Chapter 20

David Lin

A letter written by L.R. Van Dolson to Elders N.C. Wilson and Enoch Oliveira, dated December 28, 1982, regarding the Adult Sabbath School Lessons for the first quarter of 1983, has come to my attention, and I venture to make the following comments: Van Dolson asserts that "Most of the criticism we are receiving is coming as a result of a paper published by Vance Farrel [sic]. He objects to the first quarter, 1983 quarterly authored by Norman Gulley on the grounds that it takes a different position from the one he holds as to the nature of Christ, and that it reflects the Ford position in emphasizing the substitutionary nature of the atonement and downgrading Christ's work in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary."

Van Dolson assumes a neutral stance, not committing himself as to the correctness of Ferrell's objections, nor telling us what he himself believes respecting the nature of Christ. He regards Ferrell's view merely as one aspect of a "full picture," does not agree that Gulley is in error, but only admits that "It is true that he takes a position that can be seen as one-sided."

"However," Van Dolson continues, "the department had been receiving complaints that we did not emphasize this aspect enough. Thus it was felt that the emphasis in this quarterly might help give the full picture and counteract what has been perceived as an intention to downgrade this aspect of the atonement. Later quarterlies will in turn provide more emphasis on the need for obedience and the mediatorial and sanctuary ministry of Christ."

Thus Van Dolson thinks that the Sabbath School Department has done the right thing in presenting an "aspect" of the atonement that had not received sufficient emphasis in the past, and will try in the future to satisfy Ferrell's demand by providing more emphasis on the other "aspect."

This letter is clearly an attempt to soft-pedal the issue. For we are faced not with a question of emphasis on two aspects of a truth, but with a conflict between truth and error. Gulley is attempting to introduce a counterfeit gospel. In posing as a moderator trying to please both sides, Van Dolson is virtually abetting an attempt of the Fordites, first to mingle truth with error, and finally to supplant truth with error.

This attitude of a department head in the General Conference causes much concern. His remarks about the book editors at the Review also cause perplexity. He says that "they would not always recognize some of the variants in theology that might show up." Are Fordian errors mere "variants in theology," so hard to recognize? Do the book editors agree that they did not recognize the errors in Gulley's book?

No, we believe the problem is not one of recognition, but of espousal. Our book editors are well-trained scholars, not muddle-headed judges. My apprehension is that they passed Gulley's book, not because they failed to detect any "variants in theology," but because they agree with Gulley's position. Otherwise they must confess that they are muddle-headed judges. The fact that Van Dolson speaks of Ferrell's position merely as opposed to Gulley's, and makes no effort to ascertain who is right, appears on the surface to be a neutral stance, but in effect he has rejected Ferrell's position in favor of Gulley's, because he makes no move to recall the Sabbath school quarterlies and Gulley's book or to send out any material to counteract its error, but only promises to switch the emphasis in future publications. But as we have said, it is not simply a matter of emphasis.

In the process of editing the Sabbath school lessons, Van Dolson says, he "consulted with Norman about modifying some of the positions that we recognized could lead to some misunderstanding. For instance, on page 22 of Lesson 3 and the parts that follow he had taken a clear prelapsarian position on the nature of Christ. He agreed to modify it to give equal weight to all positions involved as is evidenced on p. 22." The result of this "modifying" is a mingling of truth and error. The center third of p. 22 gives quotations from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy books; the lower third gives the view on the nature of Christ. Thus our Sabbath School Department presents a "modified" prelapsarian position as having equal weight with the postlapsarian position of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy books. This tactic is actually an attempt to place error on equal footing with truth.

Yet the roots of our trouble lie deeper. In 1957 the appearance of Questions on Doctrine and Andreasen's effort to combat its false teaching on the nature of Christ comprised the first round in our fight with error. Our leaders reprimanded Andreasen and did nothing to correct the error. Then Ralph Larson wrote his paper, "The Fraud of the Unfallen Nature," in which he pointed out that the authors of Questions on Doctrine quoted Ellen G. White in such a way as to make her say the opposite of what she intended. The evidence he presented was convincing, yet nothing was done. Now Ferrell strikes the gong for the third round. Gulley steps into the ring with the odds in his favor. Since the error in Questions on Doctrine remains uncorrected, he can state, I am taking the official Adventist position on the nature of Christ. And our leaders can but nod in silent assent. So Van Dolson is absolved from responsibility in the matter, for truth and error were "officially" mingled long before he came into office.

