Seventh-day
Adventists walk what appears to be a delicate line when it comes to engaging in
secular conversations with those who are not of our faith. Some feel that there is a dialogue among
scholars that Adventists can never hope to join if they do not understand the
language and historical background of the conversation. Can Seventh-day Adventists engage in this
dialogue without violating God’s ideal for His people outlined in the Bible and
the Spirit of Prophecy? I believe
Seventh-day Adventists should not only participate in this debate, but should
wholeheartedly embrace it within the confines of God’s word.
Exploring
this thesis requires an examination of some statements made in the writings of
Ellen White with regard to reading and exposure to “worldly” ideas. There is a belief among many church
members that familiarity with material published by non-Adventist authors will
subvert and contaminate the conscience.
This mindset is not hard to understand when reading comments from Ellen
White such as this one:
"Those
who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of
the soul; they must avoid reading,
seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not
be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may
suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken
evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness" (Acts of the Apostles 518).
Does this statement mean that church
members must never read anything written by non-Seventh-day Adventists that is
not focused on spiritual matters?
Perhaps through a superficial reading of the above quote a reader might
walk away with that understanding.
However, if read within the context it was written, that does not appear
to be the message Ellen White intended to convey. To fairly represent the meaning of such comments,
the intent of the writer must be determined from the meaning of the entire
passage from which the comment was selected.
The above quote was intentionally brought into question to
demonstrate how easy it is to selectively present information to support a
personal view or bias. Many people use
the same method of research to support unbiblical doctrines. Rather than reading a statement or passage
within the context the writer intended, some people carefully select a helpful
sentence or two that appears to support a predetermined idea. The comment is then presented, with the
presenter’s carefully selected framing, as evidence of support for the
proliferation of the presenter’s viewpoint.
Revisiting the statement above, in
the context it was written, the reader will find that Ellen White’s intention
was to dissuade Christians from exposing themselves to anything that would
“suggest impure thoughts.” A review of
many of Ellen White’s statements regarding appropriate reading material reveals
that that is generally her main thrust.
She admonished readers earlier in the same passage “to keep the mind
from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling
subjects” (Acts of the Apostles 518).
Additionally, Mrs. White warned
Christians “the mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject
that the enemy of souls may suggest” (Acts
of the Apostles 518). With this
quote in mind a question arises. Is the study
of secular material with the specific purpose of using the knowledge gained to
present the gospel to a particular class of people something that has been
randomly suggested by Satan? It would
seem that on the face of it this endeavor is not “random,” but has the specific
purpose of joining with non-Adventist scholars, or others, in a dialogue of
ideas with the goal of glorifying God in creation or history or whatever the
topic is that is under consideration.
Having gleaned some important
guidance from Mrs. White, it is important to determine whether or not interaction
with non-Seventh-day Adventist scholars falls into the category of “forbidden
themes” or trifling subjects.” Examining
related passages from her writings should establish whether or not we are
walking on solid ground in this arena.
A helpful example is found in Acts
of the Apostles on the life of Paul.
While visiting the City of Athens, Paul presented the gospel to a
gathering of “poets, artists, and philosophers—the scholars and sages of Athens”
on Mars’ Hill (Acts of the Apostles
273). As Paul spoke, “the wisest of his
hearers were astonished as they listened to his reasoning. He showed himself
familiar with their works of art, their literature, and their religion” (Acts of the Apostles 273).
As stated, Paul was familiar with the culture of his
time. He was able to reason with the
Greeks in language they understood, and this demonstrated for his hearers that
Paul respected their heritage and history.
This gave him an advantage in connecting with the people of Athens that
someone who was unfamiliar with their society would not have enjoyed. Armed with this knowledge, Paul was able to
direct the minds of the people on Mars’ Hill to the living God.
Moses and Daniel are also examples of educated men who were
able, because of their knowledge of the cultures they lived in, to reach the
educated classes with the word of God.
Because of their fidelity to the truth, while being trained in worldly
customs and ideas, they both commanded kingdoms and won souls for the kingdom
of Christ. These men are models of what
those who are faithful to God, while seeking a broader education, maybe become
if they are willing to hide themselves in Christ and allow Him to use them to
reach educated men the average church member would have no hope of winning.
Ellen White makes it clear that there is a place in our
church for these kinds of leaders. She
wrote in Christian Education, page 213:
"We would that there were strong young men, rooted and
grounded in the faith, who had such a living connection with God that they
could, if so counseled by our leading brethren, enter the higher colleges in
our land, where they would have a wider field for study and observation.
