José Cortes Junior
One month ago José Cortes Jr. wrote an article in the online NAD magazine Best Practices for Evangelism.
In that article, “Should We Protest Discrimination And Racism?,” he advocated for the involvement of the church in the political/social movement known as Black Lives Matter. The strong reaction of many pastors and brothers of the church against the views of José Cortes, led him to write a new article in the same official magazine of the NAD, entitled “Social Justice and Evangelism” (July 15, 2020). There, he tries to justify his views on social justice, a view which was strongly questioned by people from different races, including by black people.
It is unfortunate that José misinterprets again what the gospels say about the mission of the church. He also opposes those who showed his problems on the issue, misunderstanding again their views. Let us insist here that no one says that we have to do nothing to help those who feel themselves marginalized by society. The question is how? It is now clear for us that José doesn’t realize the problems of an active political involvement of the church in social and racial contentions.
The mission of our church is spiritual, not political. Our church was and is always helping people in their needs, like the good Samaritan—who was not a revolutionary guy who organized people to protest against the Jews for supposedly doing nothing in behalf of injured people. But if we enter the political controversial struggle for justice, it will be for the worse. Love begets love — and wrath begets wrath. Period.
Shawn Brace
In another message from the North American Division, Shawn Brace wrote on “Adventist and the Black Lives Matter” assuming that E. G. White agrees with political participation in movements of protest like the Women's Christian Temperance Union, whose main agenda was to rid the world of alcohol consumption. He infers therefore, that Adventists have historically united with other organizations for “a common political and social cause, even while not agreeing with every stance—some of which are deeply troubling and fundamentally at odds with our most treasured beliefs—that the other organization promotes.”
Under this view, Shawn concludes that “we can get into the trenches and pursue God’s heart of [social] justice and love, joining forces with others who have a heart for racial justice, and thus demonstrate to a world craving justice and love that ‘present truth’ actually works and makes a tangible difference in the present world.” And again, Shawn wrongly presumes that those in our Church today who do not participate in this political arena would condemn the good Samaritan.
Again, the current leaders of the NAD are taking certain statements of the Spirit of Prophecy out of context. What was the purpose of some women to join the WCTU, according to E. G. White, and what SDA women should not do? She called some sisters of our church to approach the WCTU to share them the message that God has for our time, but warned our sisters against participating in political actions. They had to keep themselves humble and learn from the Lord, in order to reach those people with the “present truth” (see below some statements of E. G. White which are not usually mentioned).
In addition, there is a big difference in promoting the cause of temperance and participating in racial revindications. Racial protestations produce resentment and inflame wrath. Some white people told me while waiting for oil change in a car dealership, (after knowing that I came from South America), that in this country (USA), those who are today more discriminated against are white people. As a matter of fact, the news is recording an impressive increase of arms purchase after the manifestations of protest by BLM. Some fear that this disproportionate reaction could lead to a civil war.
Again, no one is saying that we have to do nothing to help people who feel themselves marginalized. The problem is how. The Good Samaritan example is fully compatible with our faith. But those who intervene in a political arena, move the people away from the need of preparation to live among holy beings in heaven. This is one of the reasons why E. G. White didn’t recommend the reading of the book Uncle Tom's Cabin. She wrote:
“There are many things in the work that would do no harm, and there are many things which have served a purpose in the exposure of slavery, but I would not want to recommend this book ... There are statements and pen-pictures which set the imagination upon a train of thought that has been deleterious and positively injurious... It has destroyed appetite for the Bible, and the desire to attend prayer-meetings” (6 MR 257).
Some Testimonies by People Who Were Deceived
Not a single person passes through this world without suffering injustices from different people. But no testimony will be enough for those who yield to bitterness for past and present injuries. Even our Lord was crucified without committing a fault. But few people who are injured want to overcome evil like He did, doing good. What furious people want is avengement, and they don’t realize that our duty is to obtain justice not claiming justice, but by accepting the righteousness of God in His Son.
The Muslim Koran roars, threatening infidels with hell, warning them that it is easy for God to burn those who attack Muslims. The Roman Catholic Church likewise threatened Jews, Muslims, and heretics with hell during the Middle Ages, even with tortures and stakes while still living. The French Revolution protested in a dramatic revengeful war against kings and popes. In modern times, Marxism appeared as another form of capitalizing evil feelings for past hurts. And many brothers of our church in different countries are often trapped in these popular strives.
