The task confronting the heralds of the third angel's message is fundamentally different from that which faced our spiritual forefathers in the proclamation of the first angel's message—or even in the beginning decades of the third message. The Millerites lived and worked in a Bible-loving age, when Christian experience was a reality, and when a marked spiritual revival characterized the times. They were called to correct current doctrinal misconceptions, to bring supplemental light on the prophecies to their fellows, and to herald the specific judgment-hour present truth for the time.
It is true that many infidels were active at the time, and many were converted under the Millerite message. But living Christian experience.characterized the believers of the day. And even after the second angel's message was followed, chronologically, by the third message, our pioneers still dealt with a Bible-believing generation. Their labors were largely confined to such, and were set in that mold. Modernism with its fearful rationalistic corrosions had not yet changed the fundamental faith of the masses, despite the change on the part of the ecclesiastical leadership and the official organizations.
Higher criticism had not yet permeated the pew and robbed the Bible of its inspired, authoritative character. Formalism had not yet chilled the life of the soul. And our spiritual predecessors dealt with the same type of mind and attitude, and employed methods similar to those of the Millerites. Confining their efforts largely to Christians, they sought to correct their doctrinal errors, to present the fuller light on the prophecies, and to persuade them to accept God's threefold reformatory message into their already Christian lives.
But today our problem and our task are vastly different. The methods of our pioneers will not suffice for us under new and revolutionary conditions. We deal with a Bible-neglecting and Bible-distressing generation. We face church members who are without living faith or Christian experience. We must not only persuade-men as to doctrinal and prophetic truth, but we must first of all awaken and convert the soul. We must create confidence in the Bible as the inspired revelation of God to man, the authoritative rule of faith and practice. We must break through the lifeless formalism of the day, and kindle the fires of living faith. We must not only change the beliefs of men, but instill a new life, a new vision, a new relationship to God, man, and truth. We must lay the very foundations of spiritual life, as well as build from the foundations upward. This takes time.
Our task is vastly harder and more complicated than formerly. We can no longer go to the crossroads schoolhouse, present the prophecies, the Sabbath, the sanctuary, and conditional immortality, and in a few meetings bring out a little company of converted Seventh-day Adventists. We must now instill the elemental A B C's of Christian life, faith, and practice, as well as change the erroneous beliefs that have been cherished. We must put doubt and skepticism out of the mind. It takes not only weeks, but months, to effect such a transformation. It is an extensive process, not incomparable to the task of the conversion and indoctrination of untutored heathen in mission lands.
Our Task Well Defined
We have to call out and separate the honest in heart from the lifeless formalism, active skepticism, and general apostasy of the fallen religionism of the day. We have to reconstruct faith. We have to cause separation. More than that, we have to lead to the acceptance and practice of vital reforms that cut sharply across natural inclinations, customs, indulgences, and practices—reforms that ostracize us in the eyes of the world, and that alienate us from the popular religionists, whose attitudes our actions condemn.
We ask people to take positions of simple faith in the Word that draw forth the pity and invoke the disdain of the intellectuals, with their sophisticated attitudes. We ask them to take a course that arouses the ire of employers over Sabbath involvements, that draws the fire of relatives, and often opposition and even persecution by religionists. We are an anathema to Catholics and Protestants alike, and an irritation to Jews. Our message sets a man at variance with his own household, and his friends. (Matt. 10 :34-38.)
The reformation element in the third angel's message—involving Sabbath, health reform, educational, financial, recreational, and other aspects—was not a feature in the judgment-hour message. In the very nature of the case, these basic adjustments require time, education, and patient help. Here again the time element and the necessity for thoroughness are involved. Our task is more fundamental and exacting than was the case heretofore.
All this creates a fundamentally different situation, and calls for a basically different technique and approach. It necessitates a completeness and a thoroughness of instruction not required in the earlier decades of this movement. It involves a change from the former pattern in methods and limitations. And the farther we advance in time and darkening apostasy, the more fully we must instruct, redirect, and reform.
The argument is sometimes advanced that what was sufficient and successful for our pioneers should be sufficient and efficient for us. And this is often coupled to the implication that departure from tried and trusted plans and procedures constitutes a species of disloyalty to the proved things of the past. But that is a specious argument—as verily as would be clinging to the kerosene lamp and the good old horse-and-buggy provisions instead of capitalizing the full provisions of electricity and the automobile, and other inventions designed in the providence of God to multiply our speed and effectiveness a thousandfold. Basic principles never change, but methods of labor must be changed to meet changing conditions and advances.
We are to call out a people from all nations, to separate them from the spirit, practices, and entangling alliances of the world, and to prepare them to meet our coming Saviour, having the faith of Jesus, and keeping the commandments of God. This all takes time and effort, but such is our solemn mandate. Divine power and heavenly wisdom alone will fit us for such a tremendous task.
L. E. F.
