Truth!—Appeals for unity of belief on points of minor prophetic interpretation that are based simply on loyalty to past positions, betray a fatal weakness and an utter misconception of the inherent nature of truth itself and its sound support and defense. Those who oppose sincere and legitimate restudy of a position—lest some modification on detail or emphasis might be indicated—thereby reveal fearfulness lest a weakness be discovered which they are unwilling and unable to face. The actual precariousness of their position is thus disclosed. Foundations that have to be arbitrarily protected by isolation are not very satisfying to the truly thoughtful and honest devotee of truth. Genuine truth never needs to be protected, for added information does not overthrow but merely buttresses it. The ark needs no steadying hand. Truth seeks but a fair field and no favors. Assaults only add luster to its beauty and burnish to its brilliance, as well as reveal its rugged strength. The spirit of truth never discourages investigation, which in turn merely confirms its soundness. Thus truth courts .the light, which but establishes its majestic outlines. It invites scrutiny and grows grander, more symmetrical, and more invincible under such scrutiny. Eye with suspicion the man who contends otherwise. He has a weak cause to support.
Responsibility!—All true and sound interpretation of prophecy must and will accord with the facts of history. Whenever, therefore, the historical counterpart is strained or distorted to support a theory, whenever relevant or neutralizing facts are blindly or deliberately left out of the evaluation in order to make a case, or whenever there is a fanciful "build-up" unsupported by tangible, verifiable facts, the one guilty of such manipulation thereby forfeits his claim to reverent scholarship and proves himself unsafe and untrustworthy as an expositor. The handling of the truth of God is a most serious, sacred business. It carries with it weighty responsibility. We are trustees of the treasures of truth, and woe unto those who manipulate or default any portion thereof. However, we are not to give up in our search for facts. Many give up too easily in tracing out the inspired clues given through the Spirit of prophecy. But they will be rewarded if they seek until they find. This has been proved beyond peradventure in the advent source research work.
Tampering!—Along with unswerving loyalty to the fundamentals of the faith, we must recognize and accord liberty to men on secondary items of interpretation which do not conflict therewith. Otherwise we trample the very spirit, the most elemental principle, of ever-unfolding truth, and violate the explicit counsels and balances of the Spirit of prophecy in distinguishing clear tests from minor matters that are not tests. Whenever men establish unjustifiable and intolerable gauges of orthodoxy, based on minor details of interpretation, inevitable disunity ensues that sets them at unavoidable variance with each other. Attempts to- impose such anti-Adventist principles and such spurious tests upon one's brethren, assuredly hamper the great and glorious work committed to us.
Balanced!—It is hard for us to keep a balanced course. We tend to swerve to one side or another. We are prone to enlarge upon this weakness or that particular development, pressing so hard on some trend or circumstance that under such a suspicious scrutiny it appears as the source of most of our perils. Great harm' can come from such a procedure. Recently we have all been deeply troubled by certain difficulties in the educational field. But let us not, because of this, become suspicious of all educators and educational institutions and the entire program of higher education. No finer, truer men will be found anywhere than in the ranks of our 'educators. When we preachers are tempted to indulge in sweeping condemnations and damaging comparisons, let us remember the businessmen, doctors, and even ministers, who have gone wrong for one cause or another—some with, and others without, higher education. Bright lights in all spheres have gone out. And the departures have often come where and when least expected. We must not point the finger of suspicion at any one group, and assume a "loyaler-than-thou" attitude. We need to take most earnest heed lest we ourselves should fall; for we live in times of peril.
Hobbyist!—The man obsessed with a single idea is ever in peril—even if his idea be a good one. The single-track mind is always in danger of faulty 'thought processes and conclusions. Men who have advanced great ideas have never been men of one idea. Indeed, there is no surer way of bringing a real contribution into disrepute than to allow it to degenerate into an unbalanced hobby, a virtual obsession.
L. E. F.
