Chapter 7

David Lin

ADVENTISM is at the crossroads. Ever since its inception, the Advent movement has been the object of attack by enemies without and foes within. And now the struggle is headed for a dramatic but heartrending showdown. In our church there have always been divergent roads. In faith and doctrine one road leads to obedience, the other to rebellion. In institutional policy one road adheres to the divine blueprint, the other copies worldly patterns. In church administration one road follows God's counsel, the other trusts to human devising.

It is a historical fact that though we have grown in numbers, we have veered away spiritually from the upward road toward the downward one. In the day of small beginnings we were warned against building mammoth institutions and centralization. But we acted against the heavenly counsel, and today we derive a false sense of prosperity and respectability from our material wealth and physical dimensions, which tends to blind us to our spiritual poverty. We were also warned not to follow worldly policy in our educational system, but our efforts to comply with popular academic standards have eclipsed the original emphasis on restoring in man the image of his Maker. The seed sown through the years is now yielding a harvest of modernist thinking in our theological departments. For all this deviance we as a people are collectively responsible, and need to repent and to mend our ways. Otherwise we cannot expect to receive the full blessing of God promised to the obedient. And in our efforts to defend the gift of prophecy against the attacks of our opponents we find ourselves in a disadvantageous position in that we must confess our failure to follow its counsel.

It has been observed that the development of our history has followed the pattern of all religious movements--each new generation departing one further step away from the standards of their fathers. But we note one redeeming factor in our history--the guiding and steadying influence of the gift of prophecy. The result is a decided reaction against departing from our standards. Many men and women refuse to compromise the principles of our faith, resulting in a clash of thought, and the great shaking foretold by our prophet.

The writer has before him two examples of this clash. One is the item in the Canadian Union College student news (November 15, 1980, issue of Aurora) reporting the Kinship Kampmeeting of Seventh-day Adventist homosexuals graced by the presence of six official representatives of the Adventist Church. The other is an article on page 9 of the July 1980 Signs, which says: "Have you heard of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? Homosexuality was so openly practiced in both of them that judgment could no longer be delayed."

Two opposite stands on homosexuality in our church! If Seventh-day Adventist leadership indeed endorses this crime (we hope not!), then the Signs editor will be dismissed. By that time we shall have parted at the crossroads; and we may be sure judgment will not be long delayed.

In developments of the past we can trace the devil's war tactics. He employs many schemes to defeat the purposes of God. Here we name five:

Worldly Inundation. This tactic has been effective ever since the first century. James 2 rebukes the church for showing deference to the rich and despising the poor. 1 Corinthians 5 is Paul's reproof to the church for being indifferent to "fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles."

Worldly influences are more powerful today than in early centuries, because the attractions in our modern playgrounds are more enchanting. Every faithful shepherd of God's flock must guard our youth against corrupting influences by teaching them to trust God for power to resist temptation. Pastors themselves must first gain the victory over the subtle influences of the world, and then do their best to turn the attention of our youth to heavenly realities and organize them to work for lost souls. They may thus realize the promise, "He that believeth on Me . . . out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Modern sex education for adolescents has produced a generation of sex-hardened youth who know more than is expedient. The sensitive minds of teenagers are often defiled by early knowledge of all forms of sex crimes so as to make a healthy spiritual experience difficult if not impossible to attain. There has been an overemphasis on the "sublime" significance of procreation and a following after the Freudian philosophy of free association as opposed to sex repression, resulting in abnormal preoccupation with sex among the youth. We should teach them that sex is primarily an animal instinct always to be kept subordinate to spiritual interests. If we reverse the two, we will drop to the level of rats and guinea pigs, who live only to eat and reproduce. But we must strive to rise above the animal nature and to develop our spiritual potentialities. For in the image of God were we made. Therefore the

pastor's work is to teach our youth to pray effectually, and to hold up before them such noble examples as Joseph and Daniel, and to use such simple illustrations as the water lily growing out of the mire, to encourage the young to lead unsullied lives in the midst of moral corruption.

We should not follow sex education programs of men who know not God. Our philosophy holds that man in his fallen state must cope with perverted appetites, including abnormal sex urges, which must be held in check by an intelligence educated in Christian standards of purity. Self-respect, and honor for the opposite sex call for the constant exercise of self-control. This struggle is lifelong. Said God to Cain, "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." To fill the mind with God's Word, to persist in earnest prayer, and to put our energies to the work of soul-saving is the best way to develop self-mastery.

