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LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES
Part 1
by M.L. Andreason, an emeritus professor at Andrews University in those years...
THE WHITE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Early in the summer of 1957 I had placed in my hands, providentially, I believe, a copy of the minutes of the White Board of Trustees for May of that year. For those who are not familiar with this Board, I may state that it is a small committee appointed to have in trust the large volume of letters, manuscrïpts, and books left by the late Mrs. E.G. White. In counsel with the officers of the denomination, the board decides who is to have access to the material, and to what extent and for what purpose, what is to be published and what is not; and what material is not to be made available at all.
Much of the work of the committee consists in examining and editing those writings and recommending for publication such matter as appears to be of permanent value. This work is of great importance to the church, for only that which is released by the board sees the light of day. During her lifetime Mrs. White herself did much of the work of selecting and editing, and in all cases she had the oversight of what was done. All knew that whatever was published was under her supervision and that it had her approval. The board now has taken over this work.
A CHRISTIAN CHURCH, NOT A SECT!
According to the White minutes, it was on the first day of May, 1957, that two men, members of the committee which had been appointed to write the book that came to be known as Questions on Doctrine, were invited by the board to meet with them to discuss a question that had received some consideration at a meeting the previous January. It concerned statements made by Mrs. White in regard to the atonement now in progress in the sanctuary above. This conception did not agree with the evangelicals. To understand this fully, and its importance, it is necessary to review some history.
The Adventist leaders had for some time been in contact with two ministers of another faith, evangelicals, Dr. Barnhouse and Mr. Martin, respectively editor and an assistant editor of the religious journal Eternity, published in Philadelphia, and had discussed with them various of our doctrines. In these conversations, as in the numerous letters that passed between them, the evangelicals had raised serious objections to some of our beliefs.
The question of greatest importance was whether Adventists could be considered Christians while holding such views as the doctrine of the sanctuary, the 2,300 days, the date 1844, the investigative judgment and Christ's atoning work in the sanctuary in Heaven since 1844. Our men expressed the desire that the Adventist church be reckoned as one of the regular Protestant churches, a Christian church, not a sect.
The two groups spent "hundreds of hours" studying and wrote many hundreds of pages. The evangelicals visited our headquarters in Takoma Park, and our men visited Philadelphia and were guests at Dr. Barnhouse in his comfortable home. From time to time other men were called into consultation on such matters as the Voice of Prophecy and our periodicals, all with a view of ascertaining what stood in the way of our being recognized as a Christian denomination.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 2
ARRANGEMENTS WORKED OUT!
After long and protracted discussions, the two parties came at last to a working agreement, and though the evangelicals still objected to a number of our doctrines, they were willing to recognize us as Christians. We would need to make some changes in some of our books in regard to the "mark of the beast" and also "regarding the nature of Christ while in the flesh." Eternity Magazine, September 1956.
This was brought to the "attention of the General Conference officers, that the situation might be remedied and such publications might be corrected." The corrections were made, and "this action of the Seventh-day Adventists was indicative of similar steps that were taken subsequently." Ibid.
The evangelicals published a report of their conferences with the Adventists in Eternity from which the above quotations are taken. The Adventists published no report. Even at the General Conference session last year (1958), the matter was not discussed. Only a few knew that there had been any conferences with the evangelicals. There were rumors that the Adventists leaders had been in conference with the evangelicals, but that was considered by some only as hearsay. The few who did know kept their counsel. There seemed to be a conspiracy of secrecy.
Till this day (1958) we do not know, and are not supposed to know, who carried on the conferences with the evangelicals. We do not know, and are not supposed to know, who wrote Questions on Doctrine. Diligent inquiry produced no result. We do not know, and are not supposed to know, just what changes were made, and in what books, concerning the mark of the beast and the nature of Christ while in the flesh. We do not know who authorized the omission of the thirteenth chapter of Revelation in our Sabbath school lessons of the second quarter of 1958, which deals with the mark of the beast.
Dr. Barhnouse reports that to "avoid charges brought against them by the evangelicals", the Adventists "worked out arrangements' that concerned the Voice of Prophecy and the Signs of the Times. What was "worked out" we do not know and are not told. Should we not have a detailed report? We, of course, also wonder how it came to pass that ministers of another denomination had any voice or any say whatsoever in how we conduct our work. Have our leaders abdicated? How is it that they consult the evangelicals and keep our own people in the dark?
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 3
WHAT WAS DONE AT THE CONFERENCES?
For a report of this we are confined almost entirely to the published account in Eternity. The subject that took up much of the time at the conferences was that of the sanctuary. Dr. Barnhouse was frank in his estimate of this doctrine. In particular did he object to our teaching on the investigative judgment which he characterized as "the most colossal, psychological, face-saving phenomenon in religious history." Later he called it "the unimportant and almost naive doctrine of the investigative judgment." Eternity, September, 1956.
Dr. Barnhouse, in discussing Hiram Edson's explanation of the disappointment in 1844, says that the assumption that Christ "has a work to perform in the most holy place before coming to this earth... is a human, face-saving idea (which) some uninformed adventists... carried to fantastic, literalistic extremes. Mr. Martin and I heard the Adventists leaders say, flatly, that they repudiated all such extremes. This they said in no uncertain terms. Further, they do not believe, as some of their earlier teachers taught that Jesus' atoning work was not completed on Calvary, but instead that He was still carrying on a second ministerial work since 1844. This idea is also totally repudiated." Ibid.
Note these statements: The idea that Christ "had a work to perform in the most holy place before coming to this earth... is a human, face-saving idea." Mr. Martin and I heard the Adventist leaders say flatly that they repudiated such extremes. This they said in no uncertain terms."
I think it is due the denomination to have a clear-cut statement from our leaders if Dr. Barnhouse and Mr. Martin told the truth when they heard our leaders say that they repudiated the idea that Christ had a work to do in the second apartment before coming to this earth. This question demands a clear-cut answer.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 4
THE ATONEMENT
Before reporting further what was done at the conferences, let us come back to the two men who on that first day of May 1957, met with the White Board of Trustees to seek their counsel and, also, to make a suggestion.
The men were well acquainted with the statements made by Dr. Barnhouse and Mr. Martin, that the idea of Christ's ministry in the second apartment in the sanctuary above had been totally repudiated. This had been in print several months at that time, and had not been protested. The men, however, did not need the printed statement, for both of them had had a part in the discussions with the evangelicals.
One of them in particular had taken a prominent part in the conferences, had visited Dr. Barnhouse in his home, had spoken in Dr. Barnhouse's churches at his invitation. He was one of the four men who really carried the load, and the one chosen to accompany Mr. Martin on his tour of the west coast to speak in our churches. He was held in high esteem by Dr. Barnhouse. This feeling was mutual.
About the time when the two men first visited the vault, a series of articles appeared in the Ministry which claimed to be "the Adventist understanding of the atonement, confirmed and illuminated and clarified by the Spirit of Prophecy." In the February issue, 1957, the statement occurs that the "sacrificial act on the cross (is) a complete, perfect, and final atonement for man's sin."
