A Statement Regarding Principles of Reading Course Selection
We regard as axiomatic the proposition that the Ministerial Association membership—comprising the evangelical worker group of the movement—constitutes a body of mature ministerial minds, capable of evaluating and appropriating candid, progressive, loyal studies on vital ministerial problems. We believe you welcome fresh approaches that cause you to think seriously, and that you desire contributions to your store of knowledge that would more than likely be unavailable through any source other than the Ministerial Reading Course.
In planning for and arranging the annual Reading Course, we make definite distinction in principle between our standard denominational classifications in books, as concerns selection, preparation, and content. We have four quite sharply-defined groupings in our denominational literature.
1. Books for our children and youth, whose spiritual discernment has not yet attained to maturity, and whose literature must of necessity be carefully supervised and restricted in scope within certain well-defined boundaries.
2. General trade books for our laity, who, though older, are likewise largely without special theological training, and whose literature must also be kept within definite confines of expression.
3. Subscription books for those not of our faith, of necessity similarly confined to carefully selected essentials, as will be generally conceded.
These three groups are all in contradistinction to--
4. The Ministerial Reading Course volumes produced expressly for the preaching and reading ministry of this movement. Trained and expected to think and discern, you are ever seeking for clearer, better ways of presenting our ever-enlarging message of truth, ever longing for deeper, broader, larger, higher concepts of its illimitable expanses, and ever anxious to know—and rightly—how competent, loyal, recognized leaders in our ranks view great truths, problems, methods, or objectives of common interest and belief. There is rightful and imperative latitude here.
To contend or to concede that books specifically prepared for the Ministerial Reading Course, established and conducted to render the maximum of material help, should have imposed upon them the same rigid limitations as are appropriate and necessary to the former classifications, would be to thwart the very purpose of the Reading Course plan, and to challenge the intelligence and the discernment of the ministerial and Bible worker forces of this movement, who constitute its public teaching body.
Moreover, such would be to impose unsound, illogical, and humiliating restrictions upon those invited to write for the specific stimulus and edification of their brethren in the ministry. There must be specific provision for this need of progressive study, else this movement would fail in its bounden obligation toward its appointed heralds. This is. of course, to be distinctly understood as progression in harmony with the established principles of this movement, and the recorded counsels of the Spirit of prophecy. And this provision has been made through this special reading course, designed just for workers.
The light of present truth is to shine more and more unto the perfect day. We are constantly to discover new facets on the vast jewel of truth committed to our trust. It is the same jewel, with simply a new gleam, an enlarged understanding which we are ever to seek. Never are we to drive our doctrinal or prophetic stakes and say, "Thus far and no farther." To do so would be to repeat the tragic blunder of nominal Protestantism about us. It would be to creedalize to a rigidity that halts all progression, challenges all added light, and thwarts the correction of all past limitations or misconceptions.
The Ministerial Reading Course embraces notable books of this forward-looking character. Last year, for instance, the F. D. Nichol volume, "The Answer to Modern Religious Thinking," broke away from the time-worn phrases, figures, and illustrations of a previous generation of workers and presented a fearless survey of the new world situation that now confronts us. It restated in terms keyed to the hour, God's ever-advancing present truth that meets every changing need. It was a, boon to all. It was a stimulus, a cluster of new seed thoughts, a revelation to many, and was prized by everyone. Such is one of the essential functions of a Ministerial Reading Course contribution.
In this new 1938 course, here announced, to mention but one book, the M. L. Andreasen volume, just off the press, presents a fresh, searching study of the distinctive key truth and contribution of this movement,—the sanctuary and its import, and its far-reaching heavenly service. As is our invariable practice, the manuscript was carefully read by more than a dozen of our ablest counselors, their favorable report leading to its adoption by the Advisory Council of the Association. Not for decades has there been any marked advance in the understanding of this fundamental Adventist truth, illuminated by the typical earthly sanctuary service of old, and timed by the divinely designated prophecy of Daniel 8:14. It is a book rich with suggestion, reaching beneath the surface to underlying principles and truths. It should be studied by every worker in this movement. We believe it is destined to prove a classic in its field. Its value cannot be expressed in the trifling figure represented in the club price of the course. It represents the contribution of one of our clear-thinking, loyal Bible scholars and recognized leaders, such as are entitled to speak. Thus again the course fulfills its clear objective.
The Ministerial Reading Course books come within the category of Paul's "strong meat" for mature, adult minds, and not predigested milk to be spoon fed to babes. Are you not glad to be so considered, and that the Reading Course is so conceived and executed!
L. E. F.
