Truth Magazine

By Mark Mayberry

Current Facts

In 1981 the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, headquartered in Washington, D.C., had 3,668,000 members worldwide.(1) In recent years, their goal has been to add I million new members by 1985. Achieving this goal would have required an average of 1,000 daily converts. From their statistics, it appears that they succeeded. In 1985 they claimed 4.5 million members meeting together in 24,000 congregations scattered throughout 184 countries.(2) Over 1/2 million of their membership is in the United States. If these statistics are true, the Seventh Day Adventist Church is one of the fastest growing denominations in the world.

History

In the late 18th and the early 19th centuries, many religious leaders believed that the second coming of Christ was imminent. It was in this atmosphere that William Miller (1782-1849) began to preach. Once a skeptic, in time he was converted to the Baptist Church and became a minister. Miller was a self-taught man with little formal education. After extensive study of Daniel and Revelation, he predicted that Christ would return in glory on March 21, 1844. Upon his return, the Lord would cleanse the Earth by fire and usher in the millennium. Miller gained quite a following, estimated at between 100,000 and 200,000 people. Religious fervor was high, and there was great anticipation over the Lord’s return. Unfortunately, Christ didn’t return on the specified date, so Miller set another one- October 22, 1844. When this day passed without event, the “Great Disappointment” occurred. Many “Millerites” lost their faith and drifted away.

At this point Ellen G. White (1827-1915) entered the picture. She claimed to see a vision in which followers of the Adventist faith were ushered into heaven, and this gave the movement a much needed boost of morale. Then she reinterpreted Miller’s predictions. She said he was right on the date but wrong on the event. According to Mrs. White, on October 22, 184 the Lord went into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. There he began to judge and investigate the lives of the believers. She taught that when Jesus finished this “investigative judgment,” he would return to the earth and the millennium would begin. As a result, this 17 year old woman saved the movement that was started by William Miller and eventually she became the leader of Seventh Day Adventism.

Unique Doctrines

1. Mrs. White: A Prophetess. Adventists view Ellen G. White as a prophetess, and her writings serve as the basis of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She supposedly received over 2,000 visions from God. She wrote 53 full length books on every subject that could possibly concern the church. She also wrote 5,000 articles, and countless letters to individuals.(3) Tens of millions of her books have been sold. Just one of her books, Steps to Christ, has sold more than 10 million copies and has been translated into 80 languages.(4)

The Seventh Day Adventist Church claims to accept the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice, but they also believe in “the spirit of prophecy.” Mrs. White is held as virtually infallible by many Adventists, and in practice, her writings are viewed as equal with the Bible. Officially the church holds that there are no discrepancies between Mrs. White’s visions and the teaching of the Bible. They believe that God spake through her a century ago, and her counsel is as dependable today as it was then.(5)

In recent years, questions about her inspiration and authority have arisen from within the denomination. Walter Rea, an Adventist minister from Patterson, CA, spent two years analyzing the writings of Mrs. White. After extensive research, he concluded that she was a plagiarist. This charge had been made before, but never by an official in the Adventist Church. Rea alleged that she borrowed from many 19th century writers. She quoted from at least 75 different books without giving credit and then passed the ideas off as her own.(6) Rea estimated that 80% of her writings were lifted almost word for word from other works.(7) According to Mr. Rea, “The borrowing wasn’t a sentence here or a word there. It was her habit to copy from the beginning of her writings to the end.”(8) This throws cold water on Mrs. White’s claim that she received her messages directly from God. Such blatant plagiarism destroys her claim to divine inspiration and raises serious questions about her honesty. It is not surprising that Mr. Rea was thrown out of the church after he published his conclusions in a book entitled The White Lie.

Church officials defend Mrs. White by saying that she is no less a prophetess because she selectively used outside material, just as biblical writers sometimes used quotations from apocryphal literature. The big difference is that the New Testament writers acknowledged it when they quoted from other writers (cf. Acts 17:28), and they only did it occasionally.

