Are the Adherence to Past/Original Truths, and the Belief that Light/Truth is Progressive, Two Mutually Exclusive Concepts?
If you have ever canvassed you have probably experienced a lot of rejection, having doors slammed in your face. Is it new truth that we are presenting to these people at their door? For many of them it is. So, why do they reject this new truth so vehemently? Either they have not been living up to the truth they have already received, or are satisfied with their current knowledge and experience.
Many of us have heard the idea that light and truth is progressive. This means that there exists greater truth that God will reveal to His people. Those that have a sincere love of truth and recognize this fact will be searching for this new truth rather than partaking of the Laodicean spirit and being satisfied with one’s current spiritual condition, not feeling that there needs to be improvement.
“If it was necessary for God’s ancient people to often call to mind His dealings with them in mercy and judgment, in counsel and reproof, it is equally important that we contemplate the truths delivered to us in His Word,—truth which, if heeded, will lead us to humility and submission, and obedience to God. . . . The Word of God presents special truths for every age. The dealings of God with His people in the past should receive our careful attention. We should learn the lessons which they are designed to teach us. But we are not to rest content with them. God is leading out His people step by step. Truth is progressive. The earnest seeker will be constantly receiving light from Heaven. What is truth? should ever be our inquiry.” –The Signs of the Times, May 26, 1881
According to this quote, it is of utmost importance that we consistently keep moving towards greater truth. However, in addition to being desirous of new truth and engaging in a pro-active pursuit of this new truth, the Ancient Israelites were told to remember the way that God had led them in the past and to contemplate the truths they had already been given. They were to seek a balance of having a deep appreciation and love for truth already given, but simultaneously not allow that love of previously attained truth to lull them into a false sense of security or cause them to be lifted up in spiritual pride, which would neutralize their motivation to earnestly seek for new truth. This is essential for us today as well.
“The Lord will not lead minds now to set aside the truth that the Holy Spirit has moved upon His servants in the past to proclaim. Many will honestly search the Word for light as those in the past have searched it; and they see light in the Word. But they did not pass over the ground in their experience, when these messages of warning were first proclaimed. Not having had this experience, some do not appreciate the value of the truths that have been to us as waymarks, and that have made us, as a peculiar people, what we are. They do not make a right application of the Scriptures, and thus they frame theories that are not correct. It is true that they quote an abundance of Scripture, and teach much that is true; but truth is so mixed with error as to lead to wrong conclusions.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, p. 12
There are a couple of important principles that we can see in this passage. First, we see that it mentions that “the Lord will not lead minds now to set aside the truth that the Holy Spirit has moved upon His servants in the past to proclaim.” The Lord does not wish previous, or past, truth to ever be negated by new or present truth. Rather than substituting truth previously brought to light, present truth should complement past truths.
Another principle brought to light is that, within the Seventh-day Adventist church, the pioneers who discovered the original tenets and beliefs of the Adventist message had a higher tendency to realize the great importance of these original beliefs as a distinguishing factor, which differentiated them from the other Protestant churches and the world. However, just as has happened in a wide variety of church organizations throughout history, as the years went by and new generations came to the forefront within the church, there was this tendency for the newer generations to place less emphasis upon the fundamental truths of the past.
How can this be avoided? The new generation should study these ancient truths for themselves and come to a personal realization as to their importance.
They must avoid the human tendency to view newer ideas as automatically better, to the detriment of older truths; avoiding the thought that all change is implicitly a positive.
To avoid partaking of the Laodicean spirit of being “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; (Revelation 3:17) we must constantly be seeking new truth, being careful that original truths are not lost of. We must ensure that the additional truth we find complements original truth rather than replacing it or making it redundant.
Most importantly, we are to prayerfully consider if there are times in which we should emphasize either returning to the old waymarks or pushing forward to seek greater truths.
The best manner of living up to original truth while ensuring that one simultaneously seeks for greater truth is found in the words of Jesus, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” John 17:17. To be sanctified means they have become holy; and because God/Jesus is holy it means they have become more like Him. Is it possible to make someone holy through an understanding of truth? It depends on what this understanding of truth leads to, or what the ultimate result of it is!
“Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:3. Jesus spoke words of truth and words that were in complete harmony with the rest of the Bible! However, do words have the power to cleanse us? It depends on how the individual being reacts to these words, and what they choose to do with them.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:25–26. Christ cleanses the church and the individuals within the church by giving His own life for the church, and by “the washing of the water by the word.” There are multiple understandings of this verse, but the most fitting interpretation is that when we believe the words that we hear and actually want to live up to them, we thus make them part of our lives and decide to be baptized. Baptism is an outward sign that the words of Jesus will become what defines our life. They are real to us on much more than just on an intellectual level. We have become doers of the word rather than just hearers of the word! When Jesus states in John 15 that the disciples have become clean through the word spoken to them, let us think how they reacted to the preaching of Jesus. They left all and followed Him. Throughout their lives they dedicated every last ounce of their energy to living their faith in every respect and sharing it with others! These words had power to cleanse because they had been truly converted by these words! That is what we are talking about here, true conversion!
How can we ensure that the additional truth we find is compatible with the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, and also complements the older or original truths that we have believed in? Jesus makes in plain on the Sermon on the Mount and gives a couple examples: “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. . . . Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his hear.” Matthew 5:21–22, 27–29. Here Jesus is showing the greater meaning of these commandments which was new light to those living in His day. He was showing the spirit of the law as opposed to just the letter of the law.
Although truth is always ultimately the same, with any additional truth and light given to God’s people, the standard appears to become higher and a greater level of purity will be seen to be required. Therefore, if people claim that they have new truth, which, in fact, waters down or dilutes the original truth or compromises on certain points of truth then this new truth is almost certainly not from God. Jesus here emphasizes how far-reaching the requirements of the law really are; and He
also emphasizes that mere outward conformity to the law avails nothing.
Jesus consolidates the importance and validity of the old, or original, truth of the 6th commandment by providing what seemed like new truth to them. In reality, this “new light” assists them in the keeping of the original 6th commandment. If someone is consistently angry and jealous towards others and they allow these feelings to fester, their chances of killing or hurting them clearly increases. At the very least they often damage or hurt someone’s reputation by speaking badly about them, or they hurt them emotionally or mentally. By understanding that uncontrolled or unrepented of anger can lead to murder and that the outward act is merely an extension of the inward decision enables someone to keep the 6th commandment in its fullest sense. They are enabled to analyze their own feelings and emotions towards their brethren and do their absolute best to control their feelings, with the help of Jesus, knowing the great danger that can arise from negative feelings not given to God.
The other example that Jesus gave: “whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Again, this new knowledge presented by Jesus will enable someone to more effectively keep the 7th Commandment. Jesus was again, clarifying the law, by giving what was new light to those living in His time. By understanding the dangers of looking lustfully at a woman and thus never dwelling upon these thoughts, the sin of committing the act of adultery could be completely avoided. There can be no adultery if one does not look inappropriately upon a man or a woman, or think in a lustful manner. Jesus provided the perfect manner in which the 7th commandment can be kept!
The Ten Commandments work so wonderfully together. Although James wrote that he who breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all (James 2:10), Jesus in His mercy also shows us that by keeping each commandment in a thorough manner (the spirit of the law as opposed to the letter only), we are enabled to keep the other commandments and effectively love God and our fellow man, as the Moral Law requires. In presenting this “new” truth regarding the 7th Commandment, Jesus borrowed from the 10th commandment which requires us not to covet. Therefore, by effectively keeping the 10th commandment and not lusting or coveting we are ensured of being able to effectively keep the 7th Commandment.
Did the expectation of how to keep the Ten Commandments become greater in the time of Jesus? Of course not! God’s standards and expectations, and His law are like Him—they never change. The reality is that all new truth is only old truth rediscovered or explained in greater detail. The Lord reveals additional truth and gives greater clarification of His law to people as they can handle it and are ready for it!
How does the Lord determine whether someone is ready for new truth or not? “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” Acts 24:24–25. This convenient season never came. As a result, no further truth was given to Felix. It is important for us to share truth with all people, but only to continue sharing truth with those that are receptive and willing to live up to that truth they have received, otherwise we are truly throwing our pearls before the swine.
