CausesandCure—

TheSecularizationofAdventism PART ONE OF TWO

A friend in the Takoma Park area mailed me a later than planned; it should have gone out the pre-
book he wanted me to look at. I was reading when ceding fall in order to have achieved its intended
Linda passed by and, seeing the title, said in aston- impact.
ishment, “Daddy, what are you reading!” Knight happened to be fortunate that the manu-
I said, “Linda, this is a book with a title geared script fit so well into Folkenberg’s plans—or it never
to an eight-year-old mind, but with a message for a would have seen ink in one of our denominational
thoughtful adult. It is very serious.” publishing houses.
She said, “What is it about?” For his part, I believe George Knight is sincerely
“About how the Seventh-day Adventist denomi- trying to save the church! He has errors in his think-
nation has to change or it will destroy itself. Still ing, and we see them reflected in some of his as-
more remarkably, it was printed by Pacific Press.” sumptions and conclusions in the book, but he ap-
This is a book review of George R. Knight’s pears to be genuinely sincere. I appreciate that.
recent book, The Fat Lady and the Kingdom. If What Knight (a specialist in church history)
you can ignore the title, you may decide to buy did was to locate the writings of a variety of re-
the book. It should have been titled, The Com- searchers (most of them non-Adventist) and re-
ing Self-destruction of the Adventist Church. port on their findings as to what makes a denomi-
The opening chapter explains the trivial title: A nation collapse. In addition, in several chapters
fat woman (a woman symbolizes a church) tries to Knight presents brief overviews of Adventist histori-
get in the door, but cannot because she is carrying cal development.
so many packages. She is determined not to lay any All of this material had previously been published
of them down, and she can never enter while she or delivered as formal papers, between October 1989
holds on to them. and spring 1995. Putting it all together in one book
The application is that our church has gotten so makes it convenient.
overinstitutionalized, so overmanaged, and so over- In this study, we will overview his findings, and
fed—that it can never enter the doorway of future add several solutions which are more in keeping with
success unless it makes some major changes. Yet it the present crisis and Bible-Spirit of Prophecy
does not want to make them. sources. Yet, please understand, we appreciate the
information he has given us in this book. You may
What one finds in the book is shocking, con- wish to secure a copy. It is decidedly better than his
sidering that an Adventist publishing house re- new theology books, such as The Pharisee’s Guide
leased it. But think not that Pacific Press did it with- to Perfect Holiness and I Used to Be Perfect.
out the permission of headquarters. Back in the It is of interest that none other than Robert
spring 1983, at the time of the Pacific Press crisis, Folkenberg himself also published an article
we published articles to help keep it open. At that (June 1989 Ministry) dealing with the same sub-
time, an official at the press told this writer that, ject (reorganizing the church in order to save it
beginning in the late 1960s, it was no longer inde- from collapse). That article sounded good: Surely,
pendent. Every publication must receive General we need to cut away the bureaucracy and fat from
Conference approval—or else. The “or else” is a two- leadership, so the church can succeed.
step program: (1) threaten to cancel its contracts to But then, after he took office as our world
let the press print certain church periodicals and leader, Folkenberg set to work to carry out his
books, and (2) at the next press constituency meet- solution (now apparent after the actions voted at
ing, discharge its obstinant leadership. Utrecht). It was to eliminate the voting power of
So, looking more closely at the coding on the subordinates in the divisions and General Con-
copyright page, it was clear that Fat Lady was re- ference—and place it in the hands of a few men
leased in May 1995, so it could help prepare the (less than 15)—while all the other problems re-
way for Folkenberg’s structural changes at the main in place! The doctor has operated on the pa-
Utrecht Session. As with many books, it was released tient, and the patient is in worse shape than before.
2 Waymarks
churches from Augsburg till the end of the 15th cen-
THE FIVE STAGES IN THE CYCLE OF A CHURCH tury. The Adventist Church from 1860 to 1901.