Christians recognize that the Bible is our only rule of faith. It is complete and all-sufficient, containing all that we need to believe and practice (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Jn. 8:31-32). The faith has been once delivered to the saints (Jude 3), and as a result, there is no place in God’s scheme for latter-day prophets such as Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, or Ellen G. White.

2. The Sabbath. In 1847, Mrs. White claimed she saw the Ten Commandments in a vision. There was a halo around the 4th commandment, and an angel explained to her that Saturday must be kept as the Christian Sabbath. As a result, Seventh Day Adventists worship on Saturday. While it is true that God rested after the creation, observing the Sabbath became a binding ordinance for man only after the Law of Moses was established (Ex. 16:22-31; 20:8-11). We must remember that the Mosaic Law was specifically for the Jewish nation. Christians understand that it is no longer in force (Eph. 2:14-15; Col. 2:14-17).

3. Diet and Health. Adventists observe various dietary regulations. “Probably no religious movement, ancient or modem, has put greater emphasis on diet and nutrition than the Seventh Day Adventist Church.”(9) Many of Mrs. White’s visions dealt with diet. She taught that meat, alcohol, tobacco, all narcotics and stimulants must be avoided. She advocated the consumption of natural foods and urged her followers to eat a balanced diet. Even today, 50% of their membership are practicing vegetarians.(10) As a whole, Adventist males between the ages of 35 and 40 have a 6.2 year longer life expectancy than the general population. Females have a 3.1 year greater life expectancy.(11) Good eating habits are to be commended, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to bind religious laws where God has not spoken (1 Cor. 8:8; Col. 2:16; 1 Tim. 4:3-5).

As previously discussed, Mrs. White was in the habit of borrowing other. people’s ideas. This was not limited simply to books on history, doctrine and the Bible. Historian Ronald Numbers, in his book Prophetess of Health: A Study of Ellen G. White, alleges that she also lifted ideas from 19th century health reformers and diet faddists.(12) Many of her visions concerning diet and nutrition were simply reflections of the contemporary views of the society of that day.

The modern breakfast food industry owes its beginning to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. John Kellogg, the first to make breakfast cereal, was an Adventist. He served as a physician in an Adventist hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. While searching for different kinds of vegetable foods, he created peanut butter and corn flakes. The records are rather vague, but it appears that Mr. Kellogg offered the Adventist Church the patent rights to wheat and corn flakes. This would have made the sect fabulously wealthy, but Mrs. White rejected the idea because she felt it would take too much time. Eventually Kellogg left the church after he questioned the infallibility of Mrs. White’s visions.(13)

Seventh-Day Adventists continue to be noted for their medical missionaries, sanitariums, and concern for sound health practices. As recently as 1976 they had 421 medical institutions worldwide.(14)

4. Tithing. Adventists stress tithing. As a whole, they contribute more than do members of other denominations, giving an average of $486 per person per year.(15) They often give an additional 10% of their income to missions and related church works.(16) Such generosity is commendable, but quotas or percentages ought not to be set. Tithing was a part of the Old Law. Christians are to give as they have been prospered (I Cor. 16:1-1; 2 Cor. 8:1-5; 9:6-8).

5. The Investigative Judgment. Adventists hold to the doctrine of the investigative judgment. Mrs. White claimed that in 1844 the Lord entered into the heavenly sanctuary and began to judge the faithful. In recent years this key doctrine has been under attack from within the Seventh Day Adventist Church itself. At the center of this controversy is Desmond Ford, a prominent Australian theologian who taught at Pacific Union College in California. He argued that the sanctuary doctrine does not stand up to the light of God’s Word. It is interesting to note that Mr. Ford was “defrocked” in 1980 because of his position.”(17) Obviously the Adventist establishment is not pleased with those who question their long held beliefs.

We acknowledge that Mr. Ford was right on this point. Remember that the investigative judgment doctrine was formulated after the Lord failed to return on October 22, 1844. It was Mrs. White’s reinterpretation of Miller’s date that saved the Adventist movement. We recognize that Miller’s efforts at setting a date for the Second Coming were wrong to begin with (Matt. 24:36,42; 1 Thess. 5:1-3; 2 Pet. 3:10). Furthermore, the Bible affirms that the judgment will occur when the Lord returns (2 Cor. 5: 10; Rev. 20:10-15).

