In continuing the discussion of our approach to the public in evangelism, we come now to another phase of our study. What should be our whole general approach to those not of our faith? What of the ministers of other churches? And what of those who have been won to the truth by first coming to our meetings not knowing them to be a Seventh-day Adventist program? Is it not possible to come into some cities and start our work so suddenly that we will actually have people keeping the Sabbath without their knowing that it is a Seventh-day Adventist tenet of faith? What about certain statements in the Spirit of prophecy?
Because of the limitation of space we will be unable to deal as fully and comprehensively with this phase of the discussion as we would like. However, a few pertinent statements from the pen of Inspiration will set the pattern for our thought:
"Those who differ from us in faith and doctrine should be treated kindly. They are the property of Christ, and we must meet them in the great day of final account. We shall have to face one another in the judgment, and behold the record of our thoughts, words, and deeds, not as we have viewed them, but as they were in truth. God has enjoined upon us the duty of loving one another as Christ has loved us."—Evangelism, p. 638.
"Our ministers should seek to come near to the ministers of other denominations. Pray for and with these men, for whom Christ is interceding. A solemn responsibility is theirs. As Christ's messengers, we should manifest a deep, earnest interest in these shepherds of the flock. . . .
"The wisest, firmest labor should be given to those ministers who are not of our faith. . . . Let faithful, God-fearing, earnest workers, their life hid with Christ in God, pray and work for honest ministers who have been educated to misinterpret the Word of Life.
"Our ministers are to make it their special work to labor for ministers. They are not to get into controversy with them."—Ibid., p. 562.
Fellow evangelists, let us earnestly and humbly ask ourselves, "How much labor do I usually put forth to avoid controversy, and gain the friendship of the ministry in a community ?" The naked truth is that all too frequently some have felt that unless they took sharp issue with both Catholic and Protestant bodies, a course which resulted in stirring up prejudice and opposition, they were not accomplishing their mission or preaching the message. Some have interpreted opposition to mean hardness of soul and an unchangeable prejudice on the part of the people, and consequently have felt such a situation to be entirely apart from any personal responsibility. Actually, much of this might have been avoided if we had planned our work more carefully and tactfully.
Obviously, it is not a thing to be boasted of that upon the conclusion of our evangelistic campaign the community is so angered, aroused, and inflamed that a fellow Adventist minister will find it almost impossible to cope with the prejudices and animosities thus aroused, or to attempt another effort for years. Some, unfortunately, boast that when they have labored in a town no one else can follow with an effort. Their assumption is, of course, that they have reaped the full harvest of "the honest in heart," and the rest are hardened, stiff-necked sinners. Yet we have doubtless all known of cases where another minister was able to go there after the turmoil had subsided, and actually gain more than the first worker.
There are various communities today that have thrown up formidable barriers against our work as a result of some unwise technique or practice which took place years or decades ago. It is a perilous and tragic thing for us to work in a groove so narrow, and with such a shortsighted policy, that we give no thought to the man who must inevitably follow us or to our church people who remain and must live in a community and face the fruits of our approaches. Why are some of us so reticent to incorporate into our work the following treasured instruction?
"It requires much wisdom to reach ministers and men of influence. But why should they be neglected as they have been by our people. . . . God has a work to be done which the workers have not yet fully comprehended. . . . There must be most earnest seeking after God, most thorough study ; for the mental powers will be taxed to the utmost in laying plans which will place the work of God on a more elevated platform. That is where it should always have stood, but men's narrow ideas and restricted plans have limited and lowered it." —Ibid., pp. 562, 563.
It is precisely this matter of limiting and lowering the platform of the cause of God that prompts this frank discussion. It is clear that the Lord would have us pray with and pray for the ministry of other churches. In order to pray with them, we must be in their presence. In order to reach these ministers, and elevate the very approach of our work, we must take a broad attitude of fellowship along spiritual lines. We must lay off the pugilistic armor.
There are workers who insist that they have baptized people who never would have accepted the truth had they known that the meetings they were attending were Seventh-day Adventist. This reasoning disregards entirely the great number of equally fine people who are restrained from coming by not knowing the sponsors, or who turn away, disillusioned and embittered, when they find out that the identity has been deliberately withheld. Neither is it entirely certain that God would not have impressed them in some manner to attend the meetings or have drawn them through some ,other way.
