Book Review and Comments, The Church

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3. There are foundational principles in every person’s mind that shape the way that he sees and understands all information. People’s foundational principles of thinking are largely absorbed from their immediate environment; therefore, what children and young people see and experience generally has more to do with their perception of reality than anything else. As a baby grows up, he or she assimilates what is accepted as fundamental truth and basic values of life from his or her environment. If the parents teach the child the Bible from its earliest years, as an adult, that person will have foundational principles of thought that are based on the law of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. If two people espouse different foundational principles of thinking, they might be talking together about the same subject, but their perspective of that subject is so different that little actual meeting of the minds may occur. One of the foundational principles in the minds of Christians is what they believe the true church to be. For example, if a person is taught from the cradle that there is only one church that goes back to the time of Jesus Christ and that this is the true Church of God, he will generally believe this, although the Bible not only does not give any such assurance but actually teaches just the opposite. For this reason it is important for anyone who is really serious about inheriting eternal life to go right to the Bible itself and find out what the conditions are and then abide by those conditions.

Men who have been used of God in the past to proclaim His message were men who went straight to the Bible to find out the truth and then chose to abide by that truth, even if they were all alone in the world in doing so. If you want to be used by God as a humble instrument in the finishing of His work in the world, you must do the same thing. We must come to the Bible with a humble spirit, promising the Lord that whatever He teaches us by His Holy Spirit, we will believe and obey.

Today, God is preparing to finish His work. Unfortunately, for many Seventh-day Adventists, because of their false understanding of who and what the church is, this work is being incorrectly perceived. They have made up their minds that God has to work within certain regular lines. When we have checked the inspired writings, we find that there is not only basis for this belief but that the inspired writings make it very clear that the work will be finished in a way that we do not expect.

Their definition of who and what the church is, is the foundational principle that is in error in the mind of many Seventh-day Adventists. A controversy has erupted in Adventism as is clearly demonstrated in the publishing of the Issues book (which contained a section about who and what the church is). The controversy over this issue has brought division throughout self-supporting workers, or independent ministries, as well as from within what is called the church structure of Seventh-day Adventists. Just today we received a letter from Wildwood (OCI) saying that they were uncomfortable with our ministry. What they are uncomfortable about is our understanding of who and what the true church is. If necessary, I could name names of individuals from various self-supporting or independent ministries who have gone all over the world trying to destroy the influence of people who have taken the same position that we have on who and what the true church is. The efforts made to destroy the influence of others is strong evidence that even the ones doing these things know that which position you take will completely alter your course of action and even your understanding of right and wrong.

One of the main accusations that has received wide circulation is that certain ministries, such as Steps to Life and others, have changed the definition of the church form that held historically by Seventh-day Adventists. Our research into this subject has shown clearly that not all Adventist pioneers understood the nature of the church, but there have been some who, from their study of the Bible, clearly understood the issue of who and what the true church is. We have published a few statements from these in previous issues of our News Notes.

Apparently J.L. Tucker, one of the pioneers in Seventh-day Adventist radio, was one of these individuals. It is evident from what he wrote about this subject that he had been studying his Bible and accepted what the Bible said about the church. We review briefly his booklet The Church, God’s Last Message To It.

The first paragraph is stunning in its clarity of thought. If this were to have been stated in 1994, it would have immediately placed the speaker in the middle of the controversy over who and what is the church. “The church is dear to the heart of God. Christ loves the church. Ephesians 5:25. More than one hundred times it is mentioned in the New Testament alone. God has had His people (church) in all ages. See Acts 7:38. Not everyone whose name is on some church roll is counted by God to be His own. He keeps His own records in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5. There is, so to speak, a church within a church. Only truly born again, dedicated souls make up the real church.” The Church, 3

Notice three points made in this first paragraph: (1) Not everyone making a profession is part of the real church. (2) The church (singular) has existed in all ages. (3) Although there is only one true church, there is a larger group of people who make a profession; but these are not the real church. As we ponder these three points, the following ideas come to mind. First, we cannot say that there have been two or three or more true churches down through history. Second, the deciding factor as to who is a member of the church has to do with spiritual qualifications. The church, then, is a spiritual entity and therefore must have a spiritual definition. Your understanding of the Ellen White quotations which are used to confuse people will depend on your definition of the church. That is why in our booklet on the church we listed in the appendices the inspired definitions that Ellen White gave of the true church and the professed church.

