Danger! —The larger we grow as a movement the greater our tendency to rely upon the mechanical efficiency of highly developed organization for motive power in promoting gospel activity and gifts. And our tendency will be to rest back upon the unifying power of an accepted body of beliefs,—tantamount to a creed, —to maintain our organization intact. It will be easy to become more formal and complex in our relationships. The larger our congregations and conferences become, the less the individual looms in the mass, and the greater the danger of reliance upon uniform, external conformity rather than upon personal, spiritual realism. The tragic story of the change that vitally altered the whole concept and complexion of the Christian church within less than a century after the death of the apostles, is left for our warning and admonition. True latter-day Christianity is personal, inner, real, Spirit-born, and dynamic. It transcends and surcharges all accentuating helps, proper as these are in their related places.
Loyalty!—Of all high attributes of character, few can compare with loyalty, which embraces loyalty to God, to truth, to principle, to family, to the church, to friends, and to the fallen or misunderstood. Raised to the Christian level, it represents the noblest and best that can be conceived. It should be publicly extolled and privately emulated.
Effervescent!!—Sentimental emotionalism is not to be confused with genuine spiritual activity upon the soul of man. Those psychological effects produced by touching stories, effectively told, blended with music skillfully timed and rendered, may or may not have any connection with the work of the Holy Spirit. Such frequently have a decidedly earthly texture. But genuine and abiding life choices result from a deliberate and intelligent decision of the will. They are born of the living word of God, vitalized by the impress of the Holy Spirit, Usually the psychological accouterments of the emotional experts are of a passing character, for when the atmosphere in which they were produced is removed, there is no substantial basis for continuance, for no fundamental change has taken place in the character. Nor is this caution a condemnation of every legitimate means for informing the soul, and influencing and persuading it to make its fundamental decision. It is but an appeal for Spirit-directed effort and Spirit-controlled results. This necessitates genuinely converted pleaders, who consciously and truly depend upon the Holy Spirit for transforming human souls.
Soldiership!—The Christian worker is a soldier, subject to directing orders from his appointed leaders. These officers are so placed as to have a commanding view of the entire horizon and its various sectors, and in addition have a background of wide experience. It is good for all of us periodically to have to change cherished plans, and to forgo fond anticipations. It is fine disciplinary training. It fosters good soldiership. Let us do it sweetly withal.
Inconsistency!—He who extols the high ideals and ethics of the writings of Ellen G. White, but denies she was the unique instrument for communication between God and His remnant people, as she claimed, is in precisely the same category with those who applaud the moral ethics and spiritual supremacy of the teachings of Christ, but deny His deity. He was either what He claimed to be, or He was the greatest impostor in human history. Similarly, Mrs. White was either God's messenger, receiving her messages from above, or she was the greatest pretender of modern times. There is no alternative. Liars and deceivers do not produce the loftiest ethics td be found, bearing the unmistakable impress of Heaven.
Modernist!—This term stands for a definite and devastating relationship toward every fundamental Christian verity. Such a concept denies the fiat creation, the fall of the human race, the reality of sin, the necessity of divine redemption, and the actuality of supernatural communication between God and man through chosen prophets. It scouts the unique inspiration and authority of the Bible as the word of God, the deity and incarnation in the flesh of Christ Jesus, the vicarious, atoning character of His death, the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ, His subsequent ministry as priest and judge, and His imminent, personal return. Modernism is merely a body of humanized, ethical teachings. It is in essence but a social program. It stands as the precise opposite of every essential of the advent faith. Therefore, to cast aspersion upon one of our men by whispering, "He is a Modernist," is no light thing. Every such innuendo should be challenged. The slur should be either proved or disproved. If a man is a Modernist, he should be released from ministry in this cause. If he is not, the offensive remark should be withdrawn, and the one who uttered it reproved. Modernism is one of the most serious issues in the modern religious world, and should never be blurred or minimized, nor be falsely charged in our ranks.
L. E. F.