Editor of the Christian Workers Magazine:
In the June number of your magazine, under the above title, you say that in a previous issue, by request, you gave a summary of the Seventh-day Adventists doctrines in which you said, “They reject the doctrine of the trinity.” For this Elder Wheeler, an Adventist minister, “took you to task” and convinced you of error on this point. So you apologized and corrected your statement.
In my book, “Seventh-day Adventism Renounced,” page 25, I give a summary of their doctrines and use exactly these words. So I judge you accepted my statement as reliable. I now re-affirm my statement: “They reject the doctrine of the trinity” as held by evangelical churches, as the previous line in my book states. But Elder Wheeler says: “I regard our position upon the trinity as in harmony with that of other evangelical churches.”
His statement is untrue. Either he does not know the doctrine of his church or has not read their standard works, or else he misleads you. I was a minister and writer among them for over twenty years. Once they gave me a check for $500 as royalty on my writings, and many times smaller sums. They use several of these writings still, omitting my name. The day I withdrew I was teaching theology in their college to a class of over two hundred young ministers and Bible workers. Since I became a Baptist minister I have kept in close touch with all their teachings. I now take five Advent papers and read their latest books. I know all their doctrines as well as they do themselves, much better than their young ministers like Elder Wheeler. I have just spent two years writing another book answering their arguments against the Lord's Day in the early centuries. While an Adventist I often preached against the orthodox doctrine of the trinity and other ministers did the same.
“The Atonement,” by Elder J. H. Waggoner, published by “The Review and Herald,” 1884, is one of their standard books. Two lengthy chapters, 5 and 6, are devoted to the subject of the trinity. Chapter 5 is headed, “The Son of God died.” The author argues that the pre-existent Christ who came down from heaven, when He died on the Cross became totally unconscious, cold and dead, and lay in the grave unconscious three days, no spirit, or-soul or conscious existence, survived. It was “the sleep of the dead” in his case the same as they teach in the case of all men. Do trinitarians hold this view of the death of Christ? Certainly not.
As proof that they believe in the trinity the same as others Elder Wheeler quotes from Mrs. White this sentence touching Christ, “He was the incarnate God.” Well then, did their incarnate God become totally dead and unconscious for three days? Was there no living God for three days? Or was there another Deity up in heaven at the same time? Is that the evangelical doctrine of the trinity? Or does not Elder Wheeler know what trinitarians believe?
I open to chapter 6 of the book on the atonement quoted above. This chapter is headed, “Doctrine of the Trinity Subversive of the Atonement." Throughout the chapter Waggoner uses every argument he can against the doctrine of the trinity as held by evangelical churches. I will quote only a few sentences:
“The inconsistencies of trinitarianism.” “They take the denial of the trinity to be equivalent to the denial of the divinity of Christ." “We can not accept the idea of the trinity as it is held by trinitarians." “John 12:40, 41, has been supposed to prove the supreme Deity of Christ and therefore a trinity."
Then he argues against it. His whole chapter is along this line. Mr. Editor, I mail you this book, read it for yourself. I know that this always has been, and still is, the doctrine of Adventists.
What shall we say to Elder Wheeler’s assertion that Adventists believe in the trinity as held by the evangelical churches? Again you asked Elder Wheeler “if they had put out any official statement of their faith." He says, “The denomination has declined to adopt such a creed." Here is another statement which is untrue. They have a carefully prepared, officially endorsed, printed creed, and enforce every article strictly. We Baptists have our “Articles of Faith," the Methodists their “Articles of Religion" and the Presbyterians their “Confession of Faith." Adventists say these are our “creeds," and so they are, and we are not ashamed of them. Seventh-day Adventists have a creed as clearly defined as any of these. Webster defines creed thus: “A definite summary of what is believed; especially, a summary of Christian belief."
Our Baptist Articles begin: “We believe, etc." That is a creed. The Adventists creed is entitled, “Fundamental Principles of Seventh-day Adventists.” It says, “The following propositions may be taken as a summary of the principal features of their religious faith.” “They believe”—then follow 29 Articles of Faith. This is exactly Webster’s definition of a creed. If Baptists have a creed so have Adventists. This is published in their year books, listed in their catalogs, for sale in all their offices. I just went to their office here and bought five copies, one cent each, 14 pages. This is just what you asked for, so I send you one. Why did not Elder Wheeler send you one in his letter? Instead, he says they have nothing of that kind! You may sometime learn that the statements of Adventists concerning their objectionable doctrines are not always reliable.
You see Articles 1 and 2 of that creed give at length their doctrine concerning God and Christ, but only mention the Holy Spirit, without mentioning His personality in any way. Nor is there any mention of the trinity. These two articles give exactly the information you ask for. Why did Elder Wheeler withhold them from you? The answer is evident—their statement is not trinitarian. A line is added at the close saying that these articles are not a rule of their faith or practice. I positively know to the contrary. I myself expelled a prominent Advent minister from the church for refusing to abide by one of these articles. In recent years both ministers and laymen, many of them, have been expelled for simply disagreeing with one or two of these articles. Whole churches have been disbanded by conference officials for the same reason. These members are not charged with any immoral or un-christian conduct. Generally they are among their most intelligent, zealous members. Largely they are excommunicated because they disagree with Article 10 on the “Sanctuary," or Article 20 on spiritual gifts, really meaning, with them, Mrs. White’s “Testimony."
I enclose you a tract of ten pages entitled, “An Open Letter to the Florida Conference Committee of Seventh-day Adventists,” by L. H. Crisler, Orlando, Fla. This gives an account of how he and many others were cast out for not accepting some of the Articles of Faith as stated in their “Fundamental Principles,” their creed. I quote a few lines to show that these articles are made a test of fellowship. I am personally acquainted with ministers and lay members who were tested and cast out in the same way:
“Orlando, Fla., November 17, 1911.
“Irving Keck, Bowling Green, Fla. “Dear Brother:
“Your letter of November 7, is at hand. Replying will say it will afford us pleasure to grant you a letter to unite with the Bartow church if you can answer affirmatively the following questions:
“1. Are you in harmony with the fundamental principles of the Seventh day Adventist denomination?
“2. Are you in harmony with the denominational organization and its work?
“An affirmative answer to these questions will bring a prompt, favorable response.
“(Signed) For the Conference Committee, “R. W. Parmele, Pres.”
“Recently, at Port Orange, a church of about 30 members was by you declared disbanded, without their having had any voice at all in the matter.
“Respectfully submitted,
“L. H. CRISLER,
“Box 466, Orlando, Fla.”
I believe this is a sufficient answer to Elder Wheeler. Please read the two tracts and the book I send you, then tell your readers whether or not Elder Wheeler informed you fairly and correctly.
Share this post