In the fourth paragraph, Elder Tucker reiterates this truth about the spiritual nature of the true church. He writes: “The church is a spiritual communion, consisting of all those who are connected with the great Head of the church. It is His kingdom in the earth.”

Elder Tucker then begins a brief review of the Great commission and how it was and was not carried out down through history. Notice the four identifying marks of the church to whom this commission was given. He writes: “To His church, divinely constituted, divinely organized, divinely equipped, divinely connected, the divine commission is given. Matthew 28:19, 20.”

He discusses the last or remnant church that god will have in the last days and shows its identifying marks in Revelation 12:17 and 14:12. He gives a beautiful description of this people or church: “Only those who give God first place, His rightful place, in their minds, hearts and lives, will develop those characteristics brought to our attention in verse twelve: ‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ Out of an impatient, hair-trigger age, God will develop in the hearts of those who have purposed to be His people, regardless, that wondrous grace of patience. In a disobedient age when the laws of men and the laws of God are violated at will, in an age when many religionists teach a brand of grace that throws aside the ten commandments of God, in an age when crime, violence and disobedience are everywhere, God will produce a people, by His infinite grace, of whom he can say, ‘They keep the commandments of God.’ In and age when on every side we hear the theory ‘do as you please,’ it makes no difference what you believe, just so you are sincere,’ ‘why be particular?,’ God will produce a people of whom He can say: ‘They have the faith of Jesus.’ They live like Jesus; they talk like Jesus; they walk like Jesus. Their one great cry is ‘What did Jesus do? What did he teach? What does He want me to do?’ They have the mind of Christ. See Philippians 2:5. Like Christ, they would rather die than sin. Like Him, they will be obedient, even unto death. See Ephesians 2:8 Like their Lord, truth means everything, for did he not say, ‘ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free’? John 8:32. They do not trust their own judgment but seek only a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ for they know ‘there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.’ Proverbs 14:12.” Ibid., 10, 11

Elder Tucker describes this people, this church, as a group who are preparing day by day to soon become part of the church triumphant: “Paul tells us we must be a ‘glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.’ Ephesians 5:25-27. See also James 1:27. The born-again Christian counts his body as the temple of the living God, which he will never knowingly defile: ‘What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.’ 1Corinthians 6:19, 20. ‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.’ 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17

“In the light of this standard there will be no liquor drinking, no tobacco habits, no slaves of passion. The true church member takes for his standard, ‘What would Jesus do?,’ and he cannot conceive of his Lord deliberately taking poison into His body temple.

“The remnant church will not only be clean in body, mind, and soul, but it well teach what Jesus taught. It will ‘earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ Jude 3. It will demand a ‘thus saith the Lord’ for every religious practice and custom. It will hold to sound doctrine, remembering that Christ said, ‘In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ Matthew 15:9. The members of God’s true church will love one another. John 13:34, 35.’ Ibid., 13, 14

Elder Tucker then writes about Christ’s last warning to His church: “Here we are, in an hour when all inventions for a quick work are here, radio, television, every means for mass communication are available to the church. God says for us to ‘wake up’ and use these. ‘Sound the last message.’ Tell the people they are breaking God’s commandments. Tell them to put on the whole armour of God and make a new dedication to the Lord Jesus. How quickly an awakened church can finish her work.” Ibid., 18. What would our pioneers think about the first time that Seventh-day Adventists have been given the opportunity to preach the three angels’ messages from the most powerful short wave station in North America, and many are so asleep they do not even recognize what is going on? One of the main reasons that they do not recognize what is going on is that they are confused about who the church is—they believe that the voice of God must be heard through a certain regular channel. The result will be that the work will be all finished, and then many Adventists will wake up; but it will be too late. Over and over the Spirit of Prophecy has warned us of this possibility.

