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Editorial

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 30, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 18.

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Editorial

By F. M. W.

The Changing Emphasis

IN matters of faith and doctrine particularly, there is a changing emphasis in the world today. Doctrines which were believed and counted cardinal principles of faith a few decades ago are discounted or set aside today. There has come with this a great lowering of church standards. Church discipline with many denominations has been thrown to the winds. The line of demarcation between the church and the world has been practically obliterated.
How great this change is we can discern by comparing the standard of Christian living in the great Methodist Church today with the standard held by that church in the early days of its history. And in this the Methodist Church is by no means alone. It stands as a representative of Christendom as a whole. Some there are, earnest, godly men and women, who recognize this departure and deplore it. This note of sad regret is sounded in a message recently addressed to the Lutheran churches by the presidents of the synods and the president of the General Conference of that denomination. It was published in the Lutheran of Feb. 19, 1914. Among some of the great dangers threatening the Christian church at the present day there is emphasized that of worldliness. The editor says:—
We must confess, as pastors and people, that we are exposed to the danger of worldliness. We are living in an age of material prosperity and progress such as history knows not of. Men have become intoxicated with the glare and glitter of wealth, and stand aghast before the babel of human achievement in the world of industry and science. This has bred a spirit of self-sufficiency and smothered the spirit of dependence upon God. The worship of God has given way to the worship of man. This spirit has powerfully influenced the life of the church. Both pastors and people are in danger of being conformed to the fashion of this world. Pride is taking the place of self-denial, indulgence the place of discipline, and Belial the place of Christ. There is no clear line of demarcation between many professed followers of Christ and pure worldlings.
The church is being tempted to make an alliance between God and mammon, and her members have ceased to be a "peculiar people." Social customs and standards destructive of spiritual life are adopted or patterned after, and soul-destroying pleasures are eating like a canker into the vitals of the Christian life. The church often seems more concerned to please men than to save them, and is adopting the spirit and ways of the world. It is a compromising rather than a conquering church. The Scriptures are being betrayed and the gospel surrendered in the very citadels where the bulwarks are supposed to be thrown around them. Like a weak and foolish Samson, the church is toying with Delilah, and its strength is passing from it.
It is pertinent to inquire if in any measure this spirit which is leavening the churches around us is making any appeal to the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Are we departing from the simplicity of the faith? Is there coming into our teaching a changing emphasis of doctrine? We believe that the great cardinal features of this truth which were advocated by the apostles of this movement are still believed today in their fullness. It is true that some of these truths may be taught in different relationships in consequence of changing time and fulfilling prophecy, but those great cardinal truths which have brought us into being are still devoutly believed by this people, and may the day be long delayed when this shall be otherwise.
God has called Seventh-day Adventists into being to give a definite message of reform to the world. They cannot compromise that message and be guiltless. They cannot lower it to meet the standard of apostate Christianity and maintain thereby their own integrity. Fearlessly, unswervingly, but in the spirit of the Master, they must cry aloud and warn the world of its impending doom.
But while we have maintained our religious faith, have we also maintained that high standard of simplicity and devotion and consecration which marked the pioneers of this movement? In our answer to this question we cannot be so sanguine. Many, we know, have; the lives of hundreds of Seventh-day Adventists are marked with a spirit of devotion to and sacrifice and toil for this movement. But some we fear have suffered a lowering of the standard of their Christian experience. While they have slept, the enemy has stolen upon them unawares and sown tares in their experience. Men and women are connected with our churches today who are world-loving, careless, and indifferent. Connected with our institutions and organizations are some who are time-servers, and who are seeking for the loaves and fishes rather than for the heavenly manna.
God calls upon us today to exalt the standard in our own individual lives, and also in our churches. Wherein the spirit of worldliness or spiritual sloth and indifference exist there should active, earnest missionary labor be undertaken. Sin, wherever found, should be called by its right name. Achans in the camp of Israel today should be searched out, and earnest labor be put forth for their regeneration. The spirit of holy zeal should possess the members of the church of God, first to see that sin is removed from their own hearts, then from their own families, and then that the church itself shall stand where it can present a united front against the enemy of righteousness, and give an unwavering testimony in favor of God and his truth.
The Israel of God must stand without sin in the sight of their King. How long shall we delay the work of soul cleansing? How long shall we put off the day of making a full and final surrender? How long shall we dally with sin and court failure and defeat? The Lord Jesus Christ has purchased for us victory. He has procured liberty for those who are bound. He has opened the prison house and set the captives free. But we can never take advantage of this freedom which he has procured, this victory which he has purchased, if we are cherishing in our hearts and lives the spirit of worldliness. If in any measure we have departed from that high and holy standard which should be maintained by the children of God, let us hasten to return to our Father's house.
F. M. W.