. Before the claims of the fourth commandment are enforced, a religious teacher can scarcely be found who will not contend for that law as one of perpetual and universal obligation; but when he is made to see that that commandment requires the observance of the seventh day as the Sabbath, he will, too often, to avoid the claims of this precept, declare the whole law abolished. And many professed Adventists, alas! are foremost in this impious work. But he who, for the sake of avoiding an unwelcome truth, denies any part of the Bible, is an infidel. The preaching of these truths does not make infidels, it only develops those who are already such, or who, rather than embrace them, are willing to become such.

A little incident which occurred under the first message will further illustrate this point. An Adventist preacher was lecturing at Lowell, Mass., when a Methodist class leader accused him of being an infidel, and wished him to call upon him. The minister accordingly gratified him with an interview, and called on him at his shop. Here the class leader repeated his charge that the minister was an infidel. The latter, instead of replying, handed him his Bible, and wished him to read a passage that he believed. The class leader took the Bible and turned the leaves back and forth without reading. The minister asked him why he did not read. He replied that he was looking for a text. The minister then told him that he could have read and believed the first text he opened at. The class leader saw that he had proved himself the infidel, and handed back the Bible.

Keen-eyed skeptics notice these inconsistencies, and become strengthened in their position. They also mark the scoffing of professed religionists at the plain statements of the Bible, when brought out by a company of humble believers, and when they touch the pride and popularity of said professed Christians; and this powerfully builds them up in their infidelity. In proof of this, look at the following instance. In 1844, the Universalist Trumpet thus spoke of the midnight cry: “We used to hear, six months ago, much said about the midnight cry. All the abettors in Miller’s follies joined in the cry. But of late we do not hear anything about it. All these birds of night have stopped their noise, from which we infer that day has broken, at which time owls generally cease to hoot.”

This was copied by the Investigator, an infidel paper, with the following remarks:—

“We copy the above for the purpose of expressing the thought that occurred to us on reading it. The Millerites, whom this reverend and Universalist editor sneeringly calls ‘owls,’ profess, like himself, to believe in the Bible and the Christian faith. He thinks them deluded; we will suppose he honestly thinks so. What, then, in such a case ought he to have done, as an honest, candid man? He ought to have said to them: ‘My Christian brethren, I think

I have reason to believe that you are laboring in an error; and as I deem it my duty to remove it, I will, with your permission, discuss the subject with you in an open and friendly manner. Possibly I may impart some new views, which may convince you of your mistake; but should I fail, I trust I shall not be so uncandid as, for a difference of opinion, to call in question your sincerity, nor so uncharitable as, for an error in judgment, to withdraw from you my fellowship.

"Such or similar language from one Christian opponent toward another, while it would exhibit a spirit of kindness and friendly feeling, would do a great deal to convince the infidel that Christianity might be a better system than he is accustomed to believe it. But so long as he sees, as in the present case, that a mere variance of thought in one Christian brother is enough to steep another and a reverend Christian brother up to the eyelids in bigotry and censoriousness, he will have but little inducement to renounce his infidelity and become a Christian; for though his system may be lacking in spiritual faith, as it certainly is, there is yet remaining enough of saving virtue in its practice to prevent him at least from quarreling with his brethren."

The spirit manifested by the Universalist Trumpet has by no means decreased since that time. And in view of such testimonies as the above, it is easy to see one great source from which infidelity derives its strength. So long as professed Christians will scoff at Bible doctrines, or refuse to believe certain passages of Scripture, because they destroy a favorite dogma, they may take to themselves the credit of all the infidelity that is developed or created by such a course. And this is all the connection that Adventism has with infidelity. U. S.