Editorial Keynotes

Not a Block to Be Moved nor a Pin Stirred--The Issue of the Fundamentals

L.E.F. is editor of the Ministry. 

This assigned topic, Presented at the College Bible and History Teachers' Council, held at Washington, D. C.. August 23 to September 6, is here published by voted request of the council. Parts I and II were given at the joint devotional hour, August 27, and Part III imme­diately followed before the Bible Teachers' section. In a separate column a series of impressive statements from the Spirit of prophecy bearing upon the subject, heretofore unpublished, have been released by action of the board of trustees of the E. G. White Publications, and will appear with the remaining sections of the paper. A full discussion of the ground here sketched is in course of preparation—hence the documentation in this presentation is limited.—Editor.

1. Historial Setting of the Admonition. The little book Early Writings, beloved by every Adventist worker, and first brought out under that title in 1882, comprises two separate parts. The first division, called Experience and Views, was initially published in 1851, with a supplement added in 1854. The second part, entitled Spiritual Gifts, Volume I, was first issued separately in 1858. These two works were not brought together and published as a single unit until 1882. Even then they were called "Early" Writings, because brought out respectively twenty-four and thirty years previously. Reference, therefore, to estab­lished denominational positions appearing in the Spiritual Gifts section should obviously be read in the light of the positions held and issues obtaining in 1858, and not in the light of positions that de­veloped later. To illustrate:

The section entitled "A Firm Platform"—upon which this topic is based—in describing the first, second, and third angels' messages, follows a step-by-step portrayal of William Miller, the first mes­sage, the second message, the sanctuary light, and the third message. These chapters, or sections, comprise a chronological and historical sequence leading directly to the section under consideration, which reviews the three original basic messages as a threefold, inseparable platform, and then im­mediately Mrs. White adds the warning, "Woe to him who shall move a block, or stir a pin of these messages." 1 The closing phrase, "of these mes­sages," defines the intent—the three historical messages that had been reviewed, confirmed, and certified by the Spirit of prophecy when the admo­nition was written in 1858. In another passage there is admonition against "moving a peg of the old landmarks."' And yet again, "Not a pin or a pillar can be moved from the structure of truth. That which was sought out of the Word in 1844, 1845, and 1846 remains the truth today." 2

Every loyal Adventist accepts that warning at face value, and would not knowingly or willfully move a block or stir a pin of this heaven-indited, threefold foundation platform. Regrettably, how­ever, some have periodically attempted to read into these early words of 1858, details of prophetic expo­sition that had never been developed, accepted, or even discussed in 1858, while at the same time missing the fundamental point lying at the heart of this great warning and appeal.

2. Identifying the "Blocks" and "Pins." There are two radically different and yet related aspects to the topic assigned me. The first is to ascertain and identify the foundational "blocks" and "pins" of the threefold message alluded to, and therewith to emphasize the declared danger and solemn accountability that attaches to any loosen­ing or moving of such foundation blocks of the faith, or of any stirring or withdrawing of the connecting pins that hold them in vital relationship and sequence. Such tampering leads to gravest peril and disaster, and is surely to be shunned.

The meaning of the terms is self-evident. There can be but one understanding of a "block" in a churchly foundation—an important constituent doctrine or teaching, a basic principle of the faith. And it is equally clear that a "pin" is something that holds these blocks together in proper place or relationship, that keeps them from being moved or displaced. One is as important as the other, though their functions differ. If the pins are removed, and the foundation blocks are moved or disar­ranged, then the whole structure is in peril because of the shifting. Safety and permanence lies in keeping the foundation intact, and each block in its original position and relationship.

3. Confusion of Centralities with Secondaries. The second phase of the topic springs from the first, and involves the widely different but nevertheless serious error of confusing the admo­nitions concerning the integrity of the historical fundamentals with details and corollaries developed years or decades later, which were never compre­hended within the scope of the original warning and entreaty. These subsequent details, or some particular views of them, are sometimes used as a test by which to judge an individual's loyalty to the actual fundamentals upon which there is com­mon agreement. Such a course inevitably leads to misunderstanding and disunity, and is to be pains­takingly avoided.

There were a hundred later corollaries—sec­ondary, related prophetic expositions and doctrinal details—that sprang from and were added to the basic, historic positions. These vary in importance and prominence. On some of them there have been, and perhaps always will be, differing views. But these matters are relatively on the fringe of things, the periphery. They are secondaries, in contrast to the basic primaries. They are minor, in contrast to the great centralities.

4. Spirit of Prophecy Silences on Minor Matters. On the great essentials we must be, and are, united. On the nonessentials there have been varying views from the very beginning, and they still exist today. These were matters upon which Mrs. White seldom touched, on which she never took sides, by endorsing one view or condemning another. She rarely ever censured men on the basis of a divergent minor matter, such as the Huns versus the Alemanni—except as a wrong spirit came into the discussion, and bitterness and aliena­tion threatened or •developed. This we will note later. Then the spirit was rebuked and a warning was given not to magnify matters of relatively small importance—not to make a mountain out of a molehill. While deep individual study in a humble, charitable spirit was encouraged, men Were urged to be sensible, and were directed not to make tests out of inconsequential matters.