Lullaby Sermons. Sermons in our pulpits and publications should not gloss over disagreeable facts and ignore pressing issues. We must face every problem candidly and seek God's counsel. The present state of ferment in our church causes disquiet among our leaders. Fearing to aggravate the situation, they try to hush things up. But the truth, however unpleasant, must not be concealed. God's command in every time of crisis is to "meet it" and work for a showdown by issuing the cry, "Who is on the Lord's side?" Exodus 32:26. Every man must take his stand for or against.

The first great showdown occurred in heaven. When Lucifer rebelled, God did not simply excommunicate him. No, He threw the matter open for debate until every angel saw the issue clearly and took his stand on the side of his choice. The time came when every one stood up to be counted. Then "there was war in heaven." God did not hide the truth and let things glide. No, He let every angel face the facts and take part in the war.

Today, now that the struggle has begun, let every man and woman study the facts, search the Scriptures, know the truth, and fight in its defense. Our participation in the conflict will develop our characters and fit us for greater trials to come. Then quit you like men and fight the battles of the Lord!

Shifting Sands. The devil leads thousands away by helping them build their houses on the shifting sands of popular preachers. Robert Brinsmead is an example. In the days of the "wakening" (circa 1960) many pious souls responded to his message and received a blessing. Since Brinsmead was apparently sincere and loved the truth, he gained a good following. But like King Saul of old, the subtle influence of being flattered by a throng of admirers had the effect of making him trust his own wisdom instead of the Holy Spirit. This drift in a preacher's thinking resulted in a shift in his theology. His attempt to shed new light on old truths by incorporating "original sin" into his interpretation of the sanctuary rites led him away step by step from the foundations of the Advent message. But few saw where he was drifting. As late as 1972, in his book, The Battle for the Mind, he still wrote on page 75: "The church's first great sin was to reject the law of God and the truth of the Bible Sabbath." Now in 1981 he himself commits what he once called a "great sin"--a complete about-face in nine years. We call this "shifting sands."

Let all therefore be careful about admiring any man "of pleasing address" and "godly mien" without judging the content of his messages. Today many Adventists still believe in Desmond Ford despite his open attacks on our fundamental beliefs because, they say, he is a "Christian gentleman." "See how forgiving he is!" They admire him even though he has, like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, drawn thousands of children away. Can it be that more will be lured into perdition? Are we so easily charmed by "magnetic" personalities as to swallow any doctrine they teach? If so, our feet are planted on shifting sands, and if we do not wake up in time, we will go down with Ford in a landslide.

Disorganization. Satan is determined to bring confusion and division into our ranks. Many centrifugal forces are already at work, threatening to disorganize God's work. We who love the Lord and are jealous for His honor should not voluntarily leave His organized church, much less set up another organization. But we should speak up for the truth, and not suffer sin and error to exist among us. If we cannot effectively right the wrongs in our church, we should at least sigh and cry in protest to put ourselves on record as abhorring our own sins and opposed to the abominations committed by others. If we are indolent and give mute assent to iniquity, the Lord will hold us guilty. And it is our duty to pray. Said Samuel to the people, "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you, but I will teach you the good and the right way."

Defeatist Messages. A man's actions are directed by his thoughts. When a soldier enters a battle expecting defeat, then he will certainly lose the fight. For he has already lost his morale--the will to fight. Today some of our preachers are destroying the morale of our people by delivering defeatist messages. They assume a "realistic" stance and say it is hopeless to strive for perfection. They virtually tell the tempted soul to yield to Satan's power. They ask, "Who can truly keep God's law?" "How many of us here are perfect?" "Who reflects the image of Jesus fully?" These questions coming from the lips of Adventist preachers echo the devil's taunts, like Rabshakeh's speech by the

walls of Jerusalem, shaking the faith of the people in God's power to deliver from sin.

That was not the way Jesus preached. His was always a positive message: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Likewise, Paul taught us to leave the "principles of the doctrine of Christ" and "go on unto perfection." In every congregation there are souls hard pressed, struggling with discouragement, passion, and doubt. They expect help from the preacher, whose sermon will tip the scales for victory or for defeat. If he tells them it is no use struggling against sin because they can't be perfect anyway, then these souls will capitulate to the tempter, but their blood will God require at his hand. If he repeats the promises of God and encourages every struggling soul to lay hold on His strength, that will be just what is needed to revive the fainting soul and encourage him to fight on in God's strength.

