Essentials and Nonessentials

Essentials and Nonessentials

The contrast between essentials and nonessentials, primaries and second­aries, fundamentals and incidentals, is frequently stressed by the "Ministry" in these general terms; but specifically, just what is included or intended by these expressions? Please illustrate concretely. Are not all details impor­tant! And were not our ministers in earlier days all united upon the details of our positions?

We have often stressed the distinc­tion between belief in and emphasis upon the broad, impregnable founda­tion truths of our message, and the proclivity of some for disproportion­ate emphasis upon details that form but an incidental part of the main out­line. We can best illustrate from our denominational history with points upon which there is now virtual una­nimity: The incontrovertible features of Daniel 7 are as clear as the noon­day sun,—the four consecutive em­pires, the division of the fourth into ten parts, the plucking up of the three, the rise of that religio-political power, the Papacy, its period of dominating perversion, its mutilation of the times and law of God, and the final estab­lishment of Christ's everlasting king­dom, now just at hand.

This general outline will be unhesi­tatingly acknowledged by every loyal Seventh-day Adventist. But the dis­cussion that continued for years over the identity of one of the horns (whether it was the Huns or the Alemanni) is an example of our mean­ing of secondaries, or minor points. Practically all now acknowledge the evidence is in favor of the Alemanni, but our contention is that the main outline has not been affected. Its fun­damental features have been unitedly recognized and proclaimed by all through the years, and are today; Hence, the tragedy of variance over a detail that was not fundamental.

Or, to take another feature from the same prophecy,—the precise date of the beginning of the twelve hundred sixty years. Much agitation has cen­tered about this point. Some have limited it to but one year, 538 A. D. Others have taken a group of events covering several years, but terminat­ing in 538 A. II. The simple fact is that the twelve-hundred-sixty-year measuring rod laid down upon the centuries is essentially the same in either case. It sets metes and bounds, limiting or marking off that period within which these manipulations of the Papacy would be accomplished—the changing of heavenly times and laws, the arrogant words, the persecu­tion, and the exercise of dominance. It leads us undeviatingly from the time of the acknowledged beginning of papal power to the time of serious wounding and loss of that power.

But the unassailable, major point of this feature of the prophecy is not cnallenged nor invalidated by one view as against the other. The twelve hundred sixty years stand unim­peached, and that is the crucial issue. Let none become wrought up, there­fore, over such details in the interpre­tation of prophecy. Details are im­portant, but not all-important. Toward such there should be an open mind. We must keep on the main line and avoid sidetracking over incidentals. The great consummation is upon us. The verities stand immutable,—nay, buttressed, confirmed, augmented today as never before. We are to throw the full weight of our united strength there.

If any one thinks that there was not strongly divergent opinion upon details among the pioneers, let him but read our early periodicals and books, and this misconception will be promptly dispelled. One cannot but admire and revere those rugged char­acters with their frankness and un­concealable honesty. On the great fundamental truths which made and kept them a separate people, they were united heart and soul. The founding fathers of this movement were strong personalities, with strong convictions; but they stood as one upon the major things, and submerged the minor. It was this body of essentials that united and made them Adventists, and it is this same body of fundamentals that will preserve unity and keep us Ad­ventists today. We need the same breadth of mind combined with the same loyalty of heart. .

The bulwarks of our faith have nothing to fear. Details of under­standing have often changed through the years, and will doubtless continue to change. Added light will give fuller understanding, but will ever confirm these essentials. There is ample ground for unwavering faith in God, His word, His remnant movement, the clear outlines of our message, and Christ's imminent return. We are to sound the note of confidence because of the confidence in our own souls.

L. E. F