Advent Movement Survey 13

Transcription

1 Advent Movement Survey 13 Righteousness continued Study given by W. D. Frazee - March 14, 1962 This is our second lesson on the 1888 experience and the experiences that came in the 1890s, after the 1888 conference. I would like to remind you of an illustration that Elder S. N. Haskell used at one time, speaking of another matter. He said, Brethren, remember that it takes at least three ropes, each pulling in a different direction, to hold a tent pole straight up. You have seen these big tent poles like a camp meeting tent, haven t you? You know, if you just had one rope holding that tent pole what would it do? Pull it down. If you had one on the other side and it pulls heavy, it will pull it down. Some of us have helped to pitch those big tents and we know that it is important to get those three ropes equally pulling in a balanced way, no one pulling too hard and no one too slack. And one of the great difficulties in the 1888 experience and thereafter was the difficulty of people getting balanced: balanced on this matter of faith and works, balanced on a number of other things. One of the words that I am going to study with you this evening in connection with the experiences that followed after1888, is the word fanaticism, fanaticism. I don t suppose that anybody ever called what he believed in, fanaticism. The word fanaticism or fanatic is often used by those who oppose something. Fanaticism can be a terrible thing. It is like fire. It can get started and make great havoc, great destruction. But on the other hand, the fear of fanaticism has caused many a person to fail to receive precious truth, as we shall see. In our last lesson, we looked at the Minneapolis General Conference in 1888, and we saw that there the Lord gave a most precious message to His people through Elder Jones and Elder Waggoner. That is stated on page 91 of Testimonies to Ministers. The purpose of that message was to bring prominently before the world, the uplifted Savior. The next page says that many had lost sight of Jesus. I want you to notice that the servant of the Lord desired that our people should understand that this was to be presented not as new light. I will read a clear statement on that, this is from the Review of March 20, 1894, and it is quoted in Elder Christian s book The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts on page 226. Listen carefully to this one sentence: Laborers in the cause of truth should present the righteousness of Christ, not as new light, but as precious light that has, for a time, been lost sight of by the people Review and Herald, March 20, Παγε 1 οφ 15

2 Now, that is important. There may be new light for the people of God from time to time. We are given some instruction in Volume 5 as to what a brother should do, who, in his study of the prophecies or doctrines feels that he has discovered new light, aren t we? Yes. But the great light that came on righteousness by faith to the conference in 1888, and was spread among our people during the years thereafter, this says was to be presented not as what? Not as new light. I want to read this again because I think some will get a different slant on this whole subject if they fully receive this sentence: Laborers in the cause of truth should present the righteousness of Christ not as new light, but as precious light that has for a time been lost sight of by the people Review and Herald, March 20, Sister White, while she was greatly cheered and blessed by the presentation at the 1888 conference on this particular subject of righteousness by faith, she recognized that what was being given was what the Lord had been giving through her for many years. On the next page in Elder Christian s book he quotes from a sermon that Sister White delivered at Rome, New York, in She says: I have had the question asked, What do you think of this light that these men, Jones and Waggoner, are presenting? Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last forty-five years, the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, page 227 (Manuscript Releases, Volume One, page 142). I think if we will get those facts clearly before us, it will help us not to be so impressed by the statements of this one and that one, that come along with what they call new light, wonderful light, and so forth, and try to put themselves into the chariot with Jones and Waggoner, and make out that they have wonderful new light like Jones and Waggoner had wonderful new light back then. And because they are opposed or rejected, as Jones and Waggoner were opposed and rejected by some, that only proves that they are all right. I think all that is very dangerous, friends. I will just say it frankly. I think that is dangerous. Certainly we want any new light God has for us. The greatest thing that happened at Minneapolis was the bringing to our people of this precious light that had for a time been lost sight of. I believe today, that whatever new light God may have for any of us, individually or as a people, the greatest blessing that could possibly come to us, would be to experience all that the light, which is shining upon us at the present, could help us to experience if we will enter into it. What do you say? Oh, yes. As we saw last week, there were some who when this message of justification by faith was presented, accepted it gladly and rejoiced in the light. There were others who opposed it. And there were others who were uncertain and confused and perplexed. You remember that some of the reasons that people opposed were these: there was a personal prejudice against Παγε 2 οφ 15