This pronouncement is in harmony with the belief of our leaders, as Dr. Barnhouse quoted them. It is also in harmony with a statement signed by a chief officer in a personal letter:
"You cannot, brother Andreason, take away from us this precious teaching that Jesus made a complete and all-sufficient atoning sacrifice on the cross... This we shall ever hold fast, and continue to proclaim it, even as our dear venerated forefathers in the faith."
It would be interesting if the writer would produce proof of his assertion. The truth is our forefathers believed and proclaimed no such thing. They did not believe that the work on the cross was complete and all-sufficient. They did believe that a ransom was there paid and that this was all-sufficient; but the final atonement awaited Christ's entrance into the most holy in 1844. This the Adventists have always taught and believed, and this is the old and established doctrine which our venerated forefathers believed and proclaimed.
They could not teach that the atonement on the cross was final, complete and all-sufficient, and yet believe that another atonement also final, occurred in 1844. Such would be absurd and meaningless. Paying the penalty for our sin was, indeed, a vital and necessary part of God's plan for our salvation, but it was by no means all. It was, as it were, placing in the bank of Heaven a sum sufficient and in every way adequate for any contingency, and which could be drawn on by and for each individual as needed. This payment was "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb, without blemish and without spot." 1 Peter 1;19.
In His death on the cross Jesus "paid it all"; but the precious treasure becomes efficacious for us only as Christ draws upon it for us, and this must await the coming into the world of each individual; hence, the atonement must continue as long as people are born.
Christ's death upon the cross was the "condition" for the atonement:
"Christ's sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete. The condition for the atonement had been fulfilled. The work for which He had come to this world had been accomplished.. He had won the Kingdom. He had wrested it from Satan and had become heir of all things." E.G.White, Acts of the Apostles, p.29.
After His resurrection, He ascended up on High to make atonement for our transgressions:
"The intercession of Christ in our behalf is that of presenting His divine merits in the offering of Himself to the Father as our Substitute and Surety, for He ascended up on High to make atonement for our transgressions." E.G. White, Signs of the Times, July 4, 1892.
On the 22nd of October 1844, He moved from the holy to the most holy apartment to begin the final atonement! This we shall see later.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 5
THE MERITS OF CHRIST: INEXHAUSTIBLE FUND
Hear this:
"There is an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing from His obedience. How is it, that such an infinite treasure is not appropriated? In Heaven, the merits of Christ, His self-denial, and self-sacrifice, are treasured up as incense, to be offered up with the prayers of His people." General Conference Bulletin, Vol.3:101,102, Fourth Quarter, 1899.
Note the phrases: "inexhaustible fund", "merits of Christ". This fund was deposited at the cross, but not "used up" there. It is "treasured up" and offered up with the prayers of God's people. And especially since 1844 is this fund drawn on heavily as God's people advance to holiness; but it is not exhausted, there is sufficient and to spare.
When we pray, in this year of 1959, Christ intercedes for us and mingles with our prayers "the merits of His own life of obedience. Our prayers are made fragrant by this incense. Christ has pledged Himself to intercede in our behalf and the Father hears His Son." Ibid. *"Jesus has turned the merits of His sacrifice into prayer. Jesus prays, and by prayer succeeds." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p.914. *supplied
Contrast this with the statement in Questions on Doctrine, page 381:
"Jesus appeared in the presence of God for us... But it was not with the hope of obtaining something for us at that time or at some future time. No! He had already obtained it for us on the cross."
Note the picture: Christ appears in the presence of God for us. He pleads, but He gets nothing. For 1800 years He pleads, and gets nothing. Does He not know that He already has it? Will no one inform Him that it is useless to plead? He Himself has "no hope" of getting anything now or at any future time. And yet He pleads, and keeps on pleading. What a sight for the angels! And this is represented to be Adventist teaching! This is the book that has the approval of Adventist leaders and is sent out to the world to show what we believe. May God forgive us. How can we stand before the world and convince any one that we believe in a Savior who is mighty to save, when we present Him as pleading in vain before the Father?
But thank God, this is not Adventist doctrine. Hear this from Mrs. White, as quoted above:
"Christ has pledged Himself to intercede in our behalf, and the Father always hears His Son."
*"The intercession of Christ in our behalf is that of presenting His divine merits in the offering of Himself to the Father as our Substitute and Surety, for He ascended up on High to make atonement for our transgressions." Signs of the Times, July 4, 1892. *supplied
This is Christianity, and the other is not.
Shall we remain silent under such conditions?
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
PART 6
THE HUMAN NATURE OF CHRIST
It may interest the reader to know how the new theology regarding the human nature of Christ came to be accepted by the leaders, and how it came to be included in QUESTIONS ON DOCTRINE, and thus receive official standing.
The question of the nature of Christ while in the flesh is one of the foundation pillars of Christianity. On this doctrine hangs the destiny of man. The apostle John makes it a deciding factor by saying, "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." "And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God." 1 John 4:2,3.
In what kind of flesh did Jesus come to this earth? "Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation." Desire of Ages, p.117. "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh." Rom.1:3.
Only as Christ placed Himself on the level of the humanity He had come to save, could He demonstrate to men how to overcome their infirmities and passions. If the men with whom He associated had understood that He was exempt from the passions with which they had to battle, His influence would immediately have been destroyed and He would be reckoned a deceiver. His pronouncement, "I have overcome the world," (John 16:33), would be accepted as a dishonest boast; for without passions He had nothing to overcome. His promise that "to him that overcomes will I grant to sit down with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father on His throne," (Revelation 3:21), would be met by the claim that if God would exempt men from passions, they also could do what Christ had done.
That God exempted Christ from the passions that corrupt men, is the acme of all heresy. It is destruction of all true religion and completely nullifies the plan of redemption, and makes God a deceiver and Christ His accomplice. Great responsibility rests upon those who teach such false doctrine to the destruction of souls.
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I have all unpublished manuscript testimonies of Ellen G White in a wire bound manuscript that was copied in 1915-1916. Untouched
Then I have Daniel and the Revelation the same. In the front of this one Letter 12, 1890
Satan is.. constantly pressing in the spurious-- to lead away from the truth. The very last deception of Satan will be tao make of none effect the testiomony of the Spirit of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish". Satan will work ingeniously, in different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony.
Letter 40, 1890
There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.
I believe all this was copied long ago for the above reasons that were foretold this very thing to happen.
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"I believe all this was copied long ago for the above reasons that were foretold this very thing to happen."
Very true tinka. The following statements confirm this:
"For the last fifty years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us... especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary... Do you wonder that when I see the beginning of a work that would remove some of the pillars of our faith, I have something to say? I must obey the command, 'Meet it!'" Series B, No.2, page 58.
Again: "The enemy has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced... Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement." Ibid, 54,55; Selected Messages, Vol.1, pp.204,205.
