Years ago God's messenger was shown that at the commencement of the time of trouble, then distinctly in the future, we would go forth and proclaim the Sabbath truth more fully. These are her words, as recorded in the book "Early Writings :"
"'I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers ; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints. I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we . went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully.'
" 'The commencement of the time of trouble,' here mentioned, does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the 'latter rain,' or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out."—Pages 85, 86.
This statement clearly indicates that there is to be a revival of Sabbath preaching among us. And the fact that we have surely entered into the troublous times of the last days indicates that the hour is upon us for this fuller preaching of the great Sabbath truth with its related doctrines. Without disparagement to the need and the propriety of emphasis on practical godliness, it is a fact that we do not hear as many sermons today on the old rugged doctrines of the threefold message as we used to hear. The law of God, the Sabbath, the return of Jesus, the signs of the times, the sanctuary, the nature of man, the millennium, etc., are not so frequently chosen as sermon subjects in our churches and gatherings. And yet it was these mighty truths, with their related doctrines, that gathered us out from the nations. Our message includes both the spiritual and the doctrinal, and is defective when either is neglected. No modification of the doctrines of our message would have accomplished the result of making us a separate people. Any toning down or any evasion of the more rugged doctrines, would have taken the point of emphasis out of the message and shorn it of its power. It requires the full, rounded out, everlasting gospel to develop stanch Seventh-day Adventists, who are, in turn, willing to sacrifice time and earthly possessions that others may hear.
We believe that whatever is required to make strong Seventh-day Adventists is also required to keep them so. Note again the statement: "The Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints." A people who have been called out of the world through the preaching of a definite chain of truth (with the Sabbath as the central link) constituting God's special message for this time and generation, must have this same chain kept constantly before them if they are to be held in the faith.
A Seventh-day Adventist minister cannot with safety take it for granted that his people already know the great doctrines of the church, and turn his attention largely to generalities in religion, if he expects their hearts to remain warm with the love of the truth. Nor do the changing conditions in the world about us lessen, or modify, our obligation to emphasize the peculiar doctrines of our faith. Rather, they increase the obligation. No matter what else may be altered, "The foundation of God standeth sure." We are told:
"The faith and feelings of men may change, but the truth of God, never. The third angel's message is sounding ; it is infallible. . . . It is as certain that we have the truth as that God lives: and Satan with all his arts and hellish power, cannot change the truth of God into a lie. While the great adversary will try his utmost to make of none effect the word of God, truth must go forth as a lamp that burneth."—"Testimonies," Vol. IV, p. 595.
Leading men of other persuasions are beginning to realize that their churches have been greatly weakened by the lack of definite doctrinal preaching. Note the following earnest statement published in the Methodist, by its editor, the late, L. W. Munhall:
"To belittle doctrine and doctrinal preaching is to feed the church on the windy words of man's wisdom instead of on the words which are spirit and life, thus devitalizing it and impairing its spiritual output. It is a wholesale reversal of the example of Jesus and of the whole apostolic age, and this explains the waning power and influence of the church in the present world of sin and crime."—December, 1927.
And the utterance of another editor, Dr. Frank Norris, is in full agreement :
"The fifth reason why Baptists should protest is, when they present fundamentals of the Christian religion in contrast with Romanism, a revival is certain to follow. There is no such thing as revival without the doctrines of the faith, and all this talk about having a revival and 'let doctrinal matters settle themselves' is idle. Just as well talk about building the Woolworth building in New York on a foundation of quicksand."—The Search Light, July 16, 1936.
The great apostle Paul's admonition to Timothy was, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." I Tim. 4:16. This permits of no carelessness or indifference in the matter of doctrines. One must "continue in them" if he would save himself or others.
Unbalanced Emphasis Brings Disasters
Nor can the minister with safety to his hearers, overemphasize certain doctrines, to the neglect of others. No one doctrine should become a hobby. He must present a well-balanced, well-rounded-out, spirit-surcharged message if he would have his work strong and enduring. He cannot develop stalwart Christians through his ministry, if he himself is lopsided in his preaching.
For instance, there is the inspiring doctrine of "righteousness by faith." No more glorious or vital truth is set forth in the word of God. Without an understanding of this doctrine it is impossible for one to comprehend adequately the plan of redemption or to enjoy the fullness of blessing that comes with the knowledge of sins forgiven. This provision gives life and vitality to all the doctrines. It is through faith that we find it possible to obey God and keep all His truth. But this doctrine, wonderful as it is, is greatly weakened if it becomes separated from the great chain of truth which God has linked together in His final message to men. The world needs the flashes from Sinai, as well as the oil of grace. Men must be kept constantly in contact with the great detector of sin,—the law of God,—that they may thus be made to realize their need of salvation through faith in Jesus the Saviour. To the Israelites the instruction was given concerning their relation to law:
"These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart : and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." Deut. 6 :6-9.
The final struggle between the forces of good and evil in the age-old conflict, will be fought over the Sabbath truth. The enemy, working through apostate powers, both civil and religious, will make a supreme effort to overthrow completely this memorial of God's creative and redeeming power and to destroy those who honor Him by keeping it. Thus the last struggle will be over a doctrine; and this is the supreme reason why the great Sabbath truth and its related doctrines should be kept prominently to the fore, and why every member should be rooted and grounded therein. It is because of the doctrines held and obeyed by the remnant, that the wrath of the dragon is stirred against them. See Revelation 12:17.
One of the outstanding qualifications of a bishop as set forth by Paul in his letter to Titus was "that he may be able to sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." And to Timothy, Paul wrote:
"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." Tim. 4:6.
Thus throughout the Scriptures, emphasis is laid upon the importance of sound doctrine's being taught by God's messengers as a basis for action and as the ground of faith. It is impossible for men to believe intelligently in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and to become disciples who can "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (Titus 2:1o), unless they are made acquainted with the doctrines of Christ. When Jesus gave the great commission to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, He gave the formula by which success could be assured in this mighty undertaking,—"teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
Therefore, he who would make disciples for Christ must teach the commands and teaching of Christ. This includes the entire system of truth as revealed through the Scriptures, with the Sabbath as the central, unifying theme. If these teachings are properly taught and urged home upon the hearts of men, they will lead them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for redemption from sin, for strength and obedience. Thus, law and gospel will be placed in right relationship to each other, and those who hear will be given a balanced message. Let us not neglect to preach the doctrines. Let us make them shine forth in all their glory, symmetry, and power, that sinners may be converted and that the church may be strengthened for her final conflict with the great adversary of truth.
