Nothing is more vital to a minister's success than confidence in the message he is called to preach. His consecration, his growth in grace, his attitude toward his people and the community, are all vitally related to his comprehension and conviction of the truth of the doctrines he presents. A minister who is uncertain of his beliefs can be neither happy nor successful. "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine," was Paul's admonition to a young preacher. "Continue in them," he said, "for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."
God's message for the world today is full and complete. It centers in the Person, the sacrifice, and the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. "In him we live, and move, and have our being," and when our lifework is ended we fall "asleep in Christ," awaiting that great hour of triumph when with the mighty host of the redeemed we will hear the voice of the archangel and in response to the trump of God will rise triumphant over death to be forever with the Lord. In Paul's words that truly is "the blessed hope."
Not all Christians understand the beautiful truth of life only in Christ, or conditional immortality. Many more are coming to believe it, but the majority still have the idea of innate immortality, feeling that somehow the soul lives on after death as a distinct entity from the body.
About ten years ago some Christian leaders visited the General Conference headquarters in Washington, D.C., to inquire into our beliefs. As we reviewed our doctrines, the nature of man naturally came into our discussions, and they asked: "Why do Adventists hold this doctrine when all orthodox Christians believe otherwise?" Kindly but firmly we pointed out that many orthodox Christians today and throughout the centuries believe just as we do. And they got their ideas directly from God's Word. Among them were a number of outstanding theologians such as Tyndale, Wycliffe, Luther, Milton, and a host of others.
That challenged their thinking, especially when they were confronted by the array of names we presented; men whose belief in the fundamentals of the Christian faith could never be questioned. When the list was assembled the evidence was overwhelming and led us to the conviction that if further research were done in this field it would lead sincere scholars to realize that Adventists are by no means peculiar. Among the champions of conditionalism were bishops, archbishops, canons, presbyters, teachers, linguists, Bible translators, exegetes, administrators, pastors, editors, poets, scientists, barristers, and philosophers. The epithet "heretic" or "cultist" could certainly not be applied to any of these.
Moreover these men were found in many different faiths—Lutheran, Anglican, Bap-ti s t, Congregationalist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Reformed, et cetera. And these scholars continue to be revered, honored, and unchallenged in their respective church affiliations. If men of this caliber were not considered heretics because they believed and taught conditionalism, then why should we or others who hold the same convictions be charged with heresy for so believing? That is the question we put to those leaders with whom we were discussing our doctrines.
While not ready to endorse conditional-ism, yet these men readily agreed that Adventists should not be regarded as cultists because of what we believe concerning death.
On completion of our work one of our number, L. E. Froom, began a real piece of scholarly research which has continued over a period of some six years, resulting in a new and factual presentation in two volumes, The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers. Volume II is already off the press and a full review will appear later.
We cannot speak too highly of this work. Like the Prophetic Faith volumes, we are confident that the Conditionalist Faith books will make a very real impact upon the Christian world. Many of our readers may not be aware that during the past few decades there has been a worldwide ground swell of revolt against the traditional twin positions of innate immortality and eternal torment, both of which come into Christianity from paganism. Men of many faiths, with growing frequency and clarity, have taken their stand on this Bible truth and are setting forth conditional immortality from the Scriptures.
This research project puts Adventism in its rightful place—as the great final champion of vital truths which tie our testimony to that of the generations before us.
In the author's own inimitable way these volumes are fully authenticated, and an amazing bibliography together with a complete listing of all the names considered makes this volume a real encyclopedia.
It was in 1846 that Edward White of England, through an exhaustive study of the Scriptures, challenged the position of innate immortality and set in motion forces which have continued to gain in both prestige and numbers. The present volume gives the historical setting while the full and clear testimony from the Scriptures will be presented in the next volume. Here is truth that cannot be denied. Sweeping the centuries, the author shows how this truth, like others of the Christian faith, was suppressed and that largely because of the impact of Platonic philosophy. It began to be recovered, however, in Reformation times, gathering momentum in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. But in this twentieth century it has come into its own.
Our forefathers paid a tremendous price in medieval and Reformation times for championing conditionalism. They were ostracized, repressed, imprisoned, and many met a martyr's death. To accept it meant the loss not only of liberty but of life itself. These 1,344 history-filled pages reveal how greatly this truth was valued.