"We are to proclaim the third angers message to a perishing world, and we are not to permit our minds to become diverted by minutiae that practically amount to nothing." 4

5. Divergencies on Fundamentals Rebuked. No such silences, however, are to be noted concern­ing the great foundation truths. Confirmatory declarations concerning them were positive and frequent, and divergencies were pointedly rebuked. Their basic character was stressed in no uncertain terms. Such was the contrasting attitude of the Spirit of prophecy toward these two categories.

"The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter the closing work. Every truth that He has given for these last days is to be proclaimed to the world. Every pillar that He has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now step off the platform that God has established."

It is both highly significant and wholly logical that not only Mrs. White but William Foy and Hazen Foss before her, whom God sought to use prior to the call of Ellen Harmon, saw the same threefold platform reaching from this earth clear through to the city of God.' They, however, failed to understand the intent of this third step, or plat­form, that crowns the first two, and failing to step out upon it, drew back from God's great threefold highway-platform. Mrs. White, on the contrary, was shown in 1848 the same impressive symbol of the certitude of the three messages due the people of God and the world, and then declared the vision in faithfulness, as recorded in Spiritual Gifts. This was obviously the message God de­signed that His people should receive. And they did.

6. Re-examining the Foundations of 1843, 1844. It is eminently fitting, in this centennial year, that we first re-examine the surety of the foundations laid in 1843 and 1844, and in the years immediately following. "We are now to understand what the pillars of our faith are,—the truths that have made us as a people what we are." ' Our training and acquaintance, as teachers, with the deeper issues of the times will warrant a more searching scrutiny of just what was involved in the historical development and unfolding of those vital years. The terms first, second, and third angels' messages have, with some, become over­simplified and have come to have a superficial connotation. But they stand for mighty truths and great advances in prophetic interpretation—as each one unfolded and developed in historical and inevitable progression.

Each successive advance was based upon and tied to the preceding position, and each and all became the battleground for major conflict with nominal Adventists in the first decade following the great disappointment. They were the object of intensive, heart-searching review. And they were reaffirmed with prayers and tears, when all others in the world and church about had repudi­ated or rejected them.

7. Danger in Breaking the Advent Line. That the remnant church is subject to assault, both from without and from within, is a truism that has become trite through sheer repetition. But it nevertheless remains tragically true. There is, however, far less danger from open attack by avowed enemies upon the leading doctrines of the faith than from the covert maneuvers of apostate Adventists, or even from the unsettling suggestions of some still within the church. Assaults on the law neither deceive nor disconcert. It is plausible suggestions calling for a revision of view on the sanctuary, for example, or questioning the his­torical integrity, soundness, or relationship of the three angels' messages, or the demonstrable cer­tainties of the key dates of the 2300 years-437 B. C., A. D. 31, and 1844—that have proved to be more serious and deceptive.

It is not repudiation of the basic doctrine of the Sabbath that imperils, for example, but attempts to dissociate ourselves and our movement from the foundational verities and legacies of the two great phases of the advent movement of 1843 and 1844 that are serious. We are never to deny or attempt to conceal our integral relationship to those antecedent phases of the advent movement so clearly indited of God. To do so is to break an indissoluble union that God has ordained. The three messages, we are told, are all "linked to­gether."

8. Added Light NEver Disannuls Former Light. Our greatest danger is that we shall forget the way that God has led us,' or perchance shall not even be aware of the real involvements and vital character of that leading. The time has manifestly come for a restudy of the things that have made us what we are, and which must be retained at all costs if we are to remain what God desires us to be." These three progressive messages, steps, plat­forms, or foundation stones—as variously called—will be subject to attack as long as we exist. We must know their fundamental soundness in order to have implicit confidence in them. We must also be able to discern the speciousness of the attacks and the tamperings that are bound to come con­cerning them, and thus withstand them.

Nor does this mean rigidity, stagnation, or reac­tionism. Increased light is to shine upon the ad'-vent platform-pathway. But that added light will never disannul genuine light already received and confirmed. It will only strengthen and make more enduring and appealing the foundational truths already established. Let us, first of all, consider why these three historical and prophetic steps are so all-important 

(Continued in December.)

Reference

1. E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. I, p. 168, Battle Creek, 1858; Early Writings, p. 259.

2 E. G. White Ms. 13, 1889. (Note : Originals of all E. G. White manuscripts and letter references in E. G.White Publications Vault.

3 E. G. White Letter 38, 1906.

4 E. G. White Letter 16, 1903.

E. G. White Ms. 129, 1905. (Quoted in Organization, pp. 175, 176.)

6 Loughborough, J. N., Great Second Advent Movement, pp. 145, 146, 182. Washington, D. C.; Christian Experiences of William Foy, Portland, 1845.

7 Review and Herald, May 25, 1905.

8 E. G. White Letter If, 189o.

E. G. White, Life Sketches, p. 196.

10 E. G. White, Special Testimonies, Series B. No. 2, p. 59.


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L.E.F. is editor of the Ministry. 

November 1944

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