All too often we have been gravely misunderstood by the clergymen of other faiths. They have frequently, if not usually, looked upon us with suspicion, believing us to be untutored, narrow, heretical, peculiar, and bigoted, holding strange teachings and using unorthodox ways of propagating our faith. They have felt us to be unfriendly, uncooperative, condemnatory of other religious bodies, smug in our feeling of religious superiority, and complacent in our nonfraternizing aloofness. They have looked upon us as interested only in our own welfare and advancement, and not interested in cooperation in civic welfare and social betterment.
Their impressions have come not only from the books of apostates or enemies but often from unhappy personal contacts with unrepresentative Adventists, from the loss of some of their own choice members during one of our evangelistic campaigns, and from a total misconception of our actual teaching regarding the atonement, the nature of man, the law of God, the Sabbath of the Lord, the mark of the beast, or the Spirit of prophecy in relation to the Bible, as our rule of faith and practice.
Unfortunately, we have ourselves created all too many of these misconceptions. In our public meetings we have often overemphasized the doctrinal at the expense of the spiritual. We have too frequently stressed the demands of the law to the minimizing of the provisions of the gospel. We have at times unfortunately emphasized the Spirit of prophecy at the expense of the Bible. We have usually stressed our differences, rather than the truths we hold in common with other communions. We have sometimes been harsh in regard to those not of our own faith, and have bandied hard words concerning Babylon, the beast, the harlot, and the mark of the beast.
We have at times been very condemnatory of the church and the clergy. We have too often scorched and seared with words that have hurt and alienated. We have been negative instead of positive, bristling instead of kindly. We have put our worst foot forward. We have often built a wall of separation about us, as verily as did the Jews of old. No wonder other ministers have looked askance at us.
There is a better way, which is being increasingly tried by various men, with gratifying results. It always changes the picture, because it corrects unfortunate, unwholesome, and needlessly offensive impressions. Where this better way is tried, there is a changing attitude on the part of other ministers, and an improved attitude on our part. We should become acquainted with men of other churches. We should talk with them, pray with them, and cooperate with them, as far as possible, where common interests are concerned—and all without compromising principle or shading truth. We should join their local ministerial associations. We should cooperate in community endeavors—Thanksgiving programs, patriotic exercises, and the like. We should take our turn on the rotating radio hour for local clergymen, as one of the recognized ministers of the community. We should take the lead in temperance issues and antitobacco agitations. We should press the vital and true principle of separation of church and state, which is now in the forefront as a great issue.
We should bear witness to the great fundamentals of the evangelical f aitha fiat creation, a literal flood catastrophe, the virgin birth, vicarious death, literal resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and His premillennial Second Advent—in the midst of the rationalistic departures and divisions in most of the churches. We should testify to our faith in the Bible as the Inspired Word of God, the authoritative rule of all faith and practice, and in Christ as our sole hope of salvation. We should take our stand for the efficacy of the gospel to save to the uttermost. We should stand for salvation by grace, justification by faith, sanctification by the Spirit, and glorification through the imminent second coming of Christ, as the one hope of the world.
Here are positive positions which we can press that will put us in our true light in the midst of the confusion, compromise, and apostasy all about us. Thus we shall win the growing respect of the clergy of other communions. We will be known as true Christians, believing in the eternal deity of Christ and His enabling power for every human need.
We have marvelous opportunity to witness to sound principles on the calendar question. But we should not use these themes as vehicles for denominational propaganda or preachment under such circumstances of cooperation. We should join with high-minded clergymen who are increasingly alarmed over the encroachments of the papacy as evidenced in so many ways. Here in the United States there are real issues such as state support for Catholic parochial schools, free textbooks, free school .bus transportation, grants of money, and teaching by nuns in religious garb in our own public schools. Also the question of American representation at the Vatican is another clear issue. We should put literature into their hands, such as the Liberty magazine; and if it is a marked copy, that will give it a personal touch.