Conclusion

In recent years the Adventist Church has been plunged into a crisis of identity and authority. Some of their own scholars have begun to question both the inspiration and the doctrines of Mrs. White. By 1982, approximately 120 dissatisfied ministers had resigned or had been forced to leave the church.(18) We can only hope that their search for truth will lead them back to the Bible.

Endnotes

1. Conrad Wright, “Adventist,” Downloaded from Knowledge Index 6/12/85. Reference Section: Academic American Encyclopedia (Corp. Arete Publishing Co., 1984).

2. “7th Day Adventists Boast Growth As Delegates Consider Reports,” Tyler Morning Telegraph, 6 July 1985, Sec. 4, p. 6.

3. John Cook, “A Church Whose Members Have Less Cancer,” The Saturday Evening Post, March, 1984, p. 41.

4. Cook, p. 41.

5. Kenneth L. Woodward, “A False Prophetess?,” Newsweek, 19 January 1981, p. 72.

6. Richard N. Ostling, “The Church of Liberal Borrowings,” Time, 2 August 1982, p. 49.

7. Woodward, p. 72.

8. Woodward, p. 72.

9. Cook, p. 40.

10. “Seventh-day Adventist: Food for Thought,” The Saturday Evening Post, March, 1984, p. 42.

11. “Seventh-day Adventist: Food for Thought,” p. 42.

12. “Prophet of Plagiarist?,” Time, 2 August 1976, p. 43.

13. “Prophet or Plagiarist?,” p. 43.

14. “Prophet or Plagiarist?,” p. 43.

15. “Prophet or Plagiarist?,” p. 43.

16. Leslie R. Keylock, “What Seventh day Adventists Believe,” Christianity Today, 19 October 1984, p. 22.

17. Ostling, p. 49.

18. Ostling, p. 49.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 14, pp. 424-425
July 16, 1987

By C. Dale Garrison

As I read the article, “Immodesty” by brother Abernathy (June 4, #11), I had several thoughts which I must express. I would be greatly amiss in my duty to the Gospel of Christ and my fellow Christians if I were not to voice them. First, I must say, “Amen” to the truth which was taught in the writing of brother Abernathy’s article. Today’s Christian needs to hear the truth of the Word of God taught in this loving, but clear manner. Amen!

All Christians need to study, keep in mind and live by these verses; “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13:14). “Come out from among them and be separate, do not touch what is unclean” (2 Cor. 6:17; also read Phil. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:9-11; 4:3-4).

In short, what these verses are saying is very simple. If we are to live a godly life, all Christians, male and female alike, must live according to the standard which is set by God and not the standard set by the world! We are God’s people and must come out of the world! We are a special people who must live by God’s Word and Will, not man’s fashions or morals. We are not to be like those who are children of Satan! They openly disobey the Word of God, live guided by their own passions and are involved in things which are abominable in His sight. We are not to let the world set our standards for speech, lifestyle, relationships or our dress.

Christian men, both old and young, we need to understand that like the women, we must also wear modest clothing. Some of us seem to be caught up in the double standards of the world when it comes to dress. All too many Christian men see nor think anything about wearing see through shirts or going around with no shirt at all. It seems to be considered to be “ok” for our young men to wear shorts, but it is a sin for the ladies. Men wear tight jeans, yet teach that it is sinful for the ladies. My brothers in Christ, God’s command for modesty applies to us as well as our sisters in Christ. God does not have a double standard for that which is modest, moral or appropriate. Paul writes, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge, practice the same things” (Rom. 2:1ff). “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).

We do not control the world or the people who live according to the doctrine of Satan, but we can teach our children to observe God’s Word. We are to teach our sons and daughters to dress in a godly way. We can teach our young men and our young women to seek to date, befriend, admire and marry those who choose to serve God in not only in Word, but also in dress and manner of life. When as children of God we admire those who are worldly, immodest and immoral, we are condoning their sin. When we choose Satan’s children above the children of God, we are not living by what Paul teaches in Romans 12:9-17. Note verse 10, “we are to prefer one another.”