3 these men on the part of some. Then unfortunately, mingled with the study of these great truths of righteousness by faith, there were some tiny little details, like which was the tenth horn on the beast of Daniel chapter 7. Was it the Huns as Uriah Smith had in his book, or was it the Allamini as A. T. Jones was teaching? Long and sharp discussions were had on that point. As the result, the air was filled with the smoke of battle, which helped to befog minds, when the great truths of justification by faith were presented. I want to repeat what I said last week. I hope that every soul here will learn a lesson from that: that we will not enter into the discussion of tiny little minor details; that we will keep our minds on all the great subjects that are important today, that we will keep them on the main line; and not allow our minds to be confused and not allow ourselves to confuse others by unnecessary discussions over tiny details. Very important. After the 1888 conference, which was a great disappointment to the servant of the Lord, there came at the next General Conference, in 1889, some blessings that made her very happy. I want to read what she wrote in 1889, at the time of the General Conference. (At that time they were having General Conferences every year. Beginning in 1889, they had them every two years. So there was a conference in 1887, there was one in 1888, there was one in 1889, then the next one was in 1891.) This is what Sister White writes: We are having most excellent meetings. The spirit that was in the meeting at Minneapolis is not here. All moves off in harmony. All the testimonies to which I have listened have been of an elevating character. They say that the past year has been the best of their lives. The light shining forth from the Word of God has been clear and distinct, justification by faith, Christ our Righteousness. I have attended all but two morning meetings. At 8:00 Brother Jones speaks upon the subject of justification by faith, and great interest is manifested. The universal testimony from those who have spoken has been that this message of light and truth which has come to our people is just the truth for this time, and wherever they go among the churches light and relief and the blessing of God is sure to come in Selected Messages, Book 1, page 361. That is a wonderful statement, isn t it? Very encouraging. I wish, friends, that was all that had ever been written on this subject. I mean, I wish that was all there was to write. This is true, every word of it. And critics who will try to make out that this people rejected righteousness by faith in 1888, and have been rejected ever since, conveniently overlook this statement, and others like it. For it would be fatal to their thesis, you see. But on the other hand, there are some who support an entirely opposite thesis, and they love to quote this statement, and others like it, and conveniently overlook some balancing statements which indicate that in spite of the beautiful response at the 1889 General Conference, that there was not only in 1888, but all through the early and mid 1890s, decided opposition to the work of Jones and Waggoner and to the message of righteousness by faith Παγε 3 οφ 15

4 as proclaimed by these men. Generalizations are usually dangerous, and particularly so when there is a great mass of complexity. For anybody to put his finger in denominational history, on a specific date from 1888 on through for the next eight or ten years, and to attempt, by a generalization, to say, This is the way things were in the denomination over this subject of righteousness by faith, I say for anybody to attempt to do that with a generalization, means that to be accurate he must put in some ifs, ands and buts. So I hope none of you will try, in your thinking, to just quickly come to some generalizations. At the 1888 conference, as we have seen, there were some who accepted the message gladly. There were others who rejected and spoke against it. And there were some who were confused. And that situation, dear friends, was true year after year after year, as the references will show. Thank the Lord there were a number who were on the wrong side in 1888, but in1889, 1890, 1891 and 1892, kept coming over to the right side. Praise the Lord for that! Also, thank the Lord, there were some who had been confused and perplexed in the 1888 conference, that began to get light and blessing, and they came out boldly on the right side. But as we shall see in the plain statements in the published books, there came message after message, after message, from the servant of the Lord, not merely in 1888 and 1889 and 1890, but in 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, pleading with our people who were still rejecting the message, to cease their criticism of the men and the message, and accept it as their only hope of salvation. But when I say that, let me hasten quickly to add, that does not mean that the denomination, in 1888 or at any time thereafter, rejected the message, or that the General Conference did. I want to give you three testimonies on that. That is three witnesses from different people. The first is from Elder W. C. White, who was at the 1888 meeting. He was Sister White s son, and was one of our esteemed leading ministers for many years. This is in a personal letter from him, dated February 3, 1937: It is not correct nor kind, to say that the Seventh-day Adventist church in 1888 rejected the message of righteousness by faith. I heard it from our leaders every year since Some leading preachers rejected it the way that Elders Waggoner and Jones presented it, but after a time repented of their opposition W. C. White Letter, February 3, Then I want to bring you a statement from Elder L. H. Christian, for many years the vicepresident of the General Conference. This is in his book The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, page 233. The General Conference does not settle a question of doctrine by vote, and there was no vote or decision recorded of the debating at Minneapolis. The knowledge of truth cannot be settled by vote. It grows by inward conviction Elder L. H. Christian, The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, page 233. Παγε 4 οφ 15

