Steady! —It is so easy to become an enthusiast, a hobbyist over one phase of truth, especially when its grandeur first dawns upon the mind. Thus it often tends for a time to overshadow all else, throwing things out of balance and proportion. Let us hold steady, cherishing all aspects of truth.
Exemplify!—It is of little value for a worker to preach the need of sacrifice until it hurts, if he is living in ease. His appeals, however true, are heavily discounted by the very inconsistency of his living. Nor is the answer that "it is no one else's business" to be considered a valid one. "No man liveth unto himself." We must lead out in the things we proclaim to others—in consecration, sacrifice, loyalty, service. The church has a right to expect this of its ministry.
Miracles! —We Adventists are fundamental believers in the miraculous. We believe in the fiat creation of this habitable world, in contrast to the theories of the naturalist and the evolutionist. We believe in re-creation—the miracle of regeneration of human lives that have been tragically blighted by sin and estranged by separation from God, in contrast to the denial and skepticism prevalent today. These two mighty facts form the basis of the law and the gospel. They constitute the foundation stones of our platform and preaching. Let there be no wavering here.
Simplicity!—It is worthy of observation to note that Christ in His three-year ministerial course for the disciples, who were chosen to lay the foundations of the Christian church, did not conduct them through exhaustive studies in systematic or dogmatic theology, nor into the intricacies of philosophy. Rather, He dealt with the simple facts and comprehensive principles of the kingdom of heaven, and of God's good news to men. He touched comprehensively the needs of the everyday life of the humble folk. He dealt uncompromisingly with the sin problem, and its blessed corollary, the provision of full salvation. He used one textbook. He presented Himself as the center and object of every truth. We may well ponder the procedure of the matchless Teacher, with His perfect acquaintance with all the needs and contingencies that lay before His ministerial band.
Misconception! —We must never be misled into accepting the specious idea that knowledge of the ramifications of truth is just for a favored few, capable of grasping them. Such a notion is basically fallacious. Truth, in its manifold aspects, is the heritage of all. Give it a fair field and no favors, and it will triumph gloriously. The theory that truth must be guarded and protected reveals a misconception as to its essential nature. We must never feel that as workers we are to guard our people by quieting investigation and free discussion. That is the surest road to catastrophe and loss.
Perspective!—Only he who truly knows past facts relative to the rise and development of this movement, is really prepared to understand its present and future aspects. And these facts, in right perspective, can be obtained only from the records of competent participants who have the friendly approach in their presentations. And a wealth of these data is accessible. Fairness, candor, and charity should mark all our investigations. Never should we be swayed either by the destructive attacks of critics, or by the well-meant but misleading bias of incompetent friends whose information is gleaned from the tricky memories of the elderly, or who are satisfied with incomplete records or secondary sources. Truth is never honored by such incompetence. It harmonizes with every fact, yet allows for human frailties. It neither lifts past leaders to impossible pedestals, nor does it trample them under the heel of harsh criticism. It realizes that they were struggling toward light and truth from out most forbidding circumstances. It takes cognizance of their human limitations, and has confidence in them withal. It does not fear but courts investigation, but insists that the findings shall be meticulously just and accurate.
Evidence!—Some religious teachers build their appeal upon blind acceptance of their personal investigations and conclusions; that is, upon the dogmatic authority of their own researches as specialists, which is patently an unsound teaching platform as relates to strong, growing pupils. Others, by contrast, base their appeal upon the accuracy and conclusiveness of their marshaled evidence. This latter procedure is, of course, the only safe and sound method of pedagogy. The first is built upon the personality of the exponent, who may be transferred, die, or apostatize,—in which case there would in all probability be fatal confusion and disaster to his blind followers. But where minds are convinced by evidence, and the sources and avenues of information are disclosed, the resultant conclusions are founded upon the appeal of the truth itself, which will abide under all eventualities and make stalwarts of its adherents.
L. E. F.