David O. Moberg is a sociologist who wrote a 3 - Maximum Efficiency.
book, entitled The Church as a Social Institution: At this stage, so-called “statesmen,” experts
The Sociology of American Religion. On pages 118- in managing committees, have taken control of
125 of that book, he detailed his “five stages in the the organization. There are executives, boards,
life cycle of a church.” committees, and policy books. Yet many are still
Our former president, Robert Pearson, had ear- working enthusiastically, because they continue
lier referred to those five stages, in his parting ad- to believe in the goals of the movement. How-
dress to the 1978 Annual Council, at the time of his ever, in the minds of the more secular among
retirement. Although some question Elder Pearson’s them, self-interest is becoming of paramount
intentions, I believe he was a good man who ear- concern.
nestly tried to save us from the liberal theological By this time, there are definite church rituals,
takeover, which he saw looming on the horizon. We administrative procedures, and districts where each
need more men like him today. worker is to be located. There are lots of programs
George Knight summarizes those five stages on and campaigns. There are also historians, apolo-
pp. 17, 24-30 of his book. Let us consider them. gists, business professionals, and an assortment of
Read what he says on those pages, along with what time wasters.
is written below: That which once was the giving of a “message” is
1 - Incipient Organization. rapidly becoming a great mechanical church.
People are dissatisfied with developments in Examples: The Roman Church, after Julian the
the church, or churches, to which they belong. Apostate to the 7th century. The mainline Protes-
They want to come out of apostasy, which they tant Churches, after the 30 Years War till the 17th
fear is hurting them and their children. They are century. The Adventist Church, from 1901 to 1957.
upset with hierarchical overcontrols and misman- 4 - Institutional.
agement. They are tired of the dead formalism, The organization is now sagging, and becom-
and its effect on them and their loved ones. Then ing top-heavy with control. It is living to itself
a crisis, the proportion of which they can no and spiritually dying. This is the stage of formal-
longer tolerate, propels them to make the transi- ism and institutions.
tion. No longer is the church dedicated to spreading
That which they form actually has little organi- its message; now it is primarily concerned with feed-
zation. It consists primarily of small autonomous ing and protecting itself. It is selfish. It is also locked
churches. into its patterns, for committees and boards have
Unfortunately, there is jostling, excitement, fak- figured out ways to become self-perpetuating. The
ers, sensationalists, as well as truehearted pastors members no longer have a voice in determining lead-
at work. Groups are led off by this one and that one. ership or leadership decisions. It is a combination
Gradually the number of local churches increases, of a bureaucracy (control by committees) and a hi-
but none are under any higher human authority. erarchy (control by priests).
Examples: The Early Christian Church, up to Doctrines and standards, although fixed, are now
the time of Constantine’s reign. Protestantism in forms and becoming more widely broken. Worship
Germany, from 1519 to 1530. The Advent People, services become a repetitive ritual. Fundamental be-
from 1844 to 1855. The newly emerging Indepen- liefs are given only passing notice in church services.
dent Adventist Ministries which are developing at As Moberg describes it, the organization “has be-
the present time. come the master of its members instead of their ser-
2 - Formal Organization. vants, making many demands upon them.”
The congregations get together, establish a Another indicator is that the church makes peace
single organization, and set up central leadership. with the outside world, and attempts to bring so-
They are moving closer to a creed. Standards are cially “respectable” people into the ranks, regard-
laid down, and doctrines become firm. These help less of their lax standards. People no longer feel part
identify (and separate) believers from nonbeliev- of a close-knit organization. It has become a come-
ers. and-go social club. All kinds of values and interests
Examples: An apostate church, Rome, stepped are to be seen. Membership feels separated from
in at the time of Constantine and began setting up a leadership, and finds it unresponsive to their needs.
centralized church government. The Protestant This renders them more passive, less interested, and
TheSecularizationofAdventism 3
less inclined to support the organization. They are Martin and Donald Grey Barnhouse in the late
discovering they are primarily valued for their 1950s].’ ”—Fat Lady, p. 27 [brackets his].
money. “If a specific date can be given for Adventism’s
Worldly interests, gatherings, and projects are arrival at ‘adulthood,’ it may best be seen as 1956,
abounding. A craze to ape the world is in vogue. when the denomination had the ‘right hand of fel-
lowship’ extended to it by Donald Grey Barnhouse,
Sermons no longer preach Christ and the primitive
editor of Eternity and a highly influential funda-
beliefs, but social issues and reasons why the be- mentalist leader. The acceptance of that fellowship
liefs no longer apply. Workers are primarily con- unfortunately (but predictably) split the Adventist
cerned with how they can improve their own stand- ranks between those who viewed it as a step for-
ing, protect their jobs, move up in the ranks, and ward and those who saw it as a ‘sell-out’ to the en-
gain more coveted titles after their name. emy.”—Op. cit., p. 27.