The difficulty with our approach to the people lies not in the identification of our program, hut rather in the manner and method used in the launching of our work. The courting of the public's good will can be done without the survender of one iota of fundamental principle. This policy is not without great benefit. It is not a weakening of our denominational standards to do all in our power to set forth to the public the beautiful and appealing aspects of ,our truth.
Dispel Atmosphere of Suspicion
Why create an atmosphere of suspicion when we can work in such a way as to avoid it ? Why -work under a cloud when it is possible to gain friends for the church by taking some other approach? Why present our subjects in such a way and in such an order as to turn the majority away from us, when there is a way to labor :and set the good name of Adventists before the people?
"Never bring the truth down to a low level in order to obtain converts. . .
"We are not to encourage a spirit of enthusiasm that brings zeal for a while, but soon fades away, leaving discouragement and depression."
"We are not to misrepresent what we profess to 'believe in order to gain favor. God despises misrepre:- sentation."—Ibid., pp. 137, 138, 132.
It is contended by some that we cannot safely -enter some communities with our tents or tabernacles or begin work in a hall and identify our program, because people are so prejudiced that they will not attend. Our reply is that if a town is prejudiced to such a degree, a careful study will usually reveal it to be due to precisely such a manner of approach in days gone by as we are now endeavoring to correct. We are now reaping a frightful harvest because of our own former manner of work. To change the effect we must obviously change the cause ! To perpetuate our present methods will only serve to perpetuate prejudices. A careful and tactful appfoach frustrates a prejudicial move on the part of local ministers. Examples from our workers who have girded up their courage and changed their methods could be cited as giving proof of this fact.
A well-known evangelist in the Southern Union who is widely known for his large campaigns writes, "The ministers had already organized to fight us here, and that was the reason we decided to advertise who we were so as to cripple their plans. This was accomplished." Continuing, he states, "The reason the interest is so good is because the people who come to the lectures know who is conducting them, and they are interested in the message that Seventh-day Adventists have for the world today."
Another example is noteworthy. A young worker was asked to lead out in a city that just recently had been worked by an evangelist of experience. The meeting of the evangelist had been held in a large municipal auditorium. The method employed was one of deception, and the results were negligible—bordering on complete collapse. This young worker, without an extensive budget, now set about to correct the false impressions of Adventists gained by the public in the former campaign. A tent was pitched. From the outset he identified his program. The prophets of gloom predicted failure. There followed a thrilling capture of the public good will. Space prohibits its recital. The results ? At the present moment, after months of labor, this young man is still unable to seat the people in his tent ; and when I visited him recently, he had no idea 'when the interest would wane to the point where his conscience would permit him to close down.
We could multiply testimony upon testimony of workers in every part of the field who have recently changed their method. "But," someone asks, "doesn't Mrs. White urge us to keep our movements secret as does a wise general ?" (See Evangelism, p. 125.) We answer, Most assuredly she does, and the counsel is wise. We do not suggest that a public announcement be made of our hopes to make Seventh-day Adventists of those who attend. To let the people know who we are does not contradict this instruction, but it does present an opportunity to give a truer picture of our purpose. We must remember. the timing of the statement mentioned—it was given in 1897. But even then the instruction was given with qualifications as to its future application. In this statement made in 1897 Mrs. White continues by saying:
"Wait; pitch the tents when the time for camp meeting comes. Put them up rapidly, and then give notice of the meetings. . God would have new and untried methods followed. Break in upon the people—surprise them."
Parallel on Spiritual Battlefield
Changing conditions have altered our whole conduct of the early camp-meeting idea. We would point out that a good general always plans his military campaigns so as to maintain the initiative. As long as he directs the thrusts into enemy lines, he knows the battle goes well. But it is a serious matter to be thrown on the defensive and lose the initiative. The spiritual battle line must be equally well drawn. When ministers not of our faith can take from us the good will of the people by pointing out in a prejudicial way our approach to the city—which we think is tactful, but which they point out as deceitful—then we are immediately forced, by virtue of the circumstance, to defend ourselves. By becoming defensive we have lost the aggressive initiative.
If we are jockeyed into a position where we must defend our practices in public debate, sermon replies, and other ways, we most assuredly are fulfilling the part of a general who is purely defensive, and thus aggressive conquests must be abandoned. Yes, let us be good generals of the Lord's army. Surprise the people with a clear presentation of challenging subjects, big ideas, and a glorious hope ! All of this the Advent message gives.