"Shall we keep silent for fear of hurting their feelings?... Shall we keep silent for fear of injuring their influence, while souls are being beguiled... My message to you is: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth." Ibid, 9,15.
"I am bidden to warn that deceptive sentiments are entertained, a false modesty and caution, a disposition to withhold the profession of our faith. In the night season, matters have been presented before me that have greatly troubled my mind. I have seemed to be in meetings for counsel where these subjects were presented, advocating concessions. Brethren, shall we permit the world to shape the message that God has given us to bear to the world? Shall we for the sake of policy, betray a sacred trust... Let it be understood that Seventh-day Adventists can make no compromise." Counsels to Writers and Editors, pp.94,95.
"In a representation which passed before me, I saw a certain work being done. The foundation of our faith, which was established by so much prayer, such earnest searching of the scrïptures, was being taken down, pillar by pillar. Our faith was to have nothing to rest upon--the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone." The Upward Look, p.152.8.
sky
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Letters to the Churches
Part 7
A GOD-DISHONORING DOCTRINE
The truth of course, is that God "spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us," (Romans 8:32); rather because His nature was sensitive to the least slight or disrespect or contempt, His tests were harder and His temptations stronger than any we have to endure. He resisted "even unto blood". No, God did not spare or exempt Him. In His agony He "offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared." Hebrews 5:7. "Though He were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which He suffered." Verse 8.
In view of all this, we repeat the question, How did this God-dishonoring doctrine find its way into our denomination? Was it the result of close and prayerful study by competent men over a series of years, and were the final conclusions submitted to the denomination in public representative meetings, advertised beforehand in the Review giving the details of what changes were contemplated, as the denomination has voted as the proper procedure? None of these things were done. An anonymous book appeared and men were judged and the brakes tightened on any one who objected.
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Letters to the Churches
Part 8
THE STORY
Here is the story of how this new doctrine found its way into the denomination as reported by Dr.Donald Grey Barnhouse, editor of the religious journal, Eternity, in the September, 1956, issue of his magazine, later issued as a copyrighted article entitled, "Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians?"
With permission we quote from this article. We may inject that Dr. Barnhouse advises us that the entire content of the article was submitted to the Adventist brethren for approval before publication. The fact that this report has been in print for nearly three years (1959) and no correction or protest has been forthcoming from our leaders would strongly argue that they accept the truthfulness of the account.
Dr. Barnhouse reports that "a little less than two years ago it was decided that Mr. Martin should undertake research in connection with Seventh-day Adventism." Mr. Walter R. Martin was at that time a candidate for degree of Doctor of Philosophy in New York University and also connected with the editorial staff of Eternity. Wishing to get firsthand and reliable information, Mr. Martin went to Washington to the Adventist headquarters where he got in touch with some of the leaders. "The response was immediate and enthusiastic."
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Letters to the Churches
Part 9
TANTAMOUNT TO AN ABDICATION
Mr. Martin "immediately perceived that the Adventists were strenuously denying certain doctrinal positions which had been previously attributed to them." Chief among these were the question of the mark of the beast, and the nature of Christ in the flesh.
Mr. Martin "pointed out to them that in their bookstore adjoining the building in which these meetings were taking place, a certain volume published by them and written by one of their ministers categorically stated the contrary to what they were now asserting. The leaders sent for the book, discovered that Mr. Martin was correct, and immediately brought this fact to the attention of the General Conference officers, that the situation might be remedied and such publications be corrected.
This concerned particularly the doctrine of the mark of the beast and the fundamental doctrines of the Adventist church held from near its beginning. When the leaders discovered that Mr. Martin was correct, they suggested to the officers that the situation be remedied and such publications be corrected."
This was done. We are not informed which publications were so "remedied and corrected", nor if the authors were notified before the changes were made; nor if the duly appointed house committee was consulted; nor if the book editors or the publishing house were agreeable to the changes.
We do know, however, that in the Sabbath school lessons for the second quarter of 1958, which dealt with the book of Revelation, chapter by chapter, the thirteenth chapter which discusses the mark of the beast was entirely omitted. Chapter 12 was there, so was chapter 14, but there was no chapter 13. The Sabbath school lessons had evidently been "remedied and corrected."
It is certainly anomalous when a minister of another denomination has enough influence with our leaders to have them correct our theology, effect a change in the teaching of the denomination on a most vital doctrine of the church, and even invade the Sabbath schools of the world and withhold from them the important lessons of Revelation 13. For our leaders to accept this is tantamount to an abdication of their leadership.
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Letters to the Churches
Part 10
THE GREATEST UNTRUTH EVER
But this is not all. Dr. Barnhouse reports that the same procedure was repeated regarding the nature of Christ in the flesh, the subject with which we have been here dealing. Our leaders assured Mr. Martin that "the majority of the denomination has always held (the nature of Christ while in the flesh) to be sinless, holy, and perfect, despite the fact that certain of their writers have occasionally gotten into print with contrary views completely repugnant to the church at large."
If our leaders told Mr. Martin this, they told the greatest untruth ever. For the denomination has never held any other view than that expressed by Mrs. White in the quotations used in this article. We challenge our leaders or anybody, to produce proof of their assertion. How grossly untrue is the statement that certain writers got into print with views "completely repugnant to the church at large."
Mrs. White was one of those writers who "got into print." Hear also what our standard book, Bible Readings for the Home Circle, sold to the public by the millions, has to say on the subject. I have before me two copies, one printed by the Pacific Press in 1916, the other by the Southern Publishing house in 1944. They both read alike. Here is the accepted teaching by the denomination:
"In His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen nature. If not, then He was not 'made like unto His brethren', was not 'in all points tempted like as we are', did not overcome as we have to overcome, and is not, therefore, the complete and perfect Savior man needs and must have to be saved. The idea that Christ was born of an immaculate or sinless mother, inherited no tendencies to sin, and for this reason did not sin, removes Him from the realm of a fallen world, and from the very place where help is needed.
On His human side, Christ inherited just what every child of Adam inherits--a sinful nature. On the divine side, from His very conception He was begotten and born of the Spirit. And all this was done to place mankind on vantage ground, and to demonstrate that in the same way every one who is born of the Spirit may gain the victories over sin in his own sinful flesh. Thus each one is to overcome as Christ overcame. (Revelation 3:21). Without this birth there can be no victory over temptation, and no salvation from sin. John 3:3-7." page 21.
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Letters to the Churches
Part 11
THE LUNATIC FRINGE
In explanation of how these writers "got into print" with their views, our leaders told Mr. Martin that "they had among their number certain members of their 'lunatic fringe', even as there are similar 'wild-eyed irresponsibles' in every field of fundamental Christianity."
I think this is going too far. Mrs. White did not belong to the "lunatic fringe" who got into print, nor did the authors of Bible Readings. Our leaders should make a most humble apology to the denomination for such a slur upon their members. It is almost unbelievable that they should have made such statements. But the accusation has been in print nearly three years, and there has been no protest of any kind. I am humiliated that such accusations should have been made, and even more so that our leaders are completely callous in their attitude toward them.