In a class I took at the Seminary in the 1950s, An important question is where are we now?
one of the pastors made a comment: “It used to be Since it is not a nice thing for an Andrews Univer-
that the brethren would say, ‘How can I help you?’; sity teacher to say that the church is in an advanced
now they say, ‘This is what you can do to help me.’ ” state of self-destruction, Knight assures the reader
Examples: The Roman Church, from the 7th cen- that our denomination has only arrived at stage 3.
tury onward. The mainline Protestant churches, Yet the descriptive data would indicate that we are
from the 17th century onward. The Adventist Church passing from stage 4 to stage 5—at this very time!
from 1957 (when Questions on Doctrine was pub- Knight wavers at times in his assessment:
lished, and we began our first overtures to the NCC “Adventism . . teeters between stages 3 and 4 . .
and WCC). but to drift into stage 4 means eventual disaster.”—
5 - Disintegration. Fat Lady, p. 29.
The confusion, uncertainty, indifferentism, “The better part of wisdom is renewal and refor-
obsolescence, absolutism, red tape, patronage, mation at the borders of stages 3 and 4 before fur-
ther degeneration takes place.”—Op. cit., p. 30.
nepotism, and corruption deepens. The organi-
zation has become a machine which is breaking But, earlier, this sentence slipped in:
“It is Moberg’s stage 4 that much of Adventism
down. Some church leaders run about worrying
has definitely entered.”—Op. cit., p. 17.
what to do, while many others could care less, as
THE O’DEA RESEARCH
long as the structure lasts till they reach the age
of retirement. Members are dropping off rapidly Knight then turns his attention to research by
and entering offshoots, other denominations, or another sociologist, Thomas F. O’Dea. In his 1970
just drifting out into the world. A majority is quite book, Sociology and the Study of Religion: Theory,
worldly by this time. The church is going to Research, Interpretation (and in a second book, So-
pieces; yet it continues on, a burned-out hulk, ciology of Religion, coauthored with Janet O’Dea
for quite some time. Consider how long Rome Aviad and published in 1983), O’Dea discussed two
has survived! dilemmas which tend to cause the downfall of reli-
Example: The mainline churches in the Western gious organizations.
world. The first is “mixed motivation,” and is de-
scribed in this way: Whereas the pioneers of the
For stage one (incipient organization), Knight organization were zealous for the original goals
places our denomination between 1844 and 1863. and the propagation of its message, many later
He sees stage two (formal organization) as occur- leaders and members have other objectives.
ring between 1863 (when the church officially orga- “A professional clergy arises that gives stability
nized) and 1900. He sets stage three (maximum ef- to the movement, but with stability come many
ficiency) between 1901 (when we reorganized) and ‘perks’: security, prestige, respectability, power, in-
1956, when we began receiving the “right hand of fluence . . Moreover, keeping these rewards coming
fellowship” from Martin, Barnhouse, and a number tends to become a part of the motivation of the
of other Protestant denominations. group.”—Fat Lady, pp. 30-31.
Intriguingly enough, Knight tells us that Moberg O’Dea believes the mixed motivation problem
himself pointed to our denomination as an example leads to—
of passage into stage 3—as having occurred at that “the secularization of the movement as it experi-
time and for that reason: ences institutionalism: (1) the emergence of a
“As an illustration Moberg goes out of his way in careerism that is only formally concerned with the
the first edition of his book (1962) to point out ‘the movement’s goals; (2) bureaucratic growth that may
gradual acceptance of Seventh-day Adventists into be more concerned with maintaining and protect-
fundamentalist circles [through the aid of Walter ing vested interests than with accomplishing the
4 Waymarks
original goals; and (3) official timidity and lethargy ing to corruption (loses the “missiological course”
in the face of problems and challenges, rather than p. 45) at age 150. As a result of his own historical
a vital and progressive spirit that is willing to risk studies, the present writer gauged in the 1960s
all for the accomplishment of the mission.”—Fat that no denomination (including the Old and New
Lady, 31.