Brothers, young and old, husbands and singles, we need to show our sisters in Christ that we appreciate their godly dress and modest ways. We must go to those who are living in sin and teach God’s Word. We can not only edify our sisters by preferring them over the women of the world, but we can help them continue in their righteous ways. Men and brethren, each and every one of us plays a big role in what our sisters in Christ, our wives and our daughters choose to wear. Is it not time we Christian men start living by the same Word we use to judge and admonish our sisters in Christ? Are we going to honor the women who live in God’s way and rebuke those who are living by Satan’s way? Or are we going to conform to the double standards of this world? “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 14, p. 420
July 16, 1987

By Jamie Sloan

Preaching does not have to be stopped to be rendered ineffective. If it can be generalized and impersonalized so that it no longer convicts one of sin or instructs one in righteousness, that preaching is worthless. Preaching is not pure oratory nor fluent journalism. The kingdom of God does not depend upon man’s ability to tell the story. The power of God to save is in the story itself. However, such qualities as courage and knowledge are greatly needed in preaching and teaching what is needed to whom it is needed. A handle must be put on the preaching; too much of it is left up in the air.

Often those who preach the gospel, either orally or by the printed page, emphasize that their remarks are not directed toward any one individual – a “don’t take this personally” attitude. Surely it would be an abuse of the right to publicly teach the Word of God to use that right in prosecuting and persecuting anyone for personal reasons. If a teacher or preacher has something to say to a person, the courage which it takes to publicly rebuke a person will be sufficient courage to approach that person privately. The abuse of the pulpit and editorial chair is a problem of malice and ill will -not courage. We agree that such is the lowest kind of conduct, and would not want to say anything that could be construed as approving of such.

However, since Bible truths are addressed to all in a general way this is often taken by many as a justification for not making a personal application. So, this article is written to prompt you and me to take teaching and admonition personally – to examine our own heart and life by the Word of God. If what you know you are is not consistent with what you know you should be, then admonitions to repentance are for you. You see, you must personally give an account unto God (Rom. 14:12). You will not be able to become “lost in the crowd” in the day of judgment. And, please do not become angry with the one who preaches the word of God when you rind your heart pricked by that word. Paul asked, “So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16) The Hebrew apostle wrote that the word of God is “sharper than any two-edged sword . . . quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

The philosophy of the compromiser seems to be that the most sanitary and painless way of dealing with sin is to “preach the principle, and let them make the application.” Jesus did not operate on that basis. He told the chief priest and Pharisees the parable of the wicked husbandmen in Matthew 21:23-46. When he asked them about the Lord’s predictable attitude toward the husbandmen, they said, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men. . . ” (v. 41). They had heard the principle, but failed to make the application. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you,” and that was plain enough. Verse 45 informs us that the Pharisees “perceived that he spake of them.” It did not take real intuitive folks to reach that conclusion. Peter on Pentecost preached the lofty principle of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. He also added the personal note, “whom ye crucified.” Preaching should be plain enough to get the point across, and provocative enough that the sinner is convicted.

A lot is being taught today from pen and pulpit regarding what is called “preaching opinion.” It seems to me that some are teaching that we cannot reason to a conclusion or apply revealed principles in some areas. Specific conclusions need to be reached and preached regarding such matters as modest apparel, social drinking, business ethics, parental and marital responsibilities, etc. It’s time some good and godly men and women expressed their sound judgment in these and other matters, and were not intimidated by those who would justify their worldliness by shouts of “opinion, opinion.” If those principles revealed in Holy Writ to govern our lives are not workable, then they are fallible and worthless.

This failure to see our specific duty is further seen in our lack of emphasis on individual effort in the kingdom of God. We have a collective mentality that judges success by what is accomplished by the local congregation, rather than taking account of our individual responsibility. You have been created by God in His own image – a being that is capable of understanding Truth, of knowing the difference between right and wrong, and of faithfully serving either God or Satan. God has chosen that through you His will be done on the earth. You, individually, are responsible for using your abilities and opportunities to the fullest. Some brethren are famous for attributing their “success” to their huge, costly organizations. However, true, lasting good in the Lord’s church is dependent upon you – your work, your sacrifice and your prayers.