Elder Tucker recognized, as stated in the first paragraph of his booklet, that not everybody in the professed church was really part of the true church and that God could use others who were of part of the “professed church” structure to finish His work. It is significant that in ministries who are working together to reach the world with the three angels’ messages over short wave radio, one or more leaders has been disfellowshipped or forcibly separated from the ministry where he was trying to spread the three angels’ messages, and it has been spread all over the world that these people are not really Seventh-day Adventists. Keep watching. It is going to become more evident every passing month who the real and true Seventh-day Adventists are. What Elder Tucker stated in the closing paragraph of his booklet about the professed church is today becoming a reality: “God wants to work through His church. That has been His studied plan, but he is not dependent upon the church. The hour has come when the Gospel must be sounded to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. The earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. Revelation 18:1. If His church will not arise and shine, then God will use other means. This is the hour for greatness! Dear reader, God wants to use you; but He can only use you as you are wakened, dedicated, clothed with His righteousness. He says His people are ‘for signs and wonders.’ Isaiah 8:18 They are to do exploits (Daniel 11:32). It is HIGH time to wake up, to get up and to speak up for God. It’s time to cut loose of the world and all worldliness; time to cut loose from all extra possessions and translate them into souls. The Lord is coming! Be ready! Help others to be ready! ‘So shall ye be my disciples.’ John 15:8.” Ibid., 19, 20

APPENDIX: COMPLETE BOOK BY J.L. TUCKER

 

The Church: God’s Last Message to It

The church is dear to the heart of God. Christ loves the church. Ephesians 5:25. More than one hundred times it is mentioned in the New Testament alone. God has had His people (church) in all ages. See Acts 7:38. Not everyone whose name is on some church roll is counted by God to be His own. He keeps his own records in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5. There is, so to speak, a church within a church. Only born-again, dedicated souls make up the real church.

Jesus spoke of the church as “My Father’s House.” John 2:16. When the Jewish nation, the once chosen people, signally failed to achieve the spiritual standards and accomplish the work of being a light to the world, they, as a notion, were rejected, though God bore long with them. See Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 21:33-45; Matthew 23:38.

Some little time before the rejection of the Jewish nation as His peculiar treasure, Jesus laid the foundation of the Christian church, which was to take over the vineyard and become God’s custodian of divine truths for the world. See Matthew 16:13-18; Matthew 21:41. Christ is the Rock of Ages and the eternal foundation for all that pertains to the Gospel plan. Upon that mighty truth, given utterance to by the apostle Peter, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build My church.”

The church is of too great importance to have as its foundation any human being. No such responsibility or place of importance was assigned to any man. See Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-30; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:19-22; I Peter 2:4, 5 Christ is a sure foundation. Upon this living stone both Jew and Gentile alike, as individuals may now build. It is broad enough for all and strong enough to sustain the weight and burden of the whole world. The church is a spiritual communion, consisting of all those who are connected with the great Head of the church. It is His kingdom in the earth.

The Great Commission

To His church, divinely constitute, divinely organized, divinely equipped, divinely connected, the divine commission is given. Matthew 28:19, 20.

The church is to proclaim Christ’s gospel of salvation to all nations and to everyone. Every new addition to the church of family of God is to be given a responsibility to bear. Every one is to let his light so shine for Christ that he will attract other men to Christ, the Head of the church. See Mark 13:34; Ephesians 2:10; I Corinthians 3:9.

The early church in the days of the apostles took the command of their Lord seriously. They were told to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the outpouring of power, the promised Spirit. Acts 1:8. Under the leadership of the third person of the Godhead, they went forth a conquering force. Millions embraced Christianity from Judaism and from paganism, during the remaining lifetime of these disciples. Satan’s camp trembled at the mighty onslaught of Christianity. He and his cohorts laid plans to stop the triumphs of the gospel truths. The church was warned and counseled against the plans of the enemy. Paul wrote to his fellow workers: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” Acts 20:28-31.

Gradually the spiritual leaders succumbed to the sophistries of the Devil, and they began to welcome into the church false doctrines and perverse things—anything to get a following and become somebody in the eyes of others. Once the bars were down, error swept into the once pure church, as an overwhelming flood. With the coming of error and false doctrine, the spirit of evangelism waned and died.