5 You notice he very clearly states there was no voting there on the matter, and he indicates that the General Conference does not and could not settle a question of doctrine by vote. The knowledge of truth, he says, cannot be settled by vote. Now, you may wonder why I stress this point. I stress it because some have been teaching in recent years that the denomination, the General Conference, rejected the message of righteousness by faith, and that therefore the General Conference now should take the matter up and by vote repudiate the attitude back then, and accept now what was rejected back then. You see how a false premise can lead to a false conclusion. Elder A. V. Olsen, for many years one of the vice-presidents of the General Conference, in the Review and Herald of June 26, 1958, covers this point. He says: (That s at Minneapolis.) No action was taken by the session Elder A. V. Olsen, Review and Herald, June 26, To accept or reject the message. But sad to say, some of those who were present opposed the message and criticized the messengers. This opposition they also carried into the field after the close of the session Elder A. V. Olsen, Review and Herald, June 26, Then he quotes Sister White from Testimonies to Ministers, beginning with page 89. Will you turn now in your books, to page 89. I want you to notice this statement, which Elder Olsen is quoting in this Review and Herald article. I want you to see it in its setting here: That light which is to fill the whole earth with its glory has been despised by some who claim to believe the present truth Testimonies to Ministers, page 89. Elder Olsen is quoting it to show that there was opposition back then. And when you remember that this statement was written several years after the 1888 meeting, you will see all the more force in it. Now I want to read the whole paragraph from whence this is taken: I inquire of those in responsible positions in Battle Creek, What are you doing? You have turned your back and not your face, to the Lord.... That light which is to fill the whole earth with its glory has been despised by some who claim to believe the present truth Testimonies to Ministers, page 89. So she was dealing here not merely with laymen but with some in responsible positions. And Elder Olsen is bringing out in this article that some opposed the message. He says: How many joined in the opposition movement at the session Παγε 5 οφ 15

6 (At Minneapolis) we do not know. The number could not have been large, for according to the minutes of the session, there were only about eighty delegates present Elder A. V. Olsen, Review and Herald, June 26, 1958, Representing a world membership of approximately 27,000. But even though the number was not large, the situation created as the opposition spread out into the field, was serious Elder A. V. Olsen, Review and Herald, June 26, Notice Elder Olsen s clear statement, that there was a serious situation developed as the opposition manifested at Minneapolis spread out into the field. By the way, Elder Olsen s statement here contradicts the attitude of some, that Minneapolis was a glorious victory and that there was not very much trouble or difficulty after that. There was a great deal of trouble from 1888 on for several years. Continuing Elder Olsen s article: In His love and mercy, the Lord sent through His inspired servant, messages of reproof and appeal. At camp meetings, in ministerial institutes and other gatherings, Sister White labored earnestly to turn the tide and to help our people to see and accept the light. She made it clear that those who had resisted the light would have to confess if they wanted their record on high to be cleared Elder A. V. Olsen, Review and Herald, June 26, The next paragraph is a quotation from a letter that Sister White wrote from Australia to the president of the General Conference, in In fact, the date of the letter is September 1, Notice this is four years after the Minneapolis meeting, and still there are those who were opposing. I read (this is quoting Sister White): The sin committed in what took place at Minneapolis remains on the record books of heaven registered against the names of those who resisted light, and it will remain upon the record until full confession is made and the transgressors stand in full humility before God Letter 19D, 1892, page 15. So, four years after, there were men who resisted at Minneapolis, that were still resisting. Yet, there were some of those, afterward, who confessed. Some had confessed before. Quoting Elder Olsen, again: Gradually, the tide turned. Men and women were coming into line. Confessions were made and things made right. Some, if not all of the men, who had been the prime movers in the opposition, made humble confessions Elder A. V. Olsen, Review and Herald, June 26, Παγε 6 οφ 15