Testament churches) has lasted more than 200
This lack of sincerity in maintaining and carry- years without having become solidly grounded
ing out the original goals—results in an ever-increas- in corrupt practices and control—with one defi-
ing secularization of the church. nite exception! There was an exception; it was the
“For many, church membership may mean com-
Waldenses.
fortable social relationships rather than a radical
religious experience.”—Ibid. If you study their history, you will find that every
O’Dea’s second dilemma, noted in Knight’s book, 50 to 80 years (averaging 70 years), heavy persecu-
is “administrative order.” Initially, the organi- tion came to the Waldenses. The armies of Rome
zational structure aided the mission of the would march in and try to destroy them. Then, in
church; but later, departments and structures the mercies of God, the Italian wolves would be called
proliferate. It is something like an add-on house. off for a time.
So much has been tacked on, that, walking Throughout those many centuries, the Waldenses
through the house, one can hardly tell where he adhered to their faith and trained their children to
is. Eventually, all he is looking for is the exit sign. love and give their lives for it.
“One of the most serious of those consequences But in the mid-19th century, everything changed.
is that structures that are erected to respond to a The persecution permanently stopped. The Waldenses
particular set of problems or opportunities are not today are in liberal apostasy. (Some of our readers
dismantled when the reason for their creation will have written for a recent tractpack, which in-
passes. As these structures multiply, the move- cluded pages from one of their newsletters demon-
ment’s complexity increases. While originally the strating this.)
structures solved real problems, their continued So we see that apostasy does not have to be
maintenance may greatly hinder the solving of later the certain outcome. But normal, undisturbed,
problems.”—Fat Lady, pp. 31-32.
unchallenged living tends to lead directly into it.
The present writer recalls, when he was in the It is only by resolutely meeting obstacles to their
ministry, a fellow pastor told him this: “When I was faith that the people of God can resist the corro-
carrying on evangelistic work up north, I was visit- sive effects of growth, prosperity, and denomina-
ing homes of the interests; and, as I worked, I tional job security!
stopped one afternoon at the conference office. It In the time of the Waldenses, it was repeated
was snowing lightly. There sat the departmental men, attacks on their lives. In our time, it is an attack
and I said to them, ‘Keeping warm, gentlemen?’ They on our beliefs and standards. This is revitalizing
should have been sent out to pastor churches or the faithful in the church. Unfortunately, the
hold evangelistic meetings, but there they sat. Noth- present crisis in standards and beliefs is not re-
ing to do.” vitalizing the organization itself.
OUR 150th BIRTHDAY HAS PASSED But we can be thankful that there are those to-
Is this trend inevitable, and what are the solu- day who are not succumbing, as are many others in
tions—if any? They should not be difficult to find. the denomination, to the apostasy. Read again the
Faith and obedience to the Word of God is the key. last paragraph in Great Controversy, page 48.
Several times in the book, Knight alludes to the Preach the message, and you will not want for
fact that our denomination is 150 years old, and enemies! In the enabling strength of Christ, sharing
most denominations began to seriously decay at the Advent Message with others will keep you puri-
that age. He says there have never been any ex- fied in it!
ceptions to the rule. Derek Tidball, another non-Adventist sociologist
“Adventism at 150 seems to be moving in lockstep researcher (whose 1984 book, Social Context of the
with other religious movements from the early New Testament: A Sociological Analysis, Knight
church to the Reformation to Wesleyanism. Each has studied), said the solution was to be found in
went through a secularizing process that put it off
Paul’s counsels to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:18-19; 4:14,
its missiological course by its 150th birthday. It is
of crucial importance to realize that not one major 16; 6:12, 20; 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 14; 2:4): Guard the
religious revival in the history of Christianity has Continued on the next tract
successfully escaped that process.”—Fat Lady, p. More WAYMARKS - from —
41 [italics his]. PILGRIMS REST
Knight says each church enters the process lead- HCR 77, BOX 38A - BEERSHEBA SPRINGS, TN 37305 USA
CausesandCure—
TheSecularizationofAdventism PART TWO OF TWO
Continued from the preceding tract in this series judged by the privileges and advantages that she
has had. If her spiritual experience does not corre-
original objectives, protect the interests of the flock, spond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost,
always remain vigilant, do not be sidetracked by side has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have
issues, and keep close to Christ (the source of not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her,
strength). on her will be pronounced the sentence, ‘Found
“Tidball concludes by asserting that to succeed wanting.’ By the light bestowed, the opportunities
the church needs ‘to be alert constantly to the peril given, will she be judged’ [8T 247].