For centuries there was bickering and strife among the churches and between the leaders of the church. Gradually, but surely, the bishops of Rome assumed and obtained control and became the head of the so called Christian church, though it had but very little resemblance to the church Jesus organized. With a man assuming the role of vicegerent of Christ, or taking the place that God gave to the Holy Spirit, love waned; doctrines of men took the place of the doctrines of the Word; anyone daring to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, was declared a heretic, and multiplied millions through the centuries were put to death for their faith.

The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation had predicted just such an experience. They also gave the length of time that the apostasy would hold sway. When that hour dawned, a revival began to break out in Europe. It was spoken of as the Reformation. Men dared to come back to the Word and to seek God’s will from the original source, the Blood of God. See Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19, 20. The divine commission given to the church, though, long, long delayed in being carried out, has not changed.

One Gospel

Though there is but one gospel, one plan of redemption, one name that can save, (see Acts 4:12), yet at times in God’s dealings with man there has been special emphasis upon special truths. The disciples emphasized the resurrection of our Lord. The reformers’ particular message was “The Bible and the Bible only” and “The just shall live by faith.” The message today that must belt the globe is present truth for this hour. It must include all points of the Gospel, with special emphasis upon “The hour of His judgment is come.” “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.” Revelation 14:6, 7

Then in rapid succession follows two more messages which blend with the first. See Verses 8-11. We read in verse fourteen: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle,” The harvest of the earth is reaped.

God’s final message which prepares His people for the Second Coming of the Lord is here in Revelation 14. It needs to be studied earnestly, prayerfully. It is a message that gives the Creator His rightful place, in an hour when human rationalism, atheistic evolution, and modernism are doing their baneful work of ruling God out of His own universe. His last message sounds: “Fear God, and give glory to Him.” And then there is this emphasis: “For the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

Only those who give God first place, His rightful place, in their minds, hearts and lives, will develop those characteristics brought to our attention in verse twelve: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Out of an impatient, hair-trigger age, God will develop in the hearts of those who have purposed to be His people, regardless, that wondrous grace of patience. In a disobedient age when the laws of men and the laws of God are violated at will, in an age when many religionists teach a brand of grace that throws aside the Ten Commandments of God, in an age when crime, violence and disobedience are everywhere, God will produce a people, by His infinite grace, of whom He can say, “they keep the commandments of God.” In an age when on every side we hear the theory “do as you please,” “it makes no difference what you believe, just so you are sincere,” “why be particular?,” God will produce a people of whom He can say: “They have the faith of Jesus.” They live like Jesus; they talk like Jesus; they walk like Jesus. Their one great cry is “What did Jesus do? What did He teach? What does he want me to do?” They have the mind of Christ. See Philippians 2:5. Like Christ, they would rather die than sins. Like Him, they will be obedient, even unto death. See Ephesians 2:8. Like their Lord, truth means everything, for did He not say, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”? John 8:32. They do not trust their own judgment but seek only a “thus saith the Lord,” for they know “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12. “In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9

As God called and chose Abraham and separated him for a special task, as He chose the Jewish nation and made them the heralds of a newly organized Christian church, as He raised up and used mighty men of the Reformation days and through succeeding years, so he has a church today. He speaks of it as His “remnant church.” Revelation 12:17. Her characteristics are plainly described, that all may recognize her. Revelation 14:12, 12:17. Her work is worldwide. The commission is plain and distinct. She must emphasize the whole gospel, with special emphasis on the climax of it all and the events in connection with our Lord’s return. The solemn truth that the hour of God’s judgment IS come is to awaken saint and sinner. The call is sounded to come out of Babylon, out of error into truth. The warning against the beast power and his image and mark is to be carried to every corner of the world. The fruitage of such a message is to prepare man for the meeting with king Jesus. They are described by inspiration: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.

It is a high standard God has for His church, as well as a tremendous task, but Christ’s grace is sufficient for everyone. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Romans 5:20. We will never rise higher than we aim. Paul tells we must be “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27. See also James 1:27. The born again Christian count his body as the temple of the living God, which he will never knowingly defile; “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17

In the light of this standard there will be no liquor drinking, no tobacco habits, no slaves of passion. The true church member takes for his standard, “What would Jesus do?,” and he cannot conceive of his Lord deliberately taking poison into his body temple.