7 In a letter dated January 6, 1891, from Battle Creek, Sister White wrote (Now this is Notice Sister White s writing. She speaks here of several that made confession): Professor Prescott made a confession dating back to Minneapolis, and this made a deep impression Monday, Elder Smith came to me and we had an earnest faithful talk The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, pages 850, 851. Then he asked for several to be brought together. He read to them the testimony that Sister White had sent him on the Minneapolis matter: And said he accepted it as from the Lord. He went back to the Minneapolis meeting and made a confession of the spirit he had occupied.... Brother Smith has fallen on the Rock, and is broken, and the Lord Jesus will now work with him The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, page 852. Isn t that wonderful, friends? Were people getting help? But, now, friends, the sad thing is, some never did get help. Now, I will come to that presently. But many did, and we must not forget that. We must rejoice in that. I come to this point about some thinking that the General Conference had rejected it and therefore the General Conference ought to rescind that rejection. Notice Elder Olsen s clear statement on the matter: Of late there has been a feeling on the part of some brethren that the advent movement can never experience the full measure of the blessing of God until the General Conference in session takes action confessing the wrong that was done in Minneapolis. Had the delegates in that session taken action rejecting the light it would have been proper and right for a latter session to have taking action, confessing the mistake and rescinding the former action. But in view of the fact, as already stated, that there was no vote by the delegates in Minneapolis to reject the light, there is no action recorded in the minutes that could be rescinded Elder A. V. Olsen, Review and Herald, June 26, Isn t that clear? Who was it, then, that rejected the message? Individuals. No action that my grandfather took personally can be rescinded by me, can it? No. It can t be. He continues: In all the articles and letters written by Sister White regarding the Minneapolis meeting, there was never the slightest hint that God expected the General Conference to take such action. All of her reproofs and appeals were addressed to those individuals, who, during and after the session engaged in the opposition Παγε 7 οφ 15

8 Elder A. V. Olsen, Review and Herald, June 26, He quotes from Testimonies to Ministers, page 96, in proof of that. You will turn to that, now, please. This article is written in the mid 1890s, from Australia: I would speak in warning to those who have stood for years resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition Testimonies to Ministers, page 96. Who was she speaking to? To those who had for years been resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition. How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God s righteousness? God has given them His message. They bear the word of God. There is salvation for you, but only through the merits of Jesus Christ Testimonies to Ministers, pages 96, 97. Then she speaks of how God again and again had appealed to them: Here was evidence, that all might discern whom the Lord recognized as His servants. But there are those who despised the men and the message they bore Testimonies to Ministers, page 97. Who were these men? Jones and Waggoner. They were being despised by some, right in the church. They have taunted them with being fanatics, extremists, and enthusiasts Testimonies to Ministers, page 97. What were they called? Fanatics, and I am coming to some other references on that, in a few minutes. Now notice what she says: Let me prophesy unto you Testimonies to Ministers, page 97, (These that were calling them fanatics.) Unless you speedily humble your hearts before God, and confess your sins, which are many, you will, when it is too late, see that you have been fighting against God. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, no longer unto reformation and pardon, you will see that these men whom you have spoken against, have been as signs in the world, as witnesses for God. Then you would give the whole world if you could redeem the past, and be just such zealous men, moved by the Spirit of God to lift your voices in solemn warning to the world; and, like them, to be in principle firm as a rock. Your turning things Παγε 8 οφ 15

9 upside down is known of the Lord. Go on a little longer as you have gone in rejection of the light from heaven and you are lost Testimonies to Ministers, page 97. Well, then, they were in the process of committing what sin? The unpardonable sin. And that is exactly what some did here. Page 90, this is from the same chapter: Beware how you indulge the attributes of Satan, and pour contempt upon the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. I know not but some have even now gone too far to return and to repent Testimonies to Ministers, page 90. But at the bottom of the page, she goes further: The Spirit of God is departing from many among His people. Many have entered into dark, secret paths, and some will never return. They will continue to stumble to their ruin. They have tempted God, they have rejected light Testimonies to Ministers, page 90. Keep in mind, dear friends, that all these people - the ones that were giving the message and those that were rejecting it - were all inside the church. They weren t all laymen on one side, and all ministers on the other side, either. For a few moments, I would like to notice what took place in Battle Creek in 1893, which will help us to see why some of these strong messages were written here. In 1893 the General Conference was held in Battle Creek. There were some wonderful manifestations of the Lord s Spirit there. In 1893 also, there were some real revival experiences at the Battle Creek College. A great revival took place. Turn, please, to Selected Messages, Book 1, page 129. Notice the compiler s note at the beginning of the chapter: In 1893 there was a marked revival in our institutions at our Battle Creek headquarters, with large evidence of the work of the Spirit of God. Much of the blessing was lost in events which followed in quick succession Compilers, Selected Messages, Book 1, page 129. There in a short sentence is wrapped up a great deal of experience. The Spirit of God was poured out in rich measure as the message of righteousness by faith was given, but what happened, to much of the blessing? It was lost in events which followed in quick succession. Let me tell you very briefly what happened, and then give you the supporting references. The Spirit of God came in a wonderful way as the message of righteousness by faith was presented. But there were some who, because of their prejudices, nourished and nursed since Minneapolis, five year before, criticized the message and the messengers as they had back Παγε 9 οφ 15