That the reader may see for himself the original report of Dr. Barnhouse, I herewith reproduce portions of the reprint, "Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians?" This is not the report in full, but only that part which relates to the question here discussed. Later I shall present other extracts.
"A little less than two years ago it was decided that Mr. Martin should undertake research in connection with Seventh-day Adventism. We got into touch with the Adventists saying that we wished to treat them fairly and would appreciate the opportunity of interviewing some of their leaders. The response was immediate and enthusiastic....
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Letters to the Churches
Part 12
THE MAJORITY GROUP OF SANE LEADERSHIP
"Mr. Martin went to Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist movement. At first the two groups looked upon each other with great suspicion. Mr. Martin had read a vast quantity of Adventist literature and presented them with a series of approximately forty questions concerning their theological position. On a second visit he was presented with scores of pages of detailed theological answers to his questions. Immediately it was perceived that the Adventists were strenuously denying certain doctrinal positions which have been attributed to them."
"Mr. Martin's book on Seventh-day Adventism will appear in print within a few months. It will carry a foreword by responsible leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist church to the effect that they have not been misquoted in the volume and that the areas of agreement and disagreement as set forth by Mr. Martin are accurate from their point of references as well as from our evangelical point of view. All of Mr. Martin's references to a new Adventist volume on their doctrines will be from the page proof of their book, which will appear in print simultaneously with his work. Henceforth any fair criticism of the Adventist movement must refer to these simultaneous publications.
"The position of the Adventists seem to some of us in certain cases to be a new position; to them it may be merely the position of the majority group of sane leadership which is determined to put the brakes on any members who seek to hold views divergent from that of the responsible leadership of the denomination.
"To avoid charges that have been brought against them by evangelicals, Adventists have already worked out arrangements that the Voice of Prophecy radio program and the Signs of the Times, their largest paper, be identified as representations of the Seventh-day Adventist church."
to be continued
*Tinka, the questions you raised about the trinity should be the topic of a different thread, if you dont mind. This thread is only one third done. Hope you get a blessing.
sky
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It seems impossible for me to take off my posts. If the moderator can do it please do as it will not let me modify. I should have understood the continued at the end.
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It seems impossible for me to take off my posts. If the moderator can do it please do as it will not let me modify. I should have understood the continued at the end.
Tinka and Sky, I have split Tinka's post regarding the Trinity into a new thread.
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Oh okay. Thanks George.
sky
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Letters to the Churches
Part 13
CERTAIN SALIENT FACTS
In closing this paper, I wish to emphasize certain salient facts:
1. Questions on Doctrine, page 383, states that Christ was exempt. The Spirit of Prophecy makes clear that Christ was not exempt, from the temptations and passions that affect men. Whoever accepts the new theology must reject the Testimonies. There is no other choice.
2. Mr. Martin was instrumental in having our teaching on the mark of the beast and the nature of Christ in the flesh changed. Similar changes were made in other books, but we are not informed what those changes are.
3. Our leaders have promised not to proselytize. This effectively will stop our work for the world. And we have promised to report to Mr. Martin those who transgress.
4. We have been threatened to have the brakes applied to such as fail to believe and follow the leaders. Such are characterized as "wild-eyed irresponsibles" and are said to constitute the "lunatic fringe."
5. We are appalled to learn that in some way these evangelical clergymen have had enough influence with our leaders to cause the Voice of Prophecy and the Signs of the Times to trim their sails to "avoid charges that have been brought against them by evangelicals". This is terrifying news. These organs are instruments of God, and it is unbelievable that the leaders should permit any outside influence to affect them. In this a great sin against the denomination has been committed that can be blotted out only by deep repentance of the guilty parties, or in lieu of this, that the men concerned quietly resign from holy office.
Our members are largely unaware of the conditions existing, and every effort is being made to keep them in ignorance. Orders have been issued to keep everything secret, and it will be noted that even at the late General Conference session (1958) no report was given of our leaders' trafficking with the evangelicals and making alliances with them. Our officials are playing with fire, and the resulting conflagration will fulfill the prediction that the coming Omega of apostasy "will be of a most startling nature." Selected Messages, Vol.1, p.197.
Seven times I have asked for a hearing, and I have been promised one, but only on the condition that I meet privately with certain men, and that no record be given me of the proceedings. I have asked for a public hearing, or if it is to be a private one, that a tape recording be made, and that I be given a copy. This has been denied me. As I cannot have such a hearing, I am writing these messages which contain, and will contain, what I would have said at such a hearing. Can the reader surmise the reason why the officers do not want the hearing I ask?
I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I love this message that I have preached for so long. I grieve deeply as I see the foundation pillars being destroyed, the blessed truths that have made us what we are, abandoned.
I am thankful to be in good health and wish that the blessing of the Lord may be with each reader. We have come to strenuous times, and it behooves each to keep close to God in these perilous times. The Lord be with you.
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Letters to the Churches
Part 14
THE MAY FIRST MEETING
I doubt that the Adventist leaders were fully aware of the many references in Mrs. White's works to the atonement now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary since 1844. If they were, how would they have dared to take the position they did in regard to the sanctuary question? This idea finds support in the apparent surprise of the two men who visited the vault and stated that in their research they had "become acutely aware of the E.G. White statements which indicate that the atoning work of Christ is now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary." Minutes, May 1, 1957, page 1483.
Why did they become acutely aware? The discovery seemed to surprise them. In using the plural, they admit of more than one reference. I do not know how many they found. I have found seventeen, and there are doubtless others. And why did they use the word "indicate"? Mrs. White does more than indicate. She makes definite pronouncements. Here are some of them:
"At the termination of the 2300 days in 1844, Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the closing work of atonement, preparatory to His coming." Great Controversy, 422.
"Christ had only completed one part of His work as our Intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work, and He still pleaded the merits of His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners." Ibid, 429.
"At the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844, Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement." Ibid, 433.
These statements are definite. It was at the end of the 2300 days in 1844, that Christ entered the most holy "to perform the closing work of the atonement." He had only completed one part of His work as our Intercessor, in the first apartment. Now He enters upon another portion of the work. He pleads the merits of His blood before the Father. He is continually standing at the altar. This is necessary because of he continual commission of sin. Jesus presents the oblation for every offense and every shortcoming of the sinner. This argues a continuing, present atonement. "He ever lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 15
ATTEMPTED TAMPERING
It is presumed that when the two men stated that they had "become acutely aware of the E.G. White statements which indicate that the atoning work of Christ is now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary," they had read the quotations cited above and perhaps others. Would they change their former erroneous opinions and harmonize with the plain words of the Spirit of Prophecy? No, on the contrary, they "suggested to the trustees that some footnotes or Appendix notes might appear in certain of the E.G. White books clarifying very largely in the words of Ellen G. White our understanding of the various phases of the atoning work of Christ." Minutes, page 1483.