of mixed motives, the threat of unwieldy bureau- “Again, in the midst of the Minneapolis crisis
cracy, the lessening of standards and the fossili- Ellen White deplored the fact that Seventh-day Ad-
zation of principles.’ ”—Fat Lady, pp. 34-35. ventists had been acting like other churches. She
went on to say that ‘we hoped that there would not
But, unfortunately, the above-stated solutions
be the necessity for another coming out’ [1888 Ma-
work best for individual believers. Organizations terials, 1:356-357]. Thus Ellen White at the very
and leaders tend to be above such humbling ac- least hinted at the possibility of Adventist failure.
tivities. While the faithful plead with God for help Finally in 1883 she wrote that ‘it should be remem-
and earnestly work for the lost (and, throughout bered that the promises and threatenings of God
the world field, there are many faithful ones do- are alike conditional.’ [1 SM, 67].”—Fat Lady, p.
ing just that), the structure itself keeps heading 44.
downward. Knight tries to explain to the people that God
SETTING A DENOMINATION ASIDE may intervene—and end history in a manner differ-
Oddly enough, Knight’s next chapter (Chapter ent than the church members or leaders are expect-
3) consists of a comparison between Adventism and ing, if they do not fulfill the “faith conditions” (p.
Marxism. His point is that all organizations, both 45:4).
secular and religious, ultimately degenerate be- Knight may not realize that the future has al-
cause those in authority are determined to take ready been outlined for us by our kind Father. (See
care of themselves and their own interests. They our End-Time Series, Book 18, with the most com-
finally destroy its reason for existence, and cor- plete collection of classified Spirit of Prophecy state-
rupt or drive out the members needed to main- ments available on coming events.)
tain the structure. That oft-quoted statement: “The church will ap-
Knight then introduces the point that God can pears as about to fall, but will not fall,” appears in
take away the calling from one organization and several books. But in only one place is it quoted in
finish the work Himself, or give it to another! its context. This passage is referring to the National
(pp. 42-44) Sunday Law crisis. The church will appear about to
“In another passage she [Ellen White] suggests be destroyed at that time,—but the faithful ones will
that the great crisis could steal upon Seventh-day stand true, and go through to the end. This is dis-
Adventists as a thief [3 SM 414], and in yet another cussed more fully in The Shaking and Sifting (Book
place she claims that if a church is not faithful to 4 in the End-Time Series).
God it can be bypassed in His work, ‘whatever’ its OUT OF CONTROL
‘position’ [UL, 131; italics his]. She also drew a les-
son from history: ‘Because,’ we read of the ancient
In Chapter 4, Knight says an organization fi-
Jews, ‘they failed of fulfilling God’s purpose, the nally reaches a point where there are too many
children of Israel were set aside, and God’s call was institutions and they are not accomplishing their
extended to other peoples. If these too prove un- purpose. Yet they remain under the direction of
faithful, will they not in like manner be rejected?’ an entrenched management—over which the
[COL 304; cf. 303].”—Fat Lady, 44. members have no control.
As if this were not enough, Knight continues on: “There is too much talent allotted to greasing the
“From the perspective of Ellen White, God did wheels and watching the baggage. In fact, there are
not grant the Adventist Church any immunities. too many wheels and too much baggage.”—Fat
“ ‘In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh- Lady, p. 52.
day Adventist Church is to be weighed. She will be
6 Waymarks
“In many places we have more pastoral talent in useless.
the bureaucracy than we have in the frontline. And Knight maintains that the balance is to adapt
it must be remembered, once you get above the lo- the standards to the times in which we live.
cal conference level, it is largely the bureaucrats But this is a false analogy. We are acquainted
who continue, quinquennium after quinquennium,
with Amish practices. Their peculiar standards gen-
to vote the bureaucrats in.”—Op. cit., p. 51.
erally have no relevance to Scripture. One of their
Knight is here referring to the General Confer-
groups (the Schwartzentruber group of Old Order
ence Sessions which convene once every five years.