10 then. They called the work of the Holy Spirit fanaticism. As the result many of the students and other people, who had gotten a great blessing, retreated from the experience which they had received in the revival, and plunged into baseball games, bicycle races, parties, a lot of premature courtship and marriage, and other things of that kind. In other words, they were having a gay time. And as the result, the Spirit of God was quenched and much of the revival blessing was lost. I want you to get the connection between the three things. The prejudice against the messengers who were giving this revival call dating clear back from Minneapolis. As the result of that, the criticism and working against it and calling it what? Fanaticism. And then as the result of that, some of the people feeling, Well, maybe we have gotten too religious, maybe we have gone too far with this thing, maybe what we need is some fun. So they began to get the fun. And the more fun they got with the competition, and the sentimentalism, and the eating and drinking and hilarity, the more the Spirit of God was driven away. Those are terrible charges, but, friends, we are going to support them now with the clear statements. I want you to get the picture just in words. All right. Notice the first sentence: After the outpouring of the Spirit of God in Battle Creek it was proved in the college that a time of great spiritual light is also a time of corresponding spiritual darkness Selected Messages, Book 1, page 129. Who was there on the ground, as God was working? Satan was. Down at the bottom of the page: In every age seasons of spiritual revival and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit have been followed by spiritual darkness and prevailing corruptions Selected Messages, Book 1, page 129. And what does the devil try to do as the result of that? Oh, he tries to make the people, (Watch this!) who got an experience and then lost it, think that what they got wasn t the real thing. But friends, can I have real money and still lose it? Yes I can. Can men have a real experience in the things of God and lose it? Yes. That is what happened back then. All right. There have been things written to me in regard to the movings of the Spirit of God at the last conference [1893], and at the college, which clearly indicate that because these blessings were not lived up to, minds have been confused, and that which was light from heaven has been called Selected Messages, Book 1, page 130. What? Excitement. What did they call it? Excitement. I have been made sad to have this matter viewed Παγε 10 οφ 15

11 in this light. We must be very careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God in pronouncing the ministration of His Holy Spirit a species of fanaticism Selected Messages, Book 1, page 130. What was it being called? Fanaticism. What was being called fanaticism? The Spirit of God. Now, friends, there is one thing that will never be called fanaticism, and that is cold and dead Laodiceanism. That won t be called fanaticism. Is there such a thing as fanaticism? Oh, yes! There can be an excitement which the Spirit of God has nothing to do with. But remember, there are two kinds of enthusiasm, one is inspired by heaven, the other is engendered by hell. When it comes from heaven it is not fanaticism. It is a holy enthusiasm. When the disciples received the Spirit of God there on the day of Pentecost what was the result? Oh, a holy enthusiasm. And how many were converted that day? Three thousand souls. But what did some who did not receive the Spirit say? They mocked and said these men are what? Full of new wine, in other words they are drunk. They called by a wrong name the operations of the Spirit of God. And so in Battle Creek in 1893, as the Spirit of God was poured out, those who received it had wonderful changes in their lives. Those who rejected it called it fanaticism, and some who received the blessing lost it because of being influenced by these who called it fanaticism. That God did abundantly bless the students in the school and the church, I have not one doubt; but a period of great light and the outpouring of the Spirit is quite generally followed by a time of great darkness Selected Messages, Book 1, page 129. Then if you and I get a real blessing, may we be called upon, to go into a period of darkness and keep our experience through the dark part? Do you see another reason why I am studying this with you, friends? As we enter into the outpouring of the Spirit in connection with the loud cry, do not think that it is going to start with a blaze of glory and then it will be nothing but glory, glory, glory day after day, and we will ride on eagle s wings and just feel happy and glorious every minute. Read the chapter in Great Controversy there on the final warning, and see how that right in the time of the proclamation of this wonderful message we are going to have experiences of depression that will drive us to our knees. We have got to have an experience that is anchored in faith. Now the amusement question. Notice how these practical standards bear on the revival experience and the revival experience on them: When the students at the school went into their match games and football playing, when they became absorbed in the amusement question, Satan saw it a good time to step in and make of none effect the Holy Spirit of God in molding and using the human subject Selected Messages, Book 1, page 131. Παγε 11 οφ 15