Lessons From History
I remember when Walton J. Brown, the principal of the SDA college of Cuba, told us some years later in Argentina, what happened in Cuba in the midst of the communist revolution. At a certain moment, all the students appeared dressed in red. He forbade it. But the students and many of our brothers supported the communists. The moment came when the college protected the revolutionaries and gave them clothes and meal. The revolutionaries promised our brothers freedom once in power. But three years later they closed the college which had to move to Puerto Rico.
I have a friend in Venezuela who became rich. When about 15 years ago, I went to give evangelistic meetings in Maracaibo, he supported Hugo Chavez. Now, he long for the moment when Venezuela will be liberated from the leftist dictatorial rulers.
In several Latin American countries we passed by similar situations. And there are always brothers in our church who are deceived. Some of them become fanatics. When some years later they realize their stupidity, it is too late. A friend of mine who visited Cuba about ten years ago wrote me:
“If my friends in the University of Montevideo who vindicated Fidel Castro fifty years ago, would raise from the grave to see what Cuba is today, they would die again because they could not bear to watch what their eyes would see.”
The Marxist roots of BLM has been sufficiently documented by different white and black authors. Would our brothers and leaders of our church allow themselves to be again deceived by a “strange fire,” not ignited in the altar of the Lord? Is not the call of the Lord today, to come out from the apostate and corrupted world where we live? This world will be destroyed, and only the meek will inherit the new earth (Matt 5:5).
“Pursue peace with all men, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Be careful that no one falls short of the grace of God, so that no root of bitterness will spring up to cause trouble and defile many” (Heb 12:14-15).
Several Neglected Statements of E. G. White on WCTU
Let me share some of the statements of the Spirit of Prophecy that explain better the real reason for approaching the WCTU movement.
E. G. White wrote to a lady who had been leader in the WCTU movement, and “have been led to the light, to obtain a knowledge of the truth.” She exhorts that lady to bring “this light and knowledge” into her work, as she
“associates with women whose hearts are softened by the Spirit of God, and who are searching for the truth as for hidden treasure... For twenty years I have seen that the light would come to the women workers in temperance lines. But with sadness I have discerned that many of them are becoming politicians, and that against God. They enter into questions and debates and theories that they have no need to touch. Christ said, ‘I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’” (LLM 232).
“The Lord designs that women shall learn of Him meekness and lowliness of heart, and cooperate with the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. When this is done, there will be no strife for the supremacy, no pride of opinion; for it will be realized that mind, and voice, and every jet of ability, are only lent talents, given by God to be used in His work, to accumulate for Him, and to be returned to the Giver with all the increase” (LLM 232).
“The Lord does not bid you separate from the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. They need all the light you can give them. You are not to learn of them, but of Jesus Christ. Flash all the light possible into their pathway. You can agree with them on the ground of the pure, elevating principles that first brought into existence the Women’s Christian Temperance Union... Through Jesus Christ you may do a good work. As souls shall be converted to the truth, have them unite with you in teaching these women who are willing to be taught, to live and labor intelligently and unitedly” (LLM 233).
“I hope, my sister, that you will have an influence in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Association to draw many precious souls to the standard of truth... I feel very thankful that you have had the privilege of becoming better acquainted with the workers of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Our workers should make special efforts to come in touch with this organization, and to connect with the workers in the temperance cause. This will prove a great help to our own people, and also to these women workers. If the present truth is presented to them in the simplicity of godliness, they will see and accept it. We must keep close to the Lord. If we are imbued with His Spirit, the light will shine forth. It is Christ in the life that will make the truths we advocate forcible, and will lead souls to accept Him” (LLM 274).
“While many of the workers in the W.C.T.U. have heard the truth of the third angel’s message, there are many more who have never had it presented to them in its fullness. These women will not be condemned for not receiving that which they have not heard. I have been shown that if the Sabbath truth is presented to these, many will accept it. We should not neglect them, or treat them as if they were opposed to the cause of present truth. By showing ourselves interested in their work of temperance, we shall open the way to give them the light we have” (LLM 274), etc.
This is not a political article, but rather a theological article intended to help you avoid the snare of political distractions. It is needed now, more than ever.
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Dr. Alberto R. Treiyer was born in the Adventist community of Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos, Argentina. Dr. Treiyer is an author, and has a doctoral degree in theology from the University of Strasbourg, France. He has served as the director of the theological department at the Adventist Antillian College in Puerto Rico, where he taught for six years. He has also taught at the University of La Sierra, and Columbia Union College, as well as theology in Costa Rica and Columbia. Alberto is now a retired pastor, giving seminars, and writing books and papers that support our distinctive message.