Where principles are confused and distorted, we can tactfully present the issues in clear, sound, logical outline, and help to change concepts and perspectives, so as to exalt truth and win friends. Because of our knowledge on several subjects, we should be in demand as lecturers, be invited to other pulpits, community meetings and rallies, and high school auditoriums and civic organizations. The forces of law and order should know that our preaching and our influence build the home, establish the family altar, exalt morality, augment honesty, instill respect for civil law, reduce juvenile delinquency and crime, and strive to make better citizens. We should see that the nation's leaders have our health and temperance journals, such as Life and Health and the Listen quarterly.
We should be known as real Christians, and exemplars of the spirit of Christ. If allowance must he made for our variant views on certain doctrines, at least we should be regarded as real Christians, and the backbone' of the community. We should put Steps to Christ, Desire of Ages, Christ's Object Lessons, and Education in the hands of these ministers, along with other representative books. "Pray for and with these men" is the counsel of the Lord to us. (Evangelism. p. 562.)
This is the time of all times to capitalize upon our denominational name, and the increasingly favorable impression created by our sanitariums and our physicians in private practice, our publishing houses and their wonderful literature, and our great foreign missionary and welfare and humanitarian projects, upon our help in translation of the Bible into the vernaculars, and upon our effective aid in getting the Bible into the hands of the people. We should be pre-eminently men of the Book. We should show ourselves to be broad men with big hearts and wide interests.
We need friends, both now and in days to come. We should make these friends now. We should let these men see that we do not have horns and hoofs; that we are kind, intelligent, cooperative, competent human beings—not incarnations of oddity or paragons of perverseness. We can capitalize on our oneness with the faith of their founding fathers in the realm of sound prophetic interpretation—whether they be Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, or what not. These are appealing and impressive points of contact. Switch from the negative to the positive. State that we are simply the champions of once commonly held views, cherished by their spiritual forebears.
We should emphasize especially the needs of the unsaved in the community—the unchurched. We should definitely work for such, and for the backsliders who do not belong to any church. By emphasizing this side of our work we shall correct the 'distorted concept that we are simply sheep stealers. We have a message for all mankind, including the churches, but it is fundamentally a gospel message, the everlasting gospel. We are engaged in a great world mission enterprise. But there are untold thousands of godless heathen at home, lost as verily as those in Africa, Asia, or the islands of the sea. These we should reach.
Furthermore, the majority of God's children are still in Babylon. We have a special, heaven-indicted message for such. These sons and daughters are of God, are sincere and honest, living up to all the light they know. These we must reach and lead into the fuller light. We must exercise great care not to insult God's children who are still in Babylon. We shall never win them that way. We must labor intelligently, patiently, kindly, understandingly. Like our Lord, we are not here to condemn men but to save them, that they might have life. Here is scope for great wisdom and love.
Many of the ministers of other faiths are among these precious souls that will yet be separated from the garments of error. In the crisis hour as the contrasts deepen, and the issues become sharper and more decisive, they will yet step out and join hands with us, just as did hundreds of ministers in the first angel's message.
Here is scope for study, prayer, and adjustment of emphasis. Christ said, 'Make to yourselves friends of mammon." These men are not Mammon, but the principle applies. Make friends of churchmen. Correct wrong impressions about ourselves, our faith, our attitudes, our principles, and our objectives. Make friends for forgotten and neglected truth. Make common cause against common enemies and common perils. Take the lead in preserving the priceless heritage of religious liberty. Let us not be selfish but work for the protection and rights, not only of ourselves, but of those who differ from- us. Where we can, let us cooperate with them so long as they do not violate the clear principles of church and state relationship. Avoid needless controversial issues.
But, someone counters, issues will arise, and-sometimes we will have to separate from them. Very well, when that day comes, we will have to withdraw.' But we will meantime have made sincere friends for the Advent faith. We will have witnessed for our Lord and His wondrous truth. We will leave firm friends behind, and will have softened the blow that is destined to fall. More than that, we will have done our duty. Let us not bring on a time of trouble before the time appointed. Let us be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves. And above all, let us be sincere and transparent. This is our day of golden opportunity. Again, we say, let us make friends.
L. E. F.