12 Can students, then, get a blessing in a revival service and lose it on the football field? That s right. Is there an enthusiasm in match games? Is there an enthusiasm in the outpouring of the Spirit of God? Do the two mix? No. The more we have one, the less we value the other. Now notice, she prophesies: It is an easy matter to idle away, talk and play away, the Holy Spirit s influence.... The results after the working of the Spirit of God in Battle Creek are not because of fanaticism, but because those who were blessed did not show forth the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light Selected Messages, Book 1, page 131. And when the earth is lightened with the glory of God, some will not know what it is, and from whence it came, because they misapplied and misinterpreted the Spirit shed upon them Selected Messages, Book 1, page 131. Have not the playing of games, and rewards, and the using of the boxing glove been educating and training after Satan s direction to lead to the possession of his attributes? Selected Messages, Book 1, page 132. This was written to the president of Battle Creek College: The time is altogether too full of tokens of the coming conflict to be educating the youth in fun and games Selected Messages, Book 1, page 133. But I ask you, friends, soberly, is there a type of young people work that seeks to win and hold young people by educating them in fun and games? Is that the kind of thing that will bring the latter rain and the loud cry? Now, don t misunderstand me, there is room in the Christian s program for true recreation. And there is a world of it that is offered. God wants us to be social, social to save. He has asked none of us to be hermits nor monks. There is a place for Christian sociability, for various kinds of Christian recreation, but this is talking about worldly amusements and the world is full of it. When it seeps into the church as it did at this time, what does it do to the Spirit of God? Grieves it away. You will notice in the paragraph that begins on page 132 and goes over to page 133, Sister White indicated that those who entered into the revival experience should have been studying how, in doing good useful work, to get a change from their studies other than the excitement and emotion caused by their games: Thus they would receive a preparation for the scenes of trial that they must soon enter. The superficial piety that passes for Παγε 12 οφ 15

13 religion will be consumed when tried in the furnace Selected Messages, Book 1, pages 132, 133. On page 136. Here again is some earnest instruction from the Lord s servant. Remember this is 1893, in Battle Creek. Sister White was in Australia at the time, but she saw it all in vision, halfway around the world: Among the students the spirit of fun and frolic was indulged. They became so interested in playing games that the Lord was crowded out of their minds; and Jesus stood among you in the playground, saying, O that thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! Selected Messages, Book 1, page 136. What a picture, friends! Jesus on the playground, the football field. Now I want you to study this chapter. I have only mentioned a few sentences from it. But this chapter in Selected Messages, beginning on page 129 is a most wonderful chapter to give you a picture of conditions in Battle Creek in 1893 and 1894, and to show the great importance of safeguarding the revival experience. On 142, there is an interesting sentence, which should be noted. Not everybody that entered into the righteousness by faith experience acted wisely, but that didn t prove that it was a wrong experience. I read: It would be surprising if there were not some, who, not being well-balanced in mind, have spoken and acted indiscreetly; for whenever and wherever the Lord works in giving a genuine blessing, a counterfeit is also revealed.... Therefore we need to be exceedingly careful Selected Messages, Book 1, page 142. Do you remember in reading Great Controversy, the history of the reformation, that after Luther had gotten that wonderful work of justification by faith going over there in Germany, that fanatics came in and for a time threatened to spoil the whole work? What did Luther say? He said, This is something I always feared. He feared that, worse than he did the opposition of the papacy. So merely because some human beings take some points and run too far with them, it doesn t prove the message is wrong. Because there are some extremists, doesn t prove that the message is extreme. If this attitude is preserved Selected Messages, Book 1, page 143, (That is of rejecting the work in 1893, because they called it fanaticism.) Then when the Lord shall again let His light shine upon His people, they will turn from the heavenly illumination, saying, I felt the same in 1893, and some in whom I have had confidence, said that that work was fanaticism. Will not those Παγε 13 οφ 15