Ponder this amazing statement. They admit that Mrs. White says that "the atoning work of Christ is now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary," and then they propose that insertions be made in some of Mrs. White's books that will give our understanding of the atonement! They were, however, only acting in harmony with the official statement in Questions on Doctrine that when one reads "in the writings of E.G. White--that Christ is making atonement now, it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making application", etc., pages 354,355.
If Sister White were now living and should read this, she would most certainly deal with presumptuous writers and in words that could be understood. She would not concede the right of anyone, whoever he might be, to change what she has written or interpret it so as to vitiate its clear meaning. The claim which Questions on Doctrine makes that she means what she does not say, effectively destroys the force of all she has ever written. If we have to consult an inspired interpreter from Washington before knowing what she means, we might better discard the Testimonies altogether. May God save His people.
Early in this century when the fate of the denomination hung in the balance, Sister White wrote: "Satan has laid his plans to undermine our faith in the history of the cause and work of God. I am deeply in earnest as I write this; Satan is working with men in prominent positions to sweep away the foundation of our faith. Shall we allow this to be done, brethren?" Review and Herald, Nov.12, 1903.
Answering the question, she says: "My message to you is: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth. I have been instructed to warn our people; for many are in danger of receiving theories and sophistries that undermine the foundation pillars of the faith." Letters to Physicians and Ministers, Series B, No.2, p.15.
"For the past fifty years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us, to becloud our minds regarding the teaching of the Word--especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary... But the waymarks which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has signified, through His Word and the Testimonies of His Spirit. He calls upon us to hold firmly, with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority." Ibid, 59.
"Do you wonder that when I see the beginning of a work that would remove the pillars of our faith, I have something to say? I must obey the command, 'Meet it.'" Ibid, 58.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 16
THE MINUTES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
After this situation came to my knowledge, I did a great deal of praying. What was my responsibility in this matter, or did I have any? I confided in no one. I decided my first responsibility would be to the officials in Washington, so I wrote to headquarters. I was there informed that I had no right to the information I had. That was supposed to be secret, and I had no right even to read the documents.
After four letters were passed. I was told that they did not care to discuss the matter further. The matter was settled. When I inquired if this meant that the door was closed, I received this reply: "I have considered the matter to which you have referred as closed." As to the scurrilous and untrue article in the Ministry, "I have discussed this with the brethren concerned and would like to leave the matter there." So the door was closed.
Here are some of the official pronouncements:
"The minutes are confidential and not intended for public use." If wrong is committed, is it forbidden to expose it merely because some want to keep it confidential?
"You are doing this upon hearsay and upon confidential minutes which you had no right even to read." No one ever talked to me of this or informed me. I read the minutes and acted upon them. The minutes are not hearsay. They are officially documented and signed.
"... you have no right even to read."
When I have evidence that to me seems destructive of the faith, am I to close my eyes to what I consider premeditated attempts to mislead the people by the insertions of notes, explanations, and appendix notes in the books of Mrs. White? Is this officially approved?
"I wish to repeat what I wrote before, that men have a perfect right to go to boards, including the White Estate group, and make their suggestions without fear of being disciplined or dealt with as heretics."
"To suggest that good and faithful Seventh -day Adventist men sat down to tamper with the pillars of our faith is as far from fact as the poles are apart... tampering with the Testimonies, when so such thing ever took place, nor was there any attempt ever made to do this."
I leave to the reader's decision just why the men went to the committee: did they not come to have insertions, notes, Appendix notes, explanations made in "some of the E.G. White books?"
While the committee eventually decided not to do this, the guilt of the men is not changed by that fact. To assert that as for "tampering with the Testimonies when no such thing ever took place nor was there any attempt ever made to do this," the Minutes speak for themselves.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 17
A SERIOUS SITUATION
This vault episode brings into focus a serious situation. It is not merely a matter of two men attempting to have insertions made in some of Mrs. White's books. A much more serious thing is that this act had the approval of the administration, who stated that the men had a "perfect right" to do what they did. This pronouncement opens the way for others to follow, and as the matter is kept secret, great abuse could readily result. Undoubtedly, if the matter is left to a vote of the people, there will be no permission for any to tamper, or attempt to tamper, with the writings of Ellen G. White.
The men who visited the vault May 1, as related, stated clearly that they had discovered that Mrs. White taught plainly "that the atoning work of Christ is now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary." On the other hand, the Ministry of February, 1957, stated the very opposite. It said that the "sacrificial act on the cross is a complete, perfect, and final atonement for men's sins."
Questions on Doctrine attempts to reconcile these opposing views by stating that whether one "hears an Adventist say, or reads in Adventist literature--even in the writings of Ellen G. White--that Christ is making atonement now, it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making application," etc. Pages 354,355.
It is clear that if the atonement on the cross was final, there cannot be a later atonement also final. When we therefore for a hundred years have preached that the great day of atonement (final atonement) began in 1844, we were wrong. It ended 1800 years before.
The hundreds of books we have published; the more than a million copies of Bible Readings we have sold; the millions of hand bills we have distributed saying that it is "court week in Heaven," were all false doctrine, the Bible instruction we have given the children and the young ministry and which they have inbibed as Bible truth, is a fable. Uriah Smith, Loughborough, J Andrews, Watson, Jones, Daniells, Branson, Johnson, Lacey, Haskell, Gilbert, and a host of others stand convicted of having taught false doctrine; and the whole denomination whose chief contribution to Christianity is the sanctuary doctrine and Christ's ministry, must now confess that we were all wrong, and that we have no message to the world for these last days.
In other words, we were a deceived and deceiving people. The fact that we may have been honest does not alter the fact that we have given a false message. Take away from us the sanctuary question, the investigative judgment, the message of the 2300 days, Christ's work in the most holy, and we have no right to exist as a denominated people, as God's messengers to a doomed world. If the Spirit of Prophecy has led us astray these many years, let us throw it away.
But no! Halt! God has not led us astray. We have not told cunningly devised fables. We have a message that will stand the test and confound the undermining theories that are finding their way in among us. It is not the people that have gone astray except as they have followed the leaders. It is time that there be a turn-about.
It is now more than four years ago that the apostasy began to be plainly evident. Since that time there has been a deliberate attempt to weaken the faith in the Spirit of Prophecy, as it is clear that as long as the people revere the gift given us, they cannot be led far astray. Of this we shall speak shortly.
The time for action has come. The time to open up the dark corners has arrived. There must no longer be any secret agreements, no compact with other denominations who hate the law and the Sabbath, who ridicule our most holy faith. We must no longer hobnob with enemies of the truth, no more promise that we will not proselytize. We must not tolerate leadership which condone tamperings with the writings entrusted to us, and stigmatizes as belonging to the lunatic fringe those who dare disagree with them. We must no longer remain silent. To thy tents, O Israel!
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 18
RECKONED AMONG THE ESTABLISHED CHURCHES
I have been uneasy since I first heard that our leaders were negotiating with the Evangelicals but had hoped that the blandishment of our church's being reckoned among the established churches as being one of them would not appeal to our men. We had heard too many sermons on the text,"The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations,(denominations)" to be deceived. (Numbers 23:9.)