Amish) forbids the growing of flowers around their
What he may not have known was that the forth-
homes! All sorts of peculiar practices have devel-
coming Session at Utrecht would eliminate a great
oped, which have no basis in God’s Word. It is just
number of the votes carried out at future Sessions.
handed-down tradition from long-dead elders.
Henceforth a large number of the officers will be ap-
The fact is that standards given in the Bible
pointed by the General Conference and division
and/or Spirit of Prophecy are timeless! They never
presidents! (See our several studies on The Utrecht
go out of date! Abortion, immorality, immodest
Session, published in July and August 1995).
clothing, needless adornment,—will always be “in
Knight also mentions that there is a need to
style,” as far as the world is concerned. We can
stop encouraging pastors and other lower-level
forsake God, but He will not forsake His Written
workers to believe it is their work in life to keep
Word—and that is where His standards are to be
moving up the ladder. Sound advice.
found.
“We need to destroy the mentality that treats a
“They [Adventists] . . need to learn from the
move from the pastorate to administration as a ‘pro-
Amish conundrum that standards do change with
motion.’ ”—Op. cit., p. 51.
time and place.”—Fat Lady, p. 108.
“Too many pastors have their eye on hierarchi-
cal advancement, rather than . . developing into first- Which of our standards need changing? health
rate biblical preachers who feed an ever-growing standards? clothing standards? educational stan-
flock.”—Op. cit., p. 52. dards? worship standards? None of them. We
He also warns that, if changes in the structure have been bequeathed a precious heritage of prin-
and function of the denomination are not made, the ciples. Yet there are those among us who want to
results will be unsavory: new-model the church, so it will be more accept-
“We could see the gradual strangulation of the able to the worldlings around us.
church in the industrialized world. As frustration Knight tells us that part of the organizational
with the bureaucracy increases, dissident groups problem is the need to revise our standards to meet
will drain away more and more tithe. Among those people in our time:
who maintain their loyalty, the more intelligent will “Adventism is at present in the midst of a critical
be more and more troubled over supporting a sys- juncture in its development. The church has yet to
tem that is not functioning . . efficiently.”—Op. cit., face successfully two facts: (1) modernity and (2)
p. 51. that Adventism has acquired a century and a half
By the “Western world,” Knight is referring to of traditions that may or may not be helpful in
North America, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand, preparing people to live as Christians in the twenty-
where tithe is, in relation to wages, dropping off, and first century. One party in Adventism would pull it
membership is at a near standstill (p. 50). toward the Amish solution, while another group
would allow the church to drift toward uncritical
CHURCH STANDARDS
assimilation of culture.”—Op. cit., p. 108.
The next several chapters deal with a historical What need have we to change our God-given
review of Adventist development, in missionary work standards, just because we are about to “enter a
(Chapter 5); organizational structure [publishing, new century”? Why should the number of a cen-
medical, educational, and conference] (Chapter 6); tury matter more important than the morals of our
and educational and mission vitality (Chapter 7). people?
Then comes Chapter 8 on church standards. Al- Knight then proceeds to explain how various
though this is also a historical review, it is more con- points were adopted by the denomination over the
troversial, for it contains errors which require com- years, such as facial hair, etc. It is noted that some
ment. changes occurred through Review articles, others
Knight begins by noting the contrast between the through position papers.
Amish and the Methodists. The Amish dwell in the Eventually Knight comes to that source of stan-
past, treasure earlier standards—and because they dards we are waiting for him to discuss: In some
refuse to change them, cannot reach contemporary instances, he says we obtained a standard from
society. In contrast, the Methodists have so united the Spirit of Prophecy. His subhead for this section
with the world that they have become faceless and
TheSecularizationofAdventism 7
is “Grab a Quote”—and that is the theme: One per- The opinions of three non-Adventist historians
son grabs and twists one quote and another does it is reviewed. They say our denomination grew be-
to another one. The inference is that we should be cause the 19th century was a good time for revival-
very careful about using the Spirit of Prophecy as a ism, millennialism. Natural disasters (including
norm for standards. changing weather patterns) and similar trivia helped
But that viewpoint is incorrect. The Spirit of out (pp. 133-134).