Again someone says, "But doesn't Sister White say clearly, 'Do not think it your duty to say at once to the people, We are Seventh-day Adventists' ?" Again we reply that this also must be viewed from the important timing of the statement. Let us take a look at the whole statement :
"In laboring in a new field, do not think it your duty to say at once to the people, We are Seventh-day Adventists ; we believe that the seventh day is the Sabbath; we believe in the noninunortality of the soul. This would often erect a formidable barrier between you and those you wish to reach. Speak to them, as you have opportunity, upon points of doctrine on which you can agree. Dwell on the necessity of practical godliness. Give them evidence that you are a Christian, desiring peace, and that you love their souls. Let them see that you are conscientious. Thus you will gain their confidence ; and there will be time enough for doctrines. Let the heart be won, the soil prepared, and then sow the seed, presenting in love the truth as it is in Jesus."—Ibid., p. 200.
Here again we see a strong qualification of the statement. This wise instruction is given concerning the proper order of presentation of subjects and topics. This is very evident by such statements as, "Speak to them, as you have opportunity, upon points of doctrine on which you can agree." To let people know we are Seventh-day Adventists is not preaching an objectional "doctrine" too early in the series. If the name Seventh-day Adventist is objectionable, then we must look to ourselves for the reason.
Do not at the outset press before the people the most objectionable features of our faith, lest you close their ears to which these things come as a new revelation. Let such portions of truth be dealt out to them as they may be able to grasp and appreciate ; though it should appear strange and startling, many will recognize with joy the new light that is shed on the Word of God, whereas if truth were presented in so large a measure that they could not receive it, some would go away, and never come again. More than this, they would misrepresent the truth."—Ibid., p. 201.
"Do not make prominent those features of the message which are a condemnation of the customs and practices of the people, until they have opportunity to know that we are believers in Christ, that we believe in His divinity and in His pre-existence. Let the testimony of the world's Redeemer be dwelt upon."Ibid., p. 231.
"All is new and strange and wholly, unlike that which they have heard from their ministers, and they are inclined to believe what the ministers have told them, that Seventh-day Adventists are infidels and do not believe the Bible."—Ibid., p. 201.
"The message of the gospel of His grace was to be given to the church in clear and distinct lines, that the world should no longer say that Seventh-day Adventists talk the law, the law, but do not teach or believe Christ."—Ibid., p. 191.
"The religionist generally has divorced the law and the gospel, while we have on the other hand almost done the same from another standpoint. We have not held up before the people the righteousness of Christ and the full significance of His great plan of redemption. We have left out Christ and His matchless love, and brought in the theories and reasonings, preached arguments."—Ibid., pp. 231, 232.
"Present subjects that will be as green pastures to the sheep of God's fold. . . . In order to break down the barriers of prejudice and impenitence, the love of Christ must have a part in every discourse."—Ibid., p. '89.
It is very evident that the messenger of the Lord was here giving wise instruction to the early Advent worker who felt his whole message was to present at the outset the difficult, separative subjects. It is a historical fact that the early worker did not hide his identity or delay long. in presenting the distinctive truths. In order to correct this abuse, the Spirit of God gave wise counsel.
The pendulum later swung to the other extreme, of complete concealment. But this is surely an abuse of the intent of the divine instruction. Recognizing this fact and realizing that changed conditions call for changed methods, the Autumn Council assembled at Grand Rapids adopted the following recommendation :
"WHEREAS, Seventh-day Adventists today are increasingly recognized as interpreters of Bible prophecy, and there is on the part of the public an increased interest in respect to the meaning of present-day events, and the study of the Bible; and,
"WHEREAS, A tactful introduction of our work to the public, by announcing that we are Seventh-day Adventists, has been demonstrated as most effective in counteracting charges of misrepresentation; and,
"WHEREAS, Such a frank and open approach to the public is enthusiastically welcomed by our people; therefore,
"We recommend, That, in North America, our evangelists and pastors be encouraged to consider the plan of tactfully identifying their ministerial and evangelistic program as Seventh-day Adventist."
Surely the full adoption of this plan by our workers will bring about wonderful changes in the public attitude in the days to come.
"We are not to cringe and beg pardon of the world for telling them the truth: we should scorn concealment. Unfurl your colors to meet the cause of men and angels. Let it be understood that Seventh-day Adventists can make no compromise. In your opinions and faith there must not be the least appearance of waverings : the world has a right to know what to expect of us."—Ibid., p. 179.