14 who have received the rich grace of God, and who take the position that the working of the Holy Spirit was fanaticism, be ready to denounce the operations of the Spirit of God in the future, and the heart thus be proof against the solicitations of the still, small voice? Selected Messages, Book 1, page 143. That brings me to a very important point, friends. That is that when the loud cry comes, some who over the years have rejected again and again certain work of the Spirit of God, will not even recognize the Holy Spirit. You will find a statement on that point in the book Testimonies to Ministers, page 300. Speaking of some, it says: They will not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be heard Testimonies to Ministers, page 300. I don t want to be among that number. Do you? The only way I can be sure not to be among that number is to accept everything that God tries to do for me now. Is that right? Now, this same ground which we have covered in the book, Selected Messages, Book 1, is covered, also, in the book, Testimonies to Ministers, beginning on page 80. I want you to study pages 80 to 103. This is all concerning the Minneapolis meeting and the meetings in Battle Creek in the mid 1890s, 1893 and along in there. I want you to note, carefully, in these pages how that the message was called fanaticism and its preachers were called fanatics. I want you to see in these pages how that those who rejected the message turned to worldly amusements, covering similar ground to what we have looked at in the other book. But here you will find additional statements. On page 86 of Testimonies to Ministers, you will notice Sister White uses the expression concerning worldly amusements what has been the cause of this fanaticism and enthusiasm? I think of what dear, old Elder Benton, who was president of the southwestern union for many years, used to say. He said, Instead of feeling embarrassed when you re doing what the Lord says, let the other person be embarrassed. They re the ones that ought to be embarrassed. And if you are standing for what God tells you to, kindly, humbly, but firmly, and somebody calls you a fanatic, don t let that disturb you, friends. It may be that God who is looking down from heaven recognizes that the real fanaticism is on the other side. So is said here: What has been the cause of this fanaticism and enthusiasm? Testimonies to Ministers, page 86. And in connection with is, she says: How much more favorable it would be if the school buildings that are now in Battle Creek were far off from the city, and separated from so large a colony of professed Sabbathkeepers! Testimonies to Ministers, page 86. Παγε 14 οφ 15

15 Eventually, you know, as the result of the work of the Spirit of God the college was moved out of Battle Creek away from that great colony and away from that city influence; and started in the country. That brought a great educational reform to this denomination. But we will study that in another class. We will close our study tonight with the assignment of these materials that I have given you, in Selected Messages and Testimonies to Ministers. In closing, may I urge you, friends, please keep away in your thinking and in the writings of others from broad generalizations that miss the real point. Never let your mind, I repeat, never let you mind, be impressed with the sweeping charges of opponents and critics that God s church rejected the message of righteousness by faith, for that is not true, or that the General Conference rejected this message, for that is not true. On the other hand, do not be lulled to sleep with the idea, friends, that somehow or another this is just a little history, and that everybody back there finally came around and everything was all right. Let me give you the statement from the man who was president of the General Conference more years than any man who has ever held that office, Elder A. G. Daniels, page 63 of his little book, Christ our Righteousness: How sad, how deeply regrettable it is that this message of righteousness in Christ should, at the time of its coming, have met with opposition on the part of earnest, well meaning men in the cause of God. The message has never been received nor proclaimed nor given free course as it should have been in order to convey to the church the measureless blessings that were wrapped within it Elder A. G. Daniels, Christ our Righteousness, page 63. So, friends, while we avoid the extreme statements and charges of critics and opposers, we do well, on our knees, to meditate on the solemn statements of the Spirit of Prophecy, and of leaders, such as Elder Daniels, as we seek to plumb to the depths the experience that God sought to lead our people into, at that time, and that He is still seeking to lead us into, for as we shall study in our next lesson that was the beginning of the loud cry. Let us stand. Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee so much for the precious truth that Jesus took our sins and died our death that we might take His righteousness and live His life. Oh, give us each this experience. And teach us the lessons from the past that we may meet the experiences of the future. For Jesus sake. Amen. Παγε 15 οφ 15