The remnant church will not only be clean in body, mind, and soul, but it will teach what Jesus taught. It will “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” Jude 3. It will demand a “thus saith the Lord” for every religious practice and custom. It will hold to sound doctrine, remembering that Christ said, “in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9. The members of God’s true church will love one another. See John 13:34, 35.

The greatest function of the church is to win souls. Every member of the church is an ambassador for Christ. He is to entreat men and women to be reconciled to God. By precept and example he will sound the invitation; “Whosoever will may come.” Revelation 22:17. Those persons who shut themselves away from bearing burdens for others, will soon suffer spiritual feebleness. It is labor that keeps the strong man strong and spiritual labor, toil and burden-bearing is what will give strength to the members of the church of Christ.

Christ’s Last Warning to His Church

Though Christ loved His church and gave Himself for it, yet down through the years He has counseled and warned His church. So today He has a striking warning and makes a special appeal to His remnant church. Here it is: “And that, knowing the time, that, now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:11-14. Here Christ accuses his church, who professes to know the times and understand the meaning of world conditions, of being asleep in the hour of crisis. They have had knowledge, but they’ve been lulled to sleep. God’s long-suffering with a judgment-bound world has caused many to say, “My Lord delayeth His coming.” They have grown weary in well doing—God speaks of these as being asleep. They need to wake up. He says it’s “high time to awaken out of sleep.”

As a boy, I learned the meaning of the words “high time.” I was raised on the farm and certain seasons of the year meant getting up very early. Father would call “Julius, it’s time to get up.” Partially awake I’d respond; “Yes, just a minute,’ and I’d go back to sleep in that moment. Pretty soon I’d hear father’s voice again, with more emphasis: “Julius, it’s time to get up.” “Yes, just a minute; I just want to stretch.” And when a boy stretches in a nice warm, cozy bed, he can go back to sleep to dream he is out currying the horses, feeding the stock, milking the cows, only waiting for mothers call to breakfast. And all at once my dreams would be rudely shattered with the voice of father, “Julius, it’s HIGH time you were getting out of there.” And out I’d come, for I had learned through sad experience that when father called “It’s HIGH time,” that was his last call that morning for, you see, my father believed in the laying on of hands, and he didn’t care much where he laid them as long as they landed on me, if there had been disobedience.

Reverently I say that our heavenly Father has been calling, calling to His church down through the centuries; and now His last call “It is HIGH time to awake, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provisions for the flesh—no excuse for living on a low level. This is the hour when every member of the church is to know what victory is, not planning to get ready sometime, but to be ready, for does not our Lord say, “Be ye also ready: for in such and hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”? Matthew 24:44.

What the ship captain said to one of God’s men of old who was running away from duty and had gone to sleep in a time of great local crisis, so God says to his church today: “What meantest thou, oh sleeper? Arise, and call upon thy God.” Jonah 1:6. What a tragedy! The one man on that boat who knew God, was asleep. In the hour of the world, and God has to call to His church or to large segments of it, “What meanest thou, oh sleeper? You know the time. Wake up! It’s HIGH time to proclaim to every corner of the world My final message!”

Here we are, in an hour when all inventions for a quick work are here, radio, television, every means for mass communication are available to the church. God says for us to “wake up” and use these. “Sound the last message.” Tell the people they are breaking God’s commandments. Tell them to put on the whole armour of God and make a new dedication to the Lord Jesus. How quickly an awakened church can finish her work. God has promised the outpouring of the holy Spirit in the latter rain proportions to His remnant church. He sent the early rain of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and great were the results. Thousands were converted in a day. The latter rain will be infinitely greater in abundance and greater the harvest. God is going to finish His work. Romans 9:28. God wants to work through His church. That has been His studied plan, but He is not dependent upon the church. The hour has come when the gospel must be sounded to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. The earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. Revelation 18:1. If His church will not arise and shine, then God will use other means. This is the hour for greatness! Dear reader, God wants to use you; but He can only use you as you are wakened, dedicated, clothed with his righteousness. He says his people are “for signs and wonders.” Isaiah 8:18 They are to do exploits (Daniel 11:32). It is HIGH time to wake up, to get up and to speak up for God. It’s time to cut loose from all extra possessions and translate them into souls. The Lord is coming! Be ready! Help others to be ready! “so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8.

The End