Prophecy is always instructive, correct, and ac- But then Knight suggests several internal factors
curate. Those Heaven-sent quotations line up like within our church which were significant—and worth
telephone poles, pointing the wayfarer in one di- our attention (pp. 134-140):
rection, and one direction only. You will be guided (1) We had a basic cohesive cluster of beliefs
if you submit to God’s Word, and search it for which made sense. (2) We had special truths
personal standards. which were distinctive and attracted new mem-
Knight’s primary vindication for his viewpoint bers. (3) Because these truths were opposed, it
in this “grab a quote” section, is the illustration of a drew the members more solidly together against
physician who disliked “gold wedding bands,” but the world. (4) We, alone among the Millerite
who drove a “gold-colored Cadillac.” Therefore, ac- groups which followed 1844, had authority above
cording to Knight, we should not place much confi- the congregational level. (5) A sense of urgency
dence in Spirit of Prophecy quotations. driving us to proclaim our message, because we
“The plain fact is that he had a quotation from were a people predicted in Bible prophecy for this
Ellen White on gold wedding bands, but had un- time in history.
doubtedly searched her writings in vain for any “The fourth, and by far the most important, fac-
condemnation of gold Cadillacs.”—Op. cit., p. tor in the rapid spread of Millerism was its sense
117. of prophetic mission and the sense of urgency gen-
That is the excuse given for throwing out the erated by that prophetic understanding . .
Spirit of Prophecy! Knight suggests that many of our Millerism was a mission-driven movement.”—Fat
problems regarding standards have arisen from Lady, p. 137 [italics his].
using the Spirit of Prophecy as a source for stan- Then Knight quotes a statement made by Joshua
dards to live by: V. Himes (who was second only to Miller in that
“The use and misuse of Ellen White’s writings movement) in the first issue of his weekly newspa-
typically stand at the center of Adventist approaches per:
to the formulation of standards.”—Op. cit., p. 118. “Our Work is one of unutterable magnitude. It is
Ironically, later in the book, Knight decries the a mission and an enterprise, unlike in some re-
inevitable result of casting aside the Spirit of Proph- spects, anything that has ever awakened the ener-
ecy—without having recognized that that is the prob- gies of men . . It is an alarm, and a cry, uttered by
lem! those who, from among all Protestant sects, as
“The denomination has no systematic means for Watchmen standing upon the walls of the moral
either reviewing past standards or developing stan- world, believe the WORLD’S CRISIS IS COME—and
dards that face the issues of modern culture . . who, under the influence of this faith, are united in
proclaiming to the world, ‘Behold the Bridegroom
“One result is that the denomination too often is
cometh, go ye out to meet Him!’ ”—J.V. Himes, Mid-
fighting a rearguard action against the erosion of
night Cry, November 17, 1842.
its standards.”—Op. cit., p. 122.
Knight says that a driving sense of mission
It is deeply unfortunate that the man who has
came from the truths they had found in Daniel
the audacity to tell the denomination that it is
and Revelation. The Adventist Church inherited
going to pieces—cannot recognize the single, most
those beliefs and that sense of urgency.
crucial, factor causing that destruction!
Knight then explains that, in contrast, the
Our denomination is collapsing because it re-
other Millerite descendant denominations dried
fuses to trust and obey the Word of God! Having
up—because they later rejected and forsook those
cast aside the books containing the standards,
beliefs. Some literally denied them, while others
the standards are also being thrown down.
spiritualized them away.
OUR PROPHETIC BELIEFS
We appreciate these comments by George Knight.
In Chapter 9, Knight examines our “prophetic Unfortunately, he never gave the other powerful
roots” in Daniel and Revelation and, without nam- fact which held the Advent Movement together
ing them, decides they are worthwhile. That is a re- and gave it power, understanding, and divine guid-
freshing response in one of our denominational pub- ance to a pre-eminent degree: the Spirit of Proph-
lications. Then he inquires what might be the ecy.
cause of the success of Adventism.