Adventists are noted for their face-saving ability. Des Ford plays up the fact that the doctrine of the investigative judgment has been dubbed "the greatest face-saving device in history." Yet we are hanging on to this device for dear life, because we believe it is a part of God's soul-saving device. But there are times when there is no way to save face. There are also times when to save face will not do. For instance, no amount of face saving will turn the Davenport fiasco into anything but a face-loser. In like manner, simply to sit tight and pretend that all is well with us, or to reprimand Andreasen, Larson, and Ferrell, will not save us any face after we have shamefully manipulated Ellen G. White statements to suit the tastes of Barnhouse and Martin. The only honorable course is to take a decided stand in identifying truth and error, then confess and correct our mistakes. But such a courageous step calls for earnest, humble prayer and Bible study. That is how our work began, and that is the only way it can be finished.

Rehoboam's failure is an example of following wrong counsel. The advice of young upstarts (to uphold his kingly dignity) pleased his ego, so he rejected the wise counsel of "old fogies" (to face the facts and right past wrongs). As a result, he lost ten tribes. Today we too are reaping the fruitage of taking wrong counsel. About a century ago we were already influenced by worldly policies. The servant of the Lord alerted us to it in these words:

Students are sent from great distances to attend the college at Battle Creek, for the very purpose of receiving instruction from the lectures on Bible subjects. But for one or two years past, there has been an effort to mold our schools after other colleges. When this is done, we can give no encouragement to parents to send their children to Battle Creek College. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 21

Some may urge that if religious teaching is to be made prominent, our school will become unpopular; that those who are not of our faith will not patronize the college. Very well, then let them go to other colleges. . . .

If worldly influence is to bear sway in our school, then sell it out to worldlings, and let them take the entire control; and those who have invested their means in that institution will establish another school, to be conducted, not upon the plan of popular schools nor according to the desires of principal and teachers, but upon the plan which God has specified.

In the name of my Master I entreat all who stand in responsible positions in that school to be men of God. When the Lord requires us to be distinct and peculiar, how can we crave popularity or seek to imitate the customs and practices of the world?" Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 25-26

In those early days there was already an effort to mold our schools after worldly models. That effort has prevailed, and we are reaping its results. A generation of teachers, editors, writers, and ministers turned out by schools molded after worldly models, are remolding the whole church. About 40 years ago we had only to contend with the counterfeit gospel in other denominations; now we are fighting it in our own ranks. In those days it was the enemy who sowed tares in our field. Now we ourselves are sowing tares, and shall certainly reap what we sow.

But it shall be known that there is a God in Israel. He has not relinquished His leadership. We see signs of spiritual vitality among us. It is evident in a wide-awake and articulate laity. In the very schools worst affected by worldly influences we see consecrated young people raising their voices in protest against professors teaching error. In the student testimonials published in the Collegedale Tidings and the PUC Papers we hear the ring of truth--indeed, we hear the voice of stern rebuke coming as it were from the very throne of God. We thank God for these courageous youth. In them we see hope ahead.

How is it that students studying under skeptic professors are able to detect the errors propagated by them? Where did these youth get such keen perception? Here is the answer: "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth." The presence of the Holy Spirit with the faithful--be they young or old--guarantees that they will see things as God sees them and be strong to combat error. The Holy Spirit instructs us through the Testimonies, and it is these writings which have alerted our youth and given them wisdom far excelling that of worldly theologians. We praise and thank God for this gift.

It is also these writings which teach all our people to identify error. In contrast to the editors who Van Dolson says "would not always recognize some of the variants in theology that might show up," many souls who live close to God are quick to detect false doctrine. This trait is unique among Seventh-day Adventists. Ever since the inception of our movement our task has been to make every member a Bible student and a reader of the Testimonies. As a result we have a host of "lay theologians."

In fact theology was never meant to be an "expert" discipline. God never intended that the gospel truth should be the exclusive possession of a sophisticated elite. He never told His prophets to use pompous language. On the contrary, the Old Testament Scriptures employ a very limited vocabulary and sentences of simple construction. The New Testament Scriptures were written in the Greek Koin‚, the language of the common people, because God's Word must reach every humble soul. But some scholars imagine themselves to be authorities in faith and doctrine, when their prayer life and moral practice often fall behind that of some of the laity. Their very assumption of superior wisdom exposes their folly, for it is contrary to the spirit of the meek and lowly Carpenter of Nazareth. Today God already has a people educated according to His definition of education--they possess a practical knowledge of His Word. For Heaven values a man not according to his academic awards, but according to his capacity to know and to love God.