God forbid that any of us should unwittingly become the devil's assistants! Let us always speak courage and draw with Christ. True, none of us can boast of perfection, but these words of our Lord must be our constant incentive: "To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I overcame, and am sat down with my Father on his throne." Ellen White encourages us with these words: "We can overcome. Yes, fully, entirely. Jesus died to make a way of escape for us, that we might overcome every evil temper, every sin, every temptation, and sit down at last with Him." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, 144

Why not? When Jesus made those promises to the overcomer, was He expecting us to do the impossible? If so, then we may say with Satan that God makes unreasonable demands. But no! Whatever God commands, He gives us strength to obey. "All His biddings are enablings." Let us not dwell on the unrelenting struggle between the flesh and the Spirit and stop with the words, "so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." The defeatist harps on this verse as an excuse for self-indulgence. But the aggressive Christian takes hold of Paul's positive conclusion: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:24 NIV. "I can do all things through Him that strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

In studying the epistles of Paul we must catch the contagion of the aggressive spirit of this Christian warrior. He recognized the perverted character of our sinful nature and said, "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." Romans 7:18. He did not give in to this fallen nature, but made war with it. "I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."1 Corinthians 9:27

What was the secret of Paul's power and success? Was it his academic training under Gamaliel? No, he repudiated that in the words "What was gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ." Paul was successful in his struggle with sin only as he gave himself unreservedly to the work of God. He was constantly sustained and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fight on in the face of mounting odds. He flinched at nothing, for God's impelling might was in him. "Whereunto I also labor," he said, "striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." Colossians 1:29. Only such mighty workings of the Spirit can enable us to preach, "warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Colossians 1:28

Desmond Ford claims to have new light. But since it is contrary to the light we already have, it is not light but darkness. An examination of Ford's writings will reveal a mixture of incongruous statements which are mutually exclusive and defy systematic study. We cite three examples:

Ford denies there are two apartments in the heavenly sanctuary, but asserts that the "anchor of the soul" of Hebrews 6:19 enters the second veil. Now if there is a second veil, there must be a second apartment. But no, he says, there is only one apartment. That is the unique logic of his "new theology."

Ford says that God's original plan was for Christ to return in the first century, and then let Antichrist appear in or after the twentieth century. Here are his own words: "The whole weight of New Testament testimony is that God's ideal plan was that Jesus should return in the first century A.D. . . . This is clearly taught from Matthew to Revelation." Ford MS, 295. Then in his doctoral thesis of 1972 he wrote that Antichrist "is not any past personage. He belongs to the future and not to history." Now all are agreed that Antichrist, as foretold in 2 Thessalonians 2:2-12 by Paul, was to appear before the second advent of Christ. But since Ford says the Advent has been delayed for nineteen centuries, then it would be natural to suppose the coming of Antichrist will also be postponed till after the thirty-ninth century. Or does Ford mean to say that the Advent which was originally planned by God for the first century was put off until the twentieth century so as to make it occur after the appearance of Antichrist whose coming will not be postponed? Thus we have this ray of "new light:" The devil arrives on time, but Jesus is late by 2000 years. Ford will perhaps complain we are "wresting" his words. Then please let him make himself clear--why God originally planned for Christ to return in the first century, and Antichrist to appear 2000 years later. Or perhaps

4000 years later?

V Ford repeatedly quotes the words of Ellen White in support of his erroneous views, then turns around and says, "Ellen G. White is not our authority." Ford MS, 623. And he tries to show how she was mistaken, thus pulling the planks from his own platform. It is indeed strange to see this doctor of theology blowing hot and cold at the same time. In his latest book (published in 1980), Physicians of the Soul, he writes a whole chapter on his "Encounter with a Modern Prophet." Then in his 990-page paper he presents many arguments to prove that Ellen White was not a prophet. And so on.

In summary we can confidently say that Ford's purpose is not to work out an orderly system of theology, but simply to destroy the Advent faith. And in this vain attempt he has thrown himself into confusion. Is it not strange that there are sane and sensible people today who still believe that Ford has "new light"? Says the Lord, "Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." Isaiah 50:11

Exodus 17 recites the battle of Israel with Amalek. Moses stood on a hill with his rod outstretched. "And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed." This lesson is for our leaders. They must keep their hands stretched out in prayer, or we will lose our battle against the forces of sin. Aaron and Hur represent our working force who must hold up the arms of our leaders.

