Much rigorous discussion followed on from reading the thought-provoking article by Victor Vaughn entitled “When Did it Become Acceptable”, and rightly so. He articulated well what so many of us have observed but struggled to voice.
Thank you Victor - you are living up to the meaning of your name, being victorious for truth. Thank you for your discernment but also thank you for your courage - writing an article like that, with your name placed by it, takes courage, especially in these times.
It was relatively easy for those of us who read the article to quickly add in our comments supporting his observations. We realise many of our fellow church members are happy and relaxed with many of those changes. Some have even worked hard to usher them in. Many would criticise our concerns, dismissing them as ‘old fashioned’ or ‘narrow minded’. I think we accept that our views are most likely the minority view, especially in the western world’s Divisions. However, we find solace and company in various spots on the worldwide web, and Fulcrum 7 is an important one.
In order to lead a healthy life, including spiritually, we must though move forwards from observation and dissecting, and onto action. The lack of action is often the result of the lack of a vision. The Scriptures tell us in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. Therefore we need vision, in order to take action. And this vision needs to be based on God’s will, as revealed by His Word.
A Thoroughly Biblical Hermeneutic
We have come to realise that we who enjoy Fulcrum 7 are bound by a foundational understanding that our beliefs are formed through a more literalist understanding of the Bible - historical-grammatical, rather than the more fashionable hermeneutic of the historical-critical and principle-based method, which takes a more liberal view of the Scriptures, viewing them through the lens of cultural currency.
When reading through Victor’s list of actions that are regularly occurring in our Church—which once would not have been even imagined, let alone occurring or accepted—we can trace each action to this change in hermeneutics. This same liberal approach has also impacted how Seventh-day Adventists view the Spirit of Prophecy. In main, this down-grading of the role of Ellen White as Spirit of Prophecy in our church has occurred with increasing rapidity since Desmond Ford’s demeaning of the investigative judgement, and our Sanctuary doctrine.
When we examine the five main Pillars of Faith for Seventh-day Adventism we find that there are two that are unique to us. There are other denominations and believers who uphold the Sabbath. There are other theologians who share our understanding of the State of the Dead. Many Christians look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus. Even the gift of prophecy, especially in these end times, is believed - although the role of Ellen White, as Spirit of Prophecy, is unique to our denomination. Finally, completely unique to us is the teaching of the Sanctuary, as we were blessed to gain understanding from God, back after 1844, and confirmed by Spirit of Prophecy.
Once the belief in the Sanctuary and what is occurring there, is eroded, a very important platform of our Seventh-day Adventist message is missing. And that impacts on the teaching of the State of the Dead. It impacts on the reliability of the Spirit of Prophecy. And what we are observing is that it then seems to erode the remaining Pillars of our Faith: the Second Coming and the Sabbath - so foundational to our understanding and our message for these times that our denominational name refers to both.
One point Victor made is that members are now baptised without full understanding of our beliefs. I see this occurring regularly. I strongly believe that this accounts for why our denomination also has such dreadful exit statistics. Perhaps baptism and membership ought not to be tied as they are, but setting aside that issue, membership should ethically include full instruction of each Pillar of Faith, to the point that the candidate not only understands those Pillars, but can explain them to others.
I believe understanding these Pillars is even more crucial than agreeing to the Fundamentals, which can and do change. Remember that in Ellen White’s time, it was agreed that there ought not to be Fundamental Beliefs, but Fundamental Principles. There is a vast difference in meaning and intent between those two words: Beliefs and Principles. However, Ellen White said repeatedly that the Pillars of our Faith were not to be altered — they were foundational.
When we re-read what our original Fundamental Principles were, and our original Baptismal Vows were, in Ellen White’s time, and then read what we have now, that helps us answer Victor’s questions.
So to move forwards, we in a very real sense need to look backwards. We need to re-acquaint ourselves with what Ellen White, and the other originators of our denomination worked hard, together with and inspired by the Holy Spirit, to form a firm foundation for our faith. Of this foundation, Spirit of Prophecy says (more than once) that we are not to set aside. Instead we are to uphold and spring forwards from this foundation, in order to achieve our main task: the sharing of the Three Angels Message.