Today the people whom God has educated through His testimonies are asserting their prerogatives. They are rising up in protest against the errors taught by false teachers. This fact brings us to the matter of church leadership. Is it enough for a leader to halt between two opinions and to act merely as a moderator between them? Is it right in every crisis to think first of how we can maintain our dignity as leaders and try to save face by refusing to confess past wrongs? Indeed, it would be humiliating to admit that the Adult Sabbath School Lessons contain the teachings of an officially condemned apostate. Yet that is a stark fact. If we take no effective measures and continue to let matters slide, we shall only serve the cause of error and prepare the way for its deeper intrusion.

To lead God's people effectively, His servants must be men of strong convictions based on a living faith in the Word of God. They must know whom and what they believe and be bold in the defense of truth. Thus they will always retain the initiative in selecting topics for emphasis and not be swayed by conflicting demands from the field. A leader must always be the head, not the tail to be wagged by the body. Ford still has a strong following among our workers and laity. They are most aggressive, and form a lobby which creates a rumpus out of proportion to their numbers. On the other hand, since faithful commandment keepers seem less inclined to agitate, leaders need sanctified judgment in weighing conflicting opinions.

Our department heads and editors must work carefully to prevent Fordites from using our publications to disseminate their errors. The Ford accent is so strong in Gulley's book that no one in the know can mistake it, and still it was freely circulated. Even the obvious mistake on page 53, paragraph 10 of the quarterly was not detected. It says that Christ's resurrected body was still "flesh and blood." It should be "flesh and bones." For "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 15:50

"Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect in the flesh?" We must never forget that our movement began in the Spirit--in earnest prayer and Bible study extending into early morning hours. The Holy Spirit was with us in that day of small things. We exist for only one purpose: to spread the truths committed to us by the Holy Spirit. If we permit these truths to be adulterated and we no longer obey them, we forfeit the reason for our existence. Obedience to God is a vital part of our message. If Christ's obedience is a substitute for ours, our obedience becomes inconsequential, and we ask, "Why be so strict about Sabbathkeeping and tithe paying?" The stories told by Ferrell of two young couples who once rejoiced in the Advent message and later embraced the "New Theology" and lost their hold on God will be repeated on a large scale if this heresy continues to spread, and tithe payments will shrink in proportion. Our economic structure stands or falls with the spiritual.

That's why we must pray and study. The chapter "Modern Revivals" in The Great Controversy, 461, analyzes the substance of the "New Theology," which really isn't new at all. Long before Des Ford and Norman Gulley were born, popular churches preached it everywhere, and Ellen White warned us against it: "Only believe," say they, "and the blessing is yours." No further effort on the part of the receiver is supposed to be required. . . .

The desire for an easy religion that requires no striving, no self-denial, no divorce from the follies of the world, has made the doctrine of faith, and faith only, a popular doctrine. The Great Controversy, 471

That is the essence of the old error in the "New Theology" and so-called "mainstream Christianity."

As we dally with this "New Theology," Satan is stealing a march on us. Events are converging toward the final crisis. Then this prophecy will be fulfilled:

As the children sang in the temple courts, "Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord," so in these last days, children's voices will be raised to give the last message of warning to a perishing world. When heavenly intelligences see that men are no longer permitted to present the truth, the Spirit of God will come upon the children, and they will do a work in the proclamation of the truth which the older workers cannot do, because their way will be hedged up.

Our church schools are ordained by God to prepare the children for this great work. Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 176

We gather hope and courage from these words. We pray God to help us strengthen this our second line of defense. May all our church school teachers heed these words:

To train the young to become true soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most noble work ever given to man. . . . Teachers who study the word of God as it should be studied will know something of the value of the souls under their care, and from them the children will receive a true Christian education.

In the near future many children will be endued with the Spirit of God, and will do a work in proclaiming the truth to the world, that at that time cannot well be done by the older members of the church. Ibid., 166-167

The defenses in many of our colleges and universities are crumbling under the attacks of skepticism and heresy, and now our Sabbath School Department is in danger, all because we failed to follow the counsel of the Holy Spirit. Pray God to guard our younger children against this influence.

David Lin

January 24, 1983

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