8 Waymarks
ARE WE DYING? produces a mutual conflict.
Changing to a more somber note, Knights won- Then there is the oddity that “success is fail-
ders whether our organization will now die—as the ure.” The more successful our church is, Knight
other Millerite descendant groups are dying. says, the more reason it sees to sit back and en-
He cites as one problem that fact Jesus has not joy its prosperity.
returned, in spite of the fact that 150 years has Frankly, if our people worked in humility of
passed. Frankly, I do not think that complaint is heart, pleading with God for souls, and giving
valid. Jesus said in Revelation 22 that He was going Him all the glory, success would be no problem.
to return quickly. Faith in that fact has kept count- Victories won would drive us to our knees in praise
less millions in the faith through the centuries. That to Him and pleading for more victories. We would
truth has saved their souls. Nowhere are we told, in be doing the right things in the right way, and have
the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy, that He will not re- the right kind of success.
turn soon. So He will. The truth is that, in view of Knight also notes the tendency for many of
eternity, a wait of 2,000 years before He returns is our people to disregard their past. In doing this,
but the blink of an eye. he says, they unconsciously lose their identity.
The Christian who goes through to the end, Well said. Our church members, in hankering
will be the one who talks courage and is full of it. after the world, are being absorbed into it. But there
He is not one who goes around mourning, doubt- is more to the problem than remembering our
ing, and tempting his fellow believers to doubt past; we must also adhere to the beliefs and stan-
that the coming of Christ is not near! dards given us of God in our past!
Genuine Christians have no question whether “Either God had led them or they had been de-
Christ is coming soon. And they do not love Him luded. Relating to their past history had become an
the less because He does not come immediately. important aspect of their identity . . A church
that has lost its past jeopardizes its future and risks
I choose to be among that number who trust Him
existing in a muddled present in terms of its cos-
no matter how soon He returns. Will you join me? mic mission.”—Ibid.
Then Knight goes on to mention other problems Nicely said. But then he spoils it in the next para-
which are causing the denomination to sink down- graph:
ward (pp. 142-144): “One [way to deal with changing times] is to live
(1) The wealth and affluence of the members in the past as if the past can somehow be preserved
in the Western world. (2) An overextended, poorly intact in perpetuity as a golden age. Such an ap-
functioning organization. proach disregards the reality of change.”—Op. cit.,
“Decades of expansion and change have created p. 158.
a bureaucracy that is extremely expensive to main- Historic believers are not living in the past!
tain and appears to be becoming progressively dys- They are living today, dealing with today’s prob-
functional in fostering the mission of the church in lems. But they use the Inspired Word of God to
the most efficient manner.”—Fat Lady, p. 142. deal with it. And that Word comes from “the past.”
(3) Members who are leaving and forming There are no living prophets today. If we needed
separate congregational churches [the indepen- them, we would have them. But we do not need them.
dent ministries]. We have thousands of pages of valuable counsels—
(4) Overinstitutionalism. given by full inspiration of God—which we hardly
“There is a tendency for its extensive educational, look at. If we will not read and obey that which we
publishing, conference, and medical institutions to already have, we would not accept what God sent,
become ends in themselves rather than means for even through one raised from the dead.
the end of taking the denomination’s peculiar mes-
Knight concludes with the numbers game: Ev-
sage ‘to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people.’ Thus there is the danger of the denomina-
eryone counts numbers: how much we have and how
tion gaining its self-image from its institutions rather much we have done—and calls that success. This is
than from its stated mission.”—Op. cit., p. 143. how organizations prove that they are doing well.
(5) The danger of forgetting our prophetic For a lengthy list of areas which need to be
heritage. changed in order to turn the church around, see the
CONCLUDING PROBLEMS
chapter by that name at the end of my book, Col-
lision Course. —Vance Ferrell
In Chapter 10, Knight mentions the apparent
conflict between the ideas of “occupy till I come” and
“I come quickly.” Some want to get a high seat in More WAYMARKS - from —
PILGRIMS REST
the work and enjoy the good life. Others want to
HCR 77, BOX 38A - BEERSHEBA SPRINGS, TN 37305 USA
get the work done and go home. This contrast