As the negotiations were considered top secret it was some time before any definite news leaked out. When it did, it was disturbing. Washington furnished little news, and all others informed me they had nothing to say. It seemed apparent, however, our leaders were being influenced and steps were being taken that would be hard to retrace.
The first authentic news did not come from our leaders or through our journals but from an Evangelical publication dated September, 1956, which issued a special edition with an account of what had taken place. This account was so unbelievable that we hesitated to give it credence. We were sure that what it reported had never taken place and that our leaders would promptly issue a denial. We waited a year, we waited two. But until this date, no protest or denial has been issued. Reluctantly, we must, therefore, accept the account as true. Let us consider the situation as it has developed.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 19
A CHANGE OF EMPHASIS
Of late years there has been a change of emphasis in the Ministry and not for the better. This change coincides with the period in which our leaders have been in close contact and rapport with the Evangelicals. The trend was in evidence before, but now has blossomed. As an example of this, I shall call attention to an article in the February, 1957, issue entitled, "The Priestly Application of the Atoning Act."
It is claimed that it "is the Adventist understanding of the atonement, confirmed and illustrated and clarified by the Spirit of Prophecy." As it has not been renounced or protested, we may justly conclude that it is officially approved.
The author gives a short tribute to the "magnifying glass", the Spirit of Prophecy, then goes on to state that the atonement "... is not, on the one hand, limited just to the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. On the other hand, neither is it confined to the ministry of our heavenly High Priest in the sanctuary above, on the anti typical day of atonement, or hour of God's judgment, as some of our forefathers first erroneously thought and wrote." Ministry, February, 1957, page 9.
The author stresses the fact that the Spirit of Prophecy clearly teaches that both these aspects are included, "one aspect being incomplete without the other, and each being the indispensable complement of the other". Ibid.
That is, both the death on the cross and Christ's ministry in the second apartment are necessary to atonement. With this, we are in full agreement. The death was a necessary part of the atonement. The one is incomplete without the other.
This point should be noted, for a few sentences further on, the author will say that the death on the cross is complete in itself; to quote: "The sacrificial act of the cross is a complete, perfect and final atonement for man's sin." Page 10.
After having first said that the sacrificial death was incomplete, he now says it is complete, perfect, and final. He does not consider the death merely as a partial atonement, but a complete and perfect and final one. With this we disagree. The two statements are irreconcilable.
This is more than merely an unfortunate wording. While in the next paragraph the author gives lip service to the need of a ministration in the sanctuary above, he leaves out every essential feature of the atonement and omits the dates which are essential to the Adventist concept of a final atonement, which justifies our existence as a people with the message for the world at this time.
In his explanation of Christ's work in the sanctuary, he does not refer to or mention Daniel 8:14: "Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Without this text, Christ's work in the sanctuary becomes meaningless. He does not mention 457 B.C. or the 70 weeks, or the middle of the week which pinpoints the time of the sacrifice on the cross, and is "... as a nail in a sure place," (Isaiah 22:23) to which we fasten the whole chronological scheme in prophecy and which also justifies the date, 1844.
Remove or change these dates, and Adventists are without an anchor for the chronological system climaxing in 1844, and are unable to justify their existence as a people who are to proclaim this most important message to the world for this time: "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." Revelation 14:7. Every one of these dates the author leaves out, and what remains, in the words of Dr. Barnhouse, "is flat, stale, and unprofitable." Eternity Extra, September 1956, page 4.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Part 20
A COMPREHENSIVE ASSEMBLAGE!!!
In Questions on Doctrine, beginning at page 661, there is a section C consisting of collections from the writings of Mrs. White on the subject of atonement, thirty pages in all. It claims to be a "comprehensive assemblage" of Mrs. White's teachings on the atonement.
From the use of the word, "comprehensive", I expected to find a full and extensive collection. But in consulting this material, I was disappointed in its paucity and one-sidedness. I found it to be a very incomplete and meagre collection, leaving out numerous quotations that rightly belong even in a small compilation, not to say a comprehensive one.
And strangely enough, quotations that were omitted were such as must on no account be left out.
First of all, I wanted to know what Mrs. White had to say of the date, 1844, which is the "crisis year". I wanted to know if it had anything particularly to do with the atonement, or if it could safely be left out.
I found that the one author had omitted it. So I looked in turn for other quotations, not one of which I found in the assemblage. I looked for the statement: "At the termination of the 2300 days in 1844... our great High Priest enters the holy of holies, and there appears in the presence of God, to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man,--to perform the work of the investigative judgment, and to make atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits." This is said to be the "great day of final atonement." Great Controversy, 480.
I searched for this important statement in the comprehensive assemblage, but it was not there. I looked for the parallel statement: "... at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844, Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the closing work of atonement, preparatory to His coming." Ibid, 422. I did not find it.
I looked for this statement: "This is the service which began when the 2300 days ended. At that time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Priest entered the most holy, to perform the last division of His solemn work--to cleanse the sanctuary" I could not find it. I looked for the statement: "The end of the 2300 days in 1844 marked an important crisis." Ibid, 429. I did not find it.
I looked for other statements, such as: "The sacred work of Christ that is going on at the present time in the heavenly sanctuary," "... the atoning work of Christ is now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary," "Today He is making atonement for us before the Father." Testimonies, Vol.5, p.520; White Board Minutes, page 1483; Manuscripts 21, 1895. I found none of these.
At first I thought that this book, Questions on Doctrine, did not have room for these texts, nor did the Ministry. But I had to abandon this reasoning when I observed that it was only a particular kind of statement that was omitted.
to be continued
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Here is a link to see a picture of M Lauritz Andreasen, the author of these letters:
http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/andreasen/images/mla.jpg
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Thanks for the link Johann!
Letters to the Churches
Post 21.
CAN THIS BE A MERE COINCIDENCE?
The omitted quotations all clustered about the important "crisis" date, 1844, the investigative judgment, Christ's entering into the nost holy for the final atonement; His making atonement now; His making atonement "today before the Father".
These are the statements that Dr. Barnhouse ridiculed and which he said our leaders had "totally repudiated." He had also ridiculed Hiram Edson's experience in the cornfield and had called the investigative judgment not only a "peculiar" but a "human, face-saving idea", in fact "the most colossal, psychological, face-saving phenomenon, in religious history". Eternity Extra, September 1956, pages 3,4.
And now we found all these offending statements left out of the "comprehensive assemblage."
Can this be a mere coincidence?
We wonder what effect the ridicule of the Evangelicals had upon our leaders and upon the author of the article in the Ministry, which we are discussing. One thing that kept our men from going overboard, body and soul, to the Evangelicals, was, doubtless, Mrs. White's writings. She is very emphatic on the question of the sanctuary, and it would not be easy to convert our people to the new view, as long as they had the Testimonies to sustain them in the old position.