What is the mystic but very real connection between the outstretched rod and the battlefield? It existed then, and it exists today. When leadership is possessed by the spirit of prayer and supplication, the forces of "Amalek" are pushed back, but if leadership forgets to seek the Lord and is content to thrash out every problem in committee sessions, we will suffer defeat. Pray then, my brethren; ask God for the gift of prevailing prayer. Yes, the Spirit that intercedes for us by unutterable groanings is itself a gift from God. It is symbolized by the outstretched rod which brings victory.

Any church leader who thinks that he can work without agonizing in prayer is inviting defeat. He is living on a spiritual plane lower than many lay members. How then can he lead them? This sobering truth came home to the writer when he met a sister who lived a truly abundant prayer life. She knew her Lord because she ceased not to pray, and in time of crisis she spends a whole night on her knees praying for others. Today there are many intellectual giants among us, but most of them will realize they are but spiritual dwarfs when they come into the presence of a real praying saint. We should also realize that God can always use a praying saint who may be unlearned, but He has no good use for a learned man who does not pray.

Moses' rod was outstretched with but one goal in mind--that Israel might prevail. This fact recalls the words of Christ: "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in the truth." To have a holy people, leadership must first be holy. The converse is also true: If leadership is not sanctified in the truth, the people they lead cannot possibly be sanctified. That is why Christ did everything "for their sakes." When the Spirit takes these three words and drives them home to the hearts of our leaders, they should realize anew the tremendous weight of responsibility resting on them and fall down on their knees to plead with strong crying and bitter tears. When in persistent prayer we climb the heights of Rephidim and get a full view of the battlefield--the advances and the setbacks of God's people in their life-and-death struggle with Amalek--we will never let go the arm of the Lord until total victory is won.

God is testing us today to see who will come to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Not that He is in need of assistance, but "that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:35. He did it in heaven; He is doing it now on this earth.

"Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary." Deuteronomy 25:18. This tactic is another of the devil's devices. And who are the "hindmost" and the "feeble, faint, and weary" ones?

I have been shown that many who profess to have a knowledge of present truth know not what they believe. . . . When the time of trial shall come, there are men now preaching to others, who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason. . . . God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating

the chaff from the wheat. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 707

When the shaking comes by the introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. Testimonies to Ministers, 112

There are some, who having served all their lives in the Advent cause, take their faith for granted and suppose they know the truth, but because they do not prayerfully search the Scriptures for a firsthand knowledge of our beliefs, they are easily shaken--they do not see anything wrong with Ford's "new theology," and even think it is the truth. Such stragglers will easily fall under "Amalekite" attack. Even now in the midst of the crisis these "hindmost" ones still take no time or thought to examine all the scriptural evidence cited against the modernist errors, but are content with general impressions and friendly sentiments. "Ford is a good man; I like him." "Ford's preaching is super; I'll bank on him any time." "He takes a beating in such a sweet spirit--impresses me as a real Christian." "You shouldn't say those nasty things of him." Such surface readers will even stand up in defense of the devil himself and admire that "angel of light."

A church member who is too indolent to search the Scriptures prayerfully, but willingly yields his judgment in favor of a preacher who impresses him as a dependable authority on gospel truth, is committing the same error as the Catholic devotee who invests his eternal interests in the person of the priest. Let us be reminded that Jesus is our great High Priest, and every Seventh-day Adventist should be a priest, for we are a "royal priesthood." Only as a Seventh-day Adventist acquaints himself with the present truth and can explain it to others, has he any chance of coming through safely in the great shaking that is taking place among us.

It is now clear as daylight that the Brinsmead-Paxton-Ford-Rea coalition is out to destroy our church and the truth we love. Can any of us still be deceived by their honeyed words, sophisticated jargon and rabid tirades? Some well-meaning souls feel we should not mention names when speaking of our enemies. It is not charitable, they say. But Paul mentioned Hymenaeus and Philetus by name, "who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." 2 Timothy 2:18. John the Beloved wrote of "Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them . . . prating against us with malicious words." 3 John 9-10. We mention our enemies by name and declare open war with them, not because we have any personal grudge, but because they attack the truth we love. To spare the Lord's enemies is to betray His cause. We must not only love what He loves, but also hate what He hates. Said the psalmist, "Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." Psalm 139:21-22

Our enemies certainly have no scruples about mentioning us by name, nor about calling Ellen White a liar. Why should we fear to mention them by name? It is our duty to unmask all the deceptive practices of these agents of the archdeceiver, so that none of our people will continue to cherish sentimental feelings for them.