We have a trite expression that says, “If the shoe fits, wear it” and another like unto it, “If I am ringing your number, answer it.” I will just say that when the things we write and speak from time to time do apply to me, you, or all of us -then for that person or group it was intended.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 14, pp. 419, 440
July 16, 1987

By Irvin Himmel

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him (Prov. 18:13).

This terse verse merits meditation. The lessons suggested by it should be of concern to all who want to serve God and be of help to mankind.

A Sad Fact

Sometimes when two people are trying to discuss opposing views, one displays rudeness by interrupting the other repeatedly. This discourtesy reflects a simple problem- There is a greater desire to reply to the other person than to hear his side of the matter.

Snap judgments are made relative to subjects and problems which ought to be weighed and studied carefully. It is a sad fact that many people are swift to draw conclusions before investigating.

Some people are quick to speak about things concerning which they know precious little, and to criticize the motives of others. James said, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Jas. 1: 19). The wisdom of this course should be self-evident.

Why Some People Answer Before Hearing

(1) Pride. Inordinate self-esteem makes certain individuals stubborn and tenacious in their wrong views. They may deceive themselves into thinking that they are thinking when they are only rearranging their prejudices to bolster their ego.

Such persons may pride themselves on their ability to size up an individual or situation from the outset. In their conceit they suppose that they can draw the right conclusions without examining facts. How little do they realize that most first impressions are notoriously inaccurate.

(2) Impatience. Some “minds cannot bear anything that requires close and long-sustained attention. They become uneasy, fretted, and fidgety; and are ever anxious to catch at any occasion for cutting the matter short and being done with it” (Ralph Wardlaw).

Learning the whole truth is sometimes a rather tedious process. It requires neither time nor effort to leap to a conclusion without learning what one should know before reaching a determination in his own mind. Before answering a matter, give yourself time.

(3) Partiality. A person who is partial to a particular view is tempted to weigh the facts with his thumb on the scales! Some are not really honest in their handling of the Scriptures on certain points. They tend to bend and twist the word of God to make it say what they desire to hear.

When two people are alienated from each other, some who pretend to seek information so they can help achieve reconciliation are interested only in what supports their personal preference. A mediator needs to be without bias, and this is seldom the case unless he is equally related to both parties. Partiality is a barrier to candid listening.

(4) Laziness. Prejudice is a lazy person’s substitute for thinking. He does not want to put out the mental energy necessary to learn the truth, so he forms an opinion which he voices strongly, but there is nothing to support his point of view.

In religion, some had rather drift along with whatever traditions they have inherited than to search the Scriptures. “A minimum of evidence and maximum of prejudice contribute to form the faith of many people” (W. F. Adeney).

(5) Reliance on feelings. “I can’t prove it, but I have a feeling,” says someone. Feelings are feelings and facts are facts, and the former cannot change the latter. While we rebuke our religious neighbors for following their feelings rather than the Bible, many of us talk a lot about our hunches and nebulous notions when we ought to keep quiet unless we have solid evidence.

Some Christians are strongly opinionated and highly vocal about their opinions. Blessed is the man who can keep his personal opinions to himself and not attempt to bind them on others!

The Art of Listening

“A listening ear leads straight to an understanding heart” (Andrew W. Blackwood, Jr.). No case can be decided correctly without the truth and the whole truth. We should be willing to hear all sides of a question.

Digging for facts is much better exercise than jumping to conclusions. After “fact-finding” comes “fact-facing.” Naked truth can be embarrassing, but we must develop the art of listening before speaking. And after we have gathered the facts, let us have the courage to face up to the truth.

Nicodemus said to the other Pharisees, “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” (John 7:51) Many of the Jewish leaders were more interested in condemning Jesus than in hearing his case.

The New English Bible translates this proverb as follows: “To answer a question before you have heard it out is both stupid and insulting.”

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 14, p. 422
July 16, 1987