The faith of our people in the Spirit of Prophecy must be weakened, or better yet, destroyed, before much headway can be made in bringing in the new view. The Ministry article serves well for this purpose.
It was the editor, himself, who in his research had "become acutely aware of the E.G. White statements which indicate that the atoning work of Christ is now in progress in the heavenly sanctuary". White Minutes, page 1483.
This did not at all fit in with the new view that the atonement was made on the cross, and so he suggested that "footnotes or Appendix notes might appear in certain of E.G. White's books clarifying very largely in the words of Ellen G. White our understanding of the various phases of the atoning work of Christ." Ibid. And he suggested haste in the "preparation and inclusion of such notes in future printings of the E.G. White books".
When the plan became known, it was abandoned.
The author of the article in the February, 1957, Ministry then took over and had the article printed which we are considering.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Post 22
NOT IN A SINGLE CASE
The author asks this question, "Why, in the early days, in the light of all this, did not Mrs. White point out and correct the limited or sometimes erroneous concept of some of our early writers concerning the atonement? And why did she employ some of their restricted phrases without contrasting, at the time, her own larger, truer meaning when using them?" Ministry, February, 1957, page 11.
This was the dilemma. Some of our early writers had erroneous concepts about the atonement, the author claims. Sister White did not correct them, but even used some of their own restricted phrases. How could this be explained? The answer, which the author gives, is the most astonishing and astounding answer that has ever been given to such a question. Hear this:
"In answer: it is essential that we first of all remember this basic fact: No doctrinal truth or prophetic interpretation ever came to this people initially through the Spirit of Prophecy--not in a single case."
Read those words again. And have in mind that this is an article which claims to give the true meaning of the atonement, the official interpretation; that it has the approval of the administration and that the editor passed it. Also, it has not been retracted or changed. It stands.
These are bold words, almost unbelievable words, and utterly untrue words. To assert that Sister White never, not even in a single case, initially contributed any doctrinal truth or prophetic interpretation will not be believed by her thousands and millions of readers who all have been benefited by her words. For myself, I have been largely helped and instructed by her doctrinal teachings and prophetic interpretation.
Even the author himself, who on page 11 of the February, 1957, Ministry, says, "We are fundamentally Protestants, taking the Bible only as our sole rule of faith and practise", in a signed letter the next month asserts, "I take the total Spirit of Prophecy teachings on a given subject to be the authoritative Seventh-day Adventist teaching."
It does not strengthen faith to have a writer say publicly, "The Bible and the Bible only" and privately deny it. One statement is evidently made to the world for them to believe; the other to our people to quiet their fears. Some explanation is due.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Post 23
IT CAME DIRECTLY FROM GOD
The reader will have noted that the author does not say that Sister White never contributed any doctrinal truth or prophetic interpretation. He says that she never contributed anything initially, that is, she never made any original contribution. She got it from somebody else, she "lifted" it.
Our enemies have made that assertion for years, but I never thought that such would be announced to the whole world with the consent of our leaders. But here it is.
Whatever Sister White wrote, be it the counsel of the Father and Son in eternity, or Satan's inmost rebellious thoughts, "somebody told her." She never contributed a thing, initially. Never in a single case! Let me produce a single case. The following is taken from Special Testimonies, Series B, No.2, pages 56,57:
"Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, brother Pierce, Elder Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the word. Again and again the brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, 'We can do nothing more', the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the Scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me."
In this case there was no human intermediary. Unless we are to believe that Sister White did not tell the truth, she got her instructions from above. In this case the instruction concerned "Christ, His mission, and His priesthood", the very subjects we have now under consideration. Whatever we may be, or not be, sure of, we know now that the instruction that came to Sister White on the subject of Christ, His mission and His priesthood came direct from God.
This means that the sanctuary question as our forefathers taught and believed it had God for its Author. It came as a result of a vision, which I do not believe can be said of any other doctrine we hold.
to be continued
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Letters to the Churches
Post 24
A CRISIS
We have reached a crisis in this denomination when leaders are attempting to enforce false doctrines and threaten those who object. The whole program is unbelievable. Men are now attempting to remove the foundations of many generations, and think they can succeed.
If we did not have the Spirit of Prophecy we could not know of the departure from sound doctrine which is now threatening us, and the coming of the Omega which will decimate our ranks and cause grievous wounds. The present situation has been clearly outlined. We are nearing the climax.
I am well aware that oftentimes visions were given to confirm previous study. I am well aware that for some time Sister White's mind was "locked", as she expressed it, and that hence visions were given, as in the instance here considered. She herself says that "for two or three years my mind continued to be locked to an understanding of the Scriptures."
During that time the Lord gave visions. Then an experience came to her, and she records, "from that time to this I have been able to understand the word of God." ibid, page 58.
For "two or three years" Mrs. White's mind was locked. This was evidently by God to strengthen their faith in the gift; for the men knew that of herself she had no knowledge. Then, when they came to the end of their knowledge and did not know what to do, light came from a source of which they knew that of herself she could not solve their problems. It was clearly the Lord's leading, and they confessed it and "accepted as light direct from Heaven the revelations given."
In an attempt to protect himself, the author now turns completely around and says that she frequently went "far beyond the positions taken by any of the original advocates, and her counsels would often be so clear, so full, and so far reaching that they proved to be far ahead of the concepts of any of her contemporaries--sometimes fifty years in advance of their acceptance by some." I wonder whom she copied under such circumstances!
In composing the book, Questions on Doctrine, it became necessary to do some research work in Sister White's published and unpublished manuscripts to ascertain beyond a doubt just what she had said on various subjects. This work was turned over to the Ministry author who reports as follows in the Ministry for February, 1957, page 11:
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Letters to the Churches
Post 25
THE MINISTRY REPORT
"The further question has likewise arisen: 'Just why were these counsels, clarifications, and expositions on the atonement, and its priestly manifestations, not brought together for our use before this? The answer, we believe, is equally simple and straightforward and obvious. No one had taken the time for the sustained effort involved in laborious, comprehensive search necessary to find, analyze them.
"Since our leaders were largely unaware of this latent evidence and its priceless value, the need was not felt, and the time for such a vast project was not considered available. Access to the complete files of all the old periodicals containing Ellen White's two thousand articles is not easy, for there is no complete file in any one place. More than that, the priceless manuscript statements are not available in published form.
"Further, as a church we have been so engrossed in giving our special message to the world, in keeping with our complex movement rolling onward in its multiple activities, that no one seemed to have the time or even the burden for such a huge task. It was known that the search would be a most laborious one because of the vast amount of material that must be compassed.
"However, when the need clearly arose and the time for such a search had obviously come, the necessity was recognized and the time taken to compass not only the familiar book statements, but the vast array of periodicals, articles, and manuscript counsels bearing thereon."
It will be noticed that the author does not minimize the task that faced him--and it was a great task. It is to be regretted that he should take the opportunity to inform us that the leaders had not felt the need of this work, did not have the time for it, and did not even have any burden for it.