“And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see Him of a long season, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned with Him in many words; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. And Herod with His men of war set Him at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.” Luke 23:8–11. Why did Jesus remain silent and not share any truths with Herod? He could have shared incredible truths in the hopes of awakening Herod’s conscience! But, no, Jesus remained silent because Herod had rejected the truth brought to him by John the Baptist. He had seared his conscience to the point that hearing any greater truth would have had no benefit for him. Therefore no more truth would be given to him! The decision of whether someone is worthy to hear more truth or not is based on whether they have taken advantage of the current light that they have and whether they are living up to it! Is this a merciful measure?
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that also shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.” John 16:12–13. Is this a merciful measure that God only shares truth a little at a time? Absolutely!Think about this—for three years, the disciples had been with the greatest Teacher the world has ever known, but there were still many things for them to learn. It was clear that they were not ready for these things yet, because the human mind is capable of only acquiring truth at a limited rate. Each person is different and God is very patient with each individual mind and only reveals truth as the person has the capacity to receive.
However, for some, new truth is withheld because they choose not to live up to the current light they have. In this scenario, new light will just be a stumbling block to them; it will overwhelm them. Having heard greater truth will make them more accountable before God; therefore they will be judged more harshly than if they had not heard any additional truth. God, in His mercy, only gives people the truth a little at a time. If they accept it, He gives more. If they reject it, no further truth will be given, thus minimizing their punishment. Also, they will more than likely not be able to comprehend any further truth.
Do you think the Israelites who had just danced around the golden calf were ready for new light? Do you think the true believers in time of the early Christian church were ready to receive new truth and light? What about the church at the time of Constantine? What about the Adventist church after the “Christ our Righteousness” message was rejected in 1888? In times of apostasy it is necessary to go back to the old waymarks, whereas in times in which God has a pure, faithful remnant, it is possible to receive new light!
Do you think the early Pilgrims and Puritans were in a position to receive new light after they came to America? Yes, absolutely they were, because they had faithfully been living up to the truth and thus had been persecuted for their faith, which is why they came to the New World. It is clear that an environment of religious freedom and being able to actually read and understand the Scriptures for oneself is really the only way to discover new truth and new light. The Dark Ages was a time of no spiritual advancement or new understanding of truth; it was a time of great error and darkness. This is what happens when people are unable to study the Bible for themselves. After the Dark Ages, where was much of the important spiritual advancement made in terms of new truths over the next few hundred years? In America, with the Dark Day and the Falling of the Stars occurring there, with the Millerite Movement, the Advent Movement, etc.
Although we have said that truth can be progressive, people’s understanding of truth can also be regressive. When the early Advent believers began keeping the Sabbath in the 1840’s, was this new light or new truth? Of course not, but due to the fact that this truth had largely been forgotten, obscured, or people’s knowledge had regressed upon the topic, it certainly felt like new truth, from their perspective. As mentioned earlier, new truth is actually rediscovered old truth which has long since been forgotten about due to the corruption of society and the trampling upon of God’s truth in times past. We have the example of the Israelites at Mount Sinai. They received the “new” truth of the Ten Commandments, however, these commandments were “old” and had been in existence since eternity.
Going back to the original question:
Are the Adherence to Past/Original Truths, and the Belief that Light/Truth is Progressive, Two Mutually Exclusive Concepts?
Are there different times in which we should emphasize returning to the old waymarks or pushing forward to seek greater truth? I can answer clearly, from the evidence they are not mutually exclusive. They are to be blended in perfect harmony. Believed, taught and lived.
On the Day of Judgement, no one will be condemned because of a lack of knowledge which he never had an opportunity to obtain. God is merciful; but let us not abuse that mercy, but instead use our time to live up to all the truths we know and consistently seek for more truth. In a world that has abandoned truth, and routinely accepts falsehood in order to protect people’s feelings, let us be protectors of the original truth and value it more than life itself, while seeking for more. Let us all seek the Lord while He may be found! Amen.
Richard Eaton