We are in the war which began in heaven and will be finished on this earth. Its far-reaching consequences outweigh the combined effects of all the military engagements in world history, because it decides the salvation or perdition of millions of souls for eternity. The French have a saying, "la guerre comme la guerre." A war ought to be fought as a war. We are warriors engaged in a life-and-death struggle, not children playing a parlor game.

Says our fighting prophet, "What a battle I am obliged to fight! . . . All the oppositions or gainsaying to make my testimony of none effect only compels from me, by the urgency of the Spirit of God, a more decided repetition, and to stand on the light revealed with all the force of the strength God has given me." MS 25, 1890. "I am to meet the danger positively, denying the right of anyone to use my writings to serve the devil's purpose to allure and deceive the people of God. God has spared my life that I may present the testimonies given me, to vindicate that which God vindicates, and to denounce every vestige of Satan's sophistry. One thing will follow another in spiritual sophistry, to deceive if possible the very elect." MS 126, 1905. "The greatest tirade may be made against me, but it will not change in the least my mission or my work." MS 29, 1897

Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. . . . God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins into His own hand. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness. Testimonies to Ministers, 300

This prophecy is now being fulfilled in this part of the world. Stories of child preachers here and there recall the days of the Advent awakening in Scandinavia. Another story tells of three maidens who banded together

to evangelize the countryside, strictly following Jesus' instruction, "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves, for the workman is worthy of his meat." They had received no formal training, yet they preached the gospel with power, raising up many companies of believers in the villages as they travelled on foot.

An Adventist grade-school teacher who knew only the rudiments of the gospel message had a dream in which she saw the three angels' messages appear in shining words. Upon awaking, she told her son to turn to the text and see if she had it right, and to his surprise she repeated the whole message without a hitch! She had never memorized this text before, but now the Lord branded it on her mind and sent her out to proclaim it. Yes, in the absence of doctors of theology God can use grade-school teachers to spread His word. "Simple means" to make us wonder. When you simply and solemnly repeat the words, "Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters," this message has a powerful effect on all who hear it, because the Spirit of God attends its proclamation. You do not have to embellish it with learned expositions. Every word pierces the heart like so many bolts from Heaven. Yes, God designed it so. And when time comes to preach the second and the third angels' messages, the shaping of events will provide the needed background so that a simple explanation will make the sincere seeker for truth obey God's voice.

Another woman once dreamed of being gored into the water by a horned beast. When she was about to drown, a man rescued her and told her his name was Lee Ho. She woke up and went around looking for a man named Lee Ho, but he was not to be found. One day she met an old woman called Aunt Lee, a vendor of ice suckers who rested on Saturdays. She asked her why she rested on Saturdays. After giving her a simple answer, Aunt Lee sent her boy to call Aunt Ho, who could explain the truth from the Bible. The woman then knew that the Lord had led her to find these two old women--Aunts Lee and Ho--to teach her to keep His Sabbath. So she gladly obeyed. Another "simple means" which tells us that God is taking the reins into His own hands.

So you see, God will use old women, grade-school teachers, young maidens, and even children to finish His work, bypassing all who are too worldly-wise to be useful. Let us remember that Seventh-day Adventists exist for the purpose of proclaiming the three angels' messages. Our work is not to invent some new theological system or try to match our wisdom against that of the wise men of the world. Like John the Baptist, we are to be a voice in the wilderness calling the world to obedience. We must never lose sight of this mission. May God's Sabbath truth be branded on our minds in words of fire and issue from our mouths like polished shafts into the hearts of men. For it is God's message for this hour.

"Behold, this is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel." Luke 2:34. The destiny of every soul will soon be decided for life or for death--by his own choice. We must solemnly warn our people that whoever follows this deceptive "new light," will sink deeper and deeper into darkness and end up outside the gates of the holy city with "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."

Standing now at the Great Divide, we say with Joshua: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve."

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