Because of the prejudice of the people and because so few were willing to accept truth, Christ counseled His followers not to publicize His Messiahship—the very purpose of His visit to this globe: "Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ." Matt. 16:20. When the proper time came, He re vealed His identity. Can we, as His messengers—heralds of the returning Messiah—be any less cautious in our endeavor to avoid clashing with recognized prejudices?
Why should we give advance publicity as to our denominational status? Shall we make ourselves a target for the criticism of our enemies—those who desire an opportunity to launch early attacks aimed at our defeat? They know full well, as most of our evangelists have learned by experience, that if an audience once gets started attending our meetings, attendance is likely to continue. No wonder our enemies are so anxious for us to notify them of our affiliation, so they may have an oppor tunity to attack before we have gained the confi dence of fair-minded listeners.
It is true that an occasional interest is lost be cause certain individuals friendly to Adventists did not know early enough who we were. But for each of these there could be matched a score of examples of those who have unwittingly been led to a knowledge of the saving truth in spite of for mer prejudices.
When other ministers or their decoys murmur about our not announcing our denominational af filiation, I usually find that a very simple reply is sufficient: "Well, brother, do you mean to say you think the denomination is the important thing? We don't feel that just having one's name on some church book saves anyone. It is the message of truth that saves, and not any sectarian name. For that reason we feel denominationalism should be kept entirely in the background; those of all faiths are interested in truth. Why should we keep flaunting a flag of denominationalism in their faces?"
Just here may I pause to ask What percentage of the public are aware of the denominational af filiation of the following: Moody, Spurgeon, Billy Sunday, Finney, Charles E. Fuller, E. Stanley Jones, Gypsy Smith? These nationally or inter nationally known figures are seldom connected with a denominational label ; yet almost all of them were members of some sect. Does the public hurl at them the charge of being deceptive because they did not hoist a flag of sectarian affiliation? Cer tainly we who carry a saving message for all na tions and for all churches, should not circumscribe the scope of our influence by pinning up a sectar ian label. If the name Seventh-day Adventist were found in the Bible, then by all means we should publicize it. It is the message which marks this people. We represent a movement, not a sect.
Five Reasons for Not Revealing Identity
Here are a few reasons why we should not ad vertise denominational affiliation:
I. Preconceived prejudices keep many from com ing out. They think they know about Adventists anyway—"You know, those people who keep Sat urday for Sunday, and don't eat pork." And they are satisfied with that racy bit of information--enough to relegate us into the realm of the fanati cal isms that should be ignored, if not shunned.
Over and over again people of a very fine type have smilingly confided after baptism, 'If I had had any idea you were an Adventist preacher, I never would have come because I'd always heard they were such queer people. But I came out and became interested, and then I didn't care what de nomination you were—it was the truth !"
These words recently came from the lips of a refined lady in Dallas. Her husband was secre tary-treasurer of a big construction company. They were a very influential family and leading of ficers in one of the biggest churches in the city. This woman, her husband, and a married daughter came into the church and are extremely active now in the church they once shunned.
2. The announcement of the appearance of a de nominational minister in a town does not capture the imagination of the public as much as the announcement of a public gathering conducted by a nonidentified speaker. A couple once connected with the Pendergast machine had vowed they would never go to another church service. But these Bible lectures were different. They would go once—and they are still going. In fact, she is leader of the young people's division of the Sabbath school, and he is a deacon in the church.
3. In many places our church buildings are not representative, and it would be an embarrassment to tie the denominational name with the meetings. I hear someone reply, "Well, then the church should be made representative." That is very good counsel. But it is not usually possible for the evangelist to effect this reform hastily enough to form a convincing prelude to his forthcoming cam paign. Sometimes the church is in a poor locality, and it is impossible to move it in time to redeem the denominational reputation before the meetings begin.
Of course, there are a few cases where it would be a marked advantage to tie in with the highly thought of local Seventh-day Adventist church. But these ideal locations are still far in the minority I fear.
4. In some areas a few vocal but most unrepre sentative. Adventists have given our church a rather .unsavory name. Why should the evangelistic meetings have to contend unnecessarily with such a current of prejudice?
From a fine family living on the banks of the Mississippi came a radio letter some years ago (and similar letters by the hundreds, are found in the Voice of Prophecy mail bags): "How thankful we are for your sermons and the literature. We are so glad ta discover someone besides Seventh-day Adventists preaching the truth. We once be came interested in Adventist doctrine, but the peo ple did not live what they taught. My husband and I gave it up and have been hoping and pray ing for truth. The Bible Auditorium of the Air has brought us that hope." I am glad to say that five were baptized from this family in spite of this initial prejudice. "Truth crushed to earth shall rise again"—if given a chance !
It takes much effort to overcome the evil of a few, nonrepresentative Adventists. It took eleven disciples a long time to undo the work of one Judas. Paul admitted of his methods, "I caught you with guile."
5. If the denominational name is advertised, those who have been through other series are often apt to dismiss it with, "Oh, I know what they preach ; I've heard all that." Every evangelist has had the unearned privilege of baptizing some one who heard the truth long ago in a former evangelist's campaign. Through the years the individual had tried to avoid the requirements of the message, but finally walked into the Lord's saving trap for souls.
How then can we answer the charges of our critics that we are hiding our colors or coming in under false colors? I meet this by a very offhand informal announcement in connection with the evening's offering on the opening night:
"Yes, we need a large offering all right, to cover ex penses. But one thing I'm thankful to say, and that is these offerings do not go into my pocket. I am a minis ter of the gospel and get a straight salary. I am subsi dized, so I don't make my living off the offerings. The offerings are only for expenses. Yes, I'm an ordained minister. But let me make one thing clear this very opening night: while I belong to a church and believe in church membership, you will not hear me preaching sec tarianism in this entire series of meetings. Nor will there be church knocking and mud slinging. So I never mention any denominational affiliation, for I want you all to feel that I belong to you—Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc.
"Some people are curious about denominationalism labels—they seem to think the denomination can save. They are always coming up and asking what church you belong to. To me that's about like going to a friend's house and turning the dinner plate over to see whether it was made in Germany or the U.S.A.
"No, in a public meeting like this, I like to leave denominationalism in the background and let sectarianism be kept out. How many agree with me that that is best? Raise your hands."
And the enthusiastic raising of hands has convinced me again that the Master's methods were best when He cautioned "His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ."