Here is a full-rounded portrayal which appeals to the logical, scholarly mind. Those who want the full facts, accurately documented, fairly presented, and summarized for sound conclusions, will find them here. It is distinctly a book for the times and prepared, we believe, in the very providence of God to enable us now to present this great truth more fully, more winsomely, and with greater effectiveness. It is a book that just had to be written. It was needed for this hour and enables us to take our rightful place in the final advance of the everlasting gospel. God has manifestly led in the preparation of this larger approach to a question which has been known and discussed throughout the centuries.
We are confident these two volumes will make an impact on the restless religious world of today. They are a must for every English-reading Adventist worker. Having read the manuscript and now reading again these pages in print, this editor is bold enough to hope that some way may be found to make this material available not only to our own workers but also to that great group of earnest students throughout all Christendom.
R. A. A.
Mass Communication
"Mass communication" is a twentieth-century expression. It could have meaning for no other generation. The ministry of Moses or Isaiah or Paul reached the Mediterranean area but never went beyond. The cities of that day were small and life moved at a slow pace. A few hundred, or at most a few thousand, was the limit of their audiences. But what a contrast is our generation!
Today we speak to hundreds of millions scattered all over the world and they all hear the identical message at the same split second of time. And we can do this with such ease. Shouting through a megaphone belongs to a bygone age.
How wonderfully God has prepared our generation to hear His final appeal in the terms of the everlasting gospel. This issue emphasizes the various means of mass communication. The articles here will serve a real purpose and will answer many questions. These writers are carrying heavy responsibility in radio, television, Bible correspondence courses, and home visitation as they seek to reach the masses. Not only in the great centers of civilization but also among primitive peoples, multitudes are hearing the gospel through these modern methods. What a thrilling hour this is in which to preach God's last message! When it swells into the "loud cry" foretold in Revelation 18:1-4, multitudes will be seen flocking to the church from every land, and then mass communication will have reached its full and final purpose.
R. A. A.
Remember June 12
America may be the land of the free and the home of the brave, but within the boundaries of the North American Division live multiplied millions who fall into one of the four following categories: Deaf, foreign-language, Indian, Jewish people. Our church in its attempt to reach these more than 37 million souls has for the first time in its history (1) set aside a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering overflow for the Indian work in North America (second quarter, 1964); (2) included plans for the benefit of these four groups during a night session of the General Conference (Aug. 2, 1962); (3) held a foreign-language workers' meeting in Battle Creek (Aug. 10-13, 1964).
These groups provide our church with one of its greatest soul-winning possibilities. Many of them come to our shores as staunch believers in state religions. Religious prejudice usually diminishes with this transplanting procedure.
How can we take advantage of this situation? On June 12 a North American missions offering is to be received in all of our churches in the North American Division. The goal is $75,000. This offering is to be divided equally between the production of literature and Bible correspondence courses which will meet the minds of these masses. We have done far too little in preparing materials adapted to their special needs.
The Ministerial Association has a real burden for this work. For us to win one of these precious souls in many cases means that our message will not only be shared by that individual's friends and relatives in this country but the truth will be sent back to his native country, thus influencing others both at home and abroad. We pray that our fellow ministers will encourage our members to give liberally on June 12.
J. R. S.
"Success Secrets for Pastors"
The above title is the name of a volume which at this moment is reaching our Book and Bible House shelves. The author, John Rhodes, a successful pastor-evangelist, started a survey about ten years ago of useful methods and plans devised by Seventh-day Adventist ministers in North America. The result is a 160-page book bulging with ideas, suggestions, sample sermons for special days, diagrams, form letters, orders of service, et cetera.
The book is not intended to be a measuring rod, but rather a compendium of methods currently used by pastor-evangelists across America. Those ministers laboring in countries outside the United States and Canada can readily adapt many of these suggestions in their own fields. Adaptation must be the rule for all areas, since different communities pose widely divergent problems.
The author makes it clear that the suggestions, if followed, will not necessarily ensure success. But where spirituality and leadership exist together in right proportions, God's Spirit can use this divinely ordained combination in a way that will increase our ministerial effectiveness and efficiency.
A quick glance at the table of contents reveals the practical nature of this work. A sampling of headings includes: Church Budgets, The Pastor's Membership Records, The Communion Service, The Baptismal Service, Dedication of Children, Weddings, Dealing With Absentees, Servicemen, Periodical Campaigns, plus other vital information which will aid every minister in his calling.
This book stands relatively unique in that it has been especially prepared and adapted to the requirements of Seventh-day Adventist pastors. It is an indispensable volume for the library of every minister.
J. R. S.