It was in this search that he discovered that Mrs. White did not contradict or change what she said in the beginning of her work. The author puts it in his peculiar phraseology that "Mrs. White's later statements do not contradict or change her earlier statements." He had evidently hoped that she had changed her position on the atonement, which position he had criticized and attempted to explain by saying that she never, nor even in a single case, had contributed anything initially to doctrine or prophetic interpretation.
It is clear that if she intended to change her position, she had abundant opportunity to do so in the sixty or more years she lived after making her position clear on the atonement. But she did not contradict or change what she had once written. This is the testimony of the very one who had challenged her early position, and who now is compelled to testify that she did not change. It is a poetic justice that the author of the Ministry article should be the one to testify after he had examined all the material that there is no evidence that she ever changed her mind or contradicted what she had written after.
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LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES
POST # 26
PLAYING WITH FIRE
This created another dilemma for our author. He must now let stand all she had ever written, and could not argue she had authorized any change whatsoever. What then could he do or did he do? A most unique solution he had: he calmly asserted that Sister White did not mean what she said!
Note again his peculiar use of the English language, not a direct statement but a passive approach: he says, "... a distinct clarification of terms and of meaning emerges that is destined to have far-reaching consequences." Her later statements "invest those earlier terms with a larger, truer meaning inherently there all the time." And so he explains when she says that Christ is making atonement (he is omitting the word now), she is "obviously applying the completed atonement to the individual."
This is in complete harmony with the statement in Questions on Doctrine where the author boldly asserts that if any one "hears an Adventist say, or reads in Adventist literature--even in the writings of Ellen G. White--that Christ is making atonement now, it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making appllication of the benefits of the sacrificial atonement He made on the cross."
This is news indeed. I have written several books, one of them on the Sanctuary service and hence these may come under what he calls "Adventist literature". And now some unauthorized individual proclaims to the world that when I say that Christ is making atonement now, I do not mean it. It means that He is making application, but not atonement which was made 1800 years ago. However, it is only a minor matter that he presumes to act as my interpreter and tell what I mean by what I say. But when he undertakes to tell the world that when Ellen White says that Christ is making atonement she means simply that He is making application. That is serious.
And so when I read, "... even in the writings of Ellen G. White," that Christ is making atonement, I am not to believe it. He made the atonement 1800 years ago, not now; and even if she affirms that Christ is making atonement now, that "today He is making atonement", that "We are in the great day of atonement, and the sacred work of Christ for the people of God is going on at the present time (1882) in the heveanly sanctuary should be our constant study", I am still to apply to the interpreter to find out what she means. (See Testimonies, Vol.5, p.520.)
Such is playing with words, it is playing with fire, and makes any interpretation possible. If the author is right, I am permitted to take any word of an author and say that he means something else than what he says. Such makes inter-communication impossible, and the world a Babel. What would agreements amount to, or contracts, or words of mouth, if I am permitted to put my own constructions on what another man says? The Bible says that the seventh day is the Sabbath. That seems plain enough. But the author's theory would permit me to hold that the Bible means no such thing. Absurd, you say. And I say Amen. When the Bible says seven, it does not mean one. With the author's philosophy, however, words become meaningless.
"Let your nay be nay, and your yea be yea" James says. That is, mean what you say. To make the plain statement that "Christ is making atonement now" mean that He is making application now is indefensible on grammatical, philological, theological, or common-sense ground. And to go farther and upon such false interpretation build a new theology to be enforced by sanctions, is simply out of this world. Undue assumption of authority coupled with overconfidence in the virtue of bestowed honors have borne fruit. And the fruit is not good.
to be continued
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Sky, would it be possible for you to give a brief, bullet-point overview of what you are trying to say? It might make it easier for some of us who are not theologians to read through the rest.
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I have appreciated Elder Leroy Moore's book on the topic, which purports to show that Andreason was correct on some points regarding Questions on Doctrine, and incorrect on others.
From what I recall, Moore holds that QoD's position on the atonement was not a change from what Adventists taught, but was instead an attempt to explain to evangelicals what Adventists believe, using terminology that evangelicals could understand. It can be confusing if one uses different definitions for common words than what the hearer or listener is accustomed to.
From what I recall, Moore holds that QoD did represent a change on the nature of Christ, and that Andreason was correct in his assessment of that point.
I seem also to recall that Moore feels that Andreason was wrong on its assessment of QoD's position regarding the mark of the beast or some such.
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Virginia Steinweg was a great fan of Elder Milian Lauritz Andreasen, and she decided to write/edit his biography, Without fear or favor. You can read it on the net at:
www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/andreasen/
It was published by the Review and Herald 1979. Virginia worked on this book for many years, although a substantial part of it is written by M L Andreasen himself, where he with his typical Danish humor draws pictures of himself, his work, his Danish first wife, Annie, and daughters. Annie was older and more mature, and for "forty-two years she would be the great stabilizing influence in his life." P.38.
Lauritz was a fundamentalist, originally a tailor who had a fair collection of clothes when he became an Adventist. Then he read in Scripture what to do if he had more than one. . . and he took it literally. So on Friday night when the rain came pouring down and he had to trail through the mud coming home from the youth meeting. That left him without proper clothing for Sabbath School and Church. So he had a fight with God.
Later Annie straightened him out on so many matters.
Virginia believes that M L Andreasen might not have written those letters to the churches if Annie had still been alive.
Before M L fell asleep he requested a visit by the president of the General Conference. "He went, accompanied by the president of the Pacific Union Conference." "M. L. made it plain that although he differed regarding some of the procedures followed in handling his case, he wanted to be at peace with his brethren and with God. He wanted no animosities. The president responded in kind. Then each prayed. The bitterness was eliminated. At last the old warrior was ready to leave the whole matter in the Lord's care. There were tears of gratitude in his eyes as the visitors left. 'Now I can die in peace,' he told his [second] wife." P. 181.
These words are from the obituary: "This man of God, who achieved so much in his lifetime, wrote of himself a few hours before his death that his was an ordinary life, that he came from nowhere in particular, accomplished no feats of strength or wisdom, but was a mere man who lived a quiet life without ostentation. . . who left no footprints on the sands of time. As he stated, he was not a Columbus, an Einstein, or an Edison. But to hundreds who knew and loved him, he was more than these--he was a trusted friend, a wise counselor, and a spiritual strength. He had an intimate acquaintance with God, and to the best of his ability he endeavored to share his friendship with all whose lives he touched. . ." P 185.
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Having spent a few days with Ellen G. White at her St. Helena home, M L Andreasen gave this comment:
"Let me make this clear: I am not to worship Sister White or her writings. I am to worship God. I am not to preach Sister White. I am to preach Christ. I am not to consider her writings another Bible. As a protestant I must stand on the Bible and the Bible only. I am not to consider her writings an addition to the Bible, presenting new light. I am to use them as a magnifying glass that does not create new truths but makes planer that which is already revealed. In my own life and thinking I find them of surpassing value. I most highly recommend them to others." WFOF, p. 78.