In order to shape right actions we need right thinking. We will perish without a clear vision of how we ought to be. So let’s answer Victor’s questions but with Bible-based, Spirit of Prophecy-based answers. And a good place to start is to revisit the original Baptismal Vows from 1874:
Do you accept all the Bible as the inspired word of God, and do you take it as your only rule of faith? Is it your purpose to ever walk according to its teachings? (2 Tim. 3:16,17; Acts 20:32).
Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour for salvation from sin, for a real change of heart, and will you permit Him by the Holy Spirit to live in you daily? (John 1:12,13; Gal.2:20).
Have you repented of, and confessed all known sin to God, and do you believe that He, for Christ's sake has forgiven you, and as far as possible have you tried to make matters right with your fellow men? (1 John 1:9; Matt.5:23-26; Eze.33:15).
Is it your purpose, by the grace of God, to live a true Christian life, by surrendering all soul, body, spirit to God, to do His will in all things and keep the commandments of God? (Rom. 12:1; Col. 3:17; Revelation.14:12).
Will you seek to maintain a true spiritual experience by the daily study of God's Word and prayer, and will you endeavour by your consistent life and personal effort to win souls to Christ?
Do you believe and accept the great truths of the Word of God concerning the personal, visible, literal, imminent return of Christ (Acts 1:9-11); immortality only through Christ (2 Tim. 1:10); the unconscious state of the dead (Eccl. 9:5, 6); the destruction of the wicked (Mal. 4:1-3); and the other kindred truths that comprise the special message of Revelation 14:6-12?
Is it your purpose to keep the seventh-day of the week from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset as the Lord’s holy day according to the fourth commandment? (Luke 23:56; Ex.20:8-11?)
Will you practice the Bible plan for the support of God's work by rendering unto Him first the tithe, or one tenth of all your increase (Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:8-10); and then offerings as you may be able, according to His prospering hand? (Deut. 16:17; Luke 6:38).
Is it your purpose to obey the command to eat and drink to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31) by abstaining from all intoxicating liquors (Pro. 23:29-32), tobacco in all its forms (1 Cor. 3:16, 17) swine's flesh (Isa. 66:15, 17), narcotics, tea, coffee, and other harmful things?
Are you willing to follow the Bible rule of modesty and simplicity of dress, refraining from the wearing of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, beads, rings, etc., and from any lack of dress that is out of keeping with the Bible rule of modesty? (1 Tim. 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:3, 4; Ex. 33:5, 6; Gen. 35:2-4).
Do you believe in and have you accepted the ordinance of humility (John 13:1-17), and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper? (1 Cor. 11:23-33).
Is it your purpose to come out from the world and be separate in obedience to God's command in 2 Cor. 6:17, by refraining from following the sinful practices of the world, such as dancing, card-playing, theatre-going, novel reading, etc. and by shunning all questionable worldly amusements? (1 John 2:15; James 1:27; 4:4).
Will you seek to build up the interests of the church by giving the Sabbath School your hearty and practical support and attending, as far as possible, all services of the church? And will you endeavour by God's help to do your part in the work of the church? (Luke 4:16; Roman 12:4-8).
Do you recognise that the remnant church has the Spirit of Prophecy, and that this has been manifested to this church through the writings of Ellen G. White? (Rev. 12:17; 19:10).
Do you believe in baptism by immersion only, and are you ready to follow your Lord and Master in this sacred rite? (Matt. 28:18-20; Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-5).
Reading those is a breath of fresh air. It is still today an excellent checklist of how we ought to be as Seventh-day Adventists. There is enough there for a life-time of spiritual endeavour. Imagine if each of us were truly, sincerely, endeavouring to follow these points… Imagine what our church might look like… Imagine what our world might be like… Imagine how soon Jesus would return.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29:18).
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).
“As a people, we are to stand firm on the platform of eternal truth that has withstood test and trial. We are to hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are. The lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant effort of the enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in their place spurious theories. He will bring in everything that he possibly can to carry out his deceptive designs. But the Lord will raise up men of keen perception, who will give these truths their proper place in the plan of God” (SM1: 201).
Sharyn Dunn writes from Dunedin, New Zealand. “Kiwi Girl” is a member of one of the world’s most southern Seventh-day Adventist Churches, and enjoys time with her children, reading Spirit of Prophecy, and improving each batch of bread.