Association with different classes of minds, an acquaintance with the workings
and results of popular methods of education, and a knowledge of theology as
taught in the leading institutions of learning, would be of great value to such
workers, preparing them to labor for the educated classes, and to meet the
prevailing errors of our time. Such was the method pursued by the ancient
Waldenses; and, if true to God, our youth, like theirs, might do a good work,
even while gaining their education, in sowing the seeds of truth in other
minds…."
Such an education as described above would not just benefit
the cause of God at its completion, but students would have an opportunity to
share the gospel with other scholars sharing their courses of study. Winning souls for Christ under these
circumstances, even if just one soul was won through each effort, would at
least double the number of Seventh-day Adventist Christians engaged in the work
of Christ to win the educated classes of society. “With such an army of workers as our youth,
rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and
soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world!” (A Call to Stand Apart 66).
Later, after the completion of a degree, these students
would begin filling vacancies in the professional world as soul winners for
Christ. Again, Ellen White mentions the
effect these soldiers of the cross will have on society:
"Many of the greatest scholars and statesmen, the world’s
most eminent men, will in these last days turn from the light, because the
world by wisdom knows not God. Yet God’s servants are to improve every
opportunity to communicate the truth to these men. Some will acknowledge their
ignorance of the things of God, and will take their place as humble learners at
the feet of Jesus, the Master Teacher" (The
Acts of the Apostles, 241-242).
As
a lesson study in what can happen to an unconsecrated worker is the case of Moses
Hull. Moses Hull was a prominent
evangelist in the budding Advent movement before the formation of the official Seventh-day
Adventist Church. Hull was a quick and
excellent orator and took delight in engaging others in debate. “This called for counsel from heaven … Hull,
engaged in debates with spiritualists, at first at their challenge, later at
his. As a result of this daring move he was swept into the mazes of
spiritualism” (Testimonies For the
Church, Vol. 1 7).
Although Hull was an excellent speaker and could best his
opponents, Mrs. White recognized Hull’s reliance on self rather than
Christ. “I saw that you have felt strong
in yourself, felt that you had arguments which could not be gainsaid, and you
have not relied upon the strength of the Lord. You have too often rushed upon
Satan’s ground to meet an opponent” (Testimonies
For the Church, Vol. 1 428). Hull,
carried away with what appeared to be success of his own making, was eventually
lost to the enemy of souls.
The method used by Seventh-day Adventist while engaging in
the work of soul winning is vitally important.
Workers for Christ must allow the Spirit of Christ to lead them and
avoid entering into deliberations for the sake of debate or self-aggrandizement. “The spirit of debate, of controversy, is a
device of Satan to stir up combativeness, and thus eclipse the truth as it is
in Jesus. Many have thus been repulsed
instead of being won to Christ” (Evangelism
163). “Moses Hull went in this direction
… His hold of the truth was not strong enough to overcome his selfishness” (Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 2 624).
Hull was not left to blindly stumble onto Satan’s
ground. He was given strict counsel by
Ellen White.
Never should one man be sent forth alone to combat with a
spiritualist. If the cause of God really demands that we confront Satan and his
host as represented by a spiritual medium, if enough is at stake to call for
such a discussion, then several should go forth together that with prayer and
faith the host of darkness may be driven back and the speaker shielded by
angels that excel in strength (Testimonies
For the Church, Vol. 1 428).
After
rebuking Hull, Mrs. White offered him words of hope. “God will help and strengthen you if you seek
Him earnestly. But study yourself. Try every motive; let it not be your aim to
preach brilliant discourses to exhibit Moses Hull, but seek to exhibit Christ”
(Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 1
437). Sadly, Hull refused the counsel of
God’s prophet and he was lost to the enemy.
Herein is a warning. Engaging
in an informed discussion requires education and familiarity with the field
under consideration. But as we have
seen, unless an individual is hid in Christ his mastery of language, education
and personal charisma will be to no avail.
Christ’s soldiers are assailing the kingdom of Satan, and he will not
sit idly by while his prey is snatched from his hand. Without Christ in command, human effort is
doomed to failure.
As
presented, Seventh-day Adventists have a responsibility to obtain the best
education they can to reach all classes of society. Church members who feel specially called to
reach the educated classes can only be successful as the prompting of the Holy
Spirit is followed in this important work.
If the counsel in God’s word is followed, it is reasonable to conclude
that Seventh-day Adventists must strive for a seat at the table of academic and
professional ideas so